Is this a good canoe?

Question

I'm looking to spend less than $400. I think this is a solid canoe. Does Coleman own Pelican? Thanks in advance.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2131645&cp=2291569&sr=1&origkw=canoe&parentPage=family&searchId=2291569

Answer 1

Where are you going to paddle? Whitewater or flatwater? Double or single? You should be able to find a really good used fiber glass/resin canoe for way less than $400. Try advertising in your area for a used canoe. Try the canoe out. The old Coleman had many deficiencies but a low price.

Answer 2

I have an Old Town Penobscot, since I can flatwater canoe and like a bit of class 1/2 whitewater canoeing. I suggest buying an Old Town Discovery canoe as a first canoe, it's more expensive than the Pelican's, but it won't have the issues the Pelican's have. Or buy a used Coleman, that was still made well. I also suggest trying out a canoe before buying it. Rent them for a local canoe shop, or go to canoeing demo days in your area and try a bunch of canoes out.  

Pelican took over Coleman. Here's a review of a Pelican canoe, from someone who bought a Pelican Explorer canoe, used it 8 or 10 times, and was very disappointed. Why?:

-There is not enough clearance beneath the bow seat to get your feet under it, therefore the bow person can't get into the essential kneeling position (even their young teen-age son could not get his feet under!)

-Pelican obviously cut way too many corners with this product. They bought these hulls from Coleman, and left out the aluminum keels and aluminum support structure that Coleman used in its seats. Instead, Pelican put in a plastic liner, and sandwiched flotation foam between the hull and liner. However, without the aluminum keels on, the boat bottom flexes severely.

-It looks good, and the Ram-X hull is tough, but even as cheap as it was, its not worth it.

Good luck!