After looking for almost 10 years I finally found a used Sportspal (branded Sears, actually found by a friend, on CL near him) couldn't be happier, so light, with tons of space, all in a compact package (10'6").. I've been using it all summer for fishing, can't wait to take it hunting this fall :)
I'm getting a 14' Sportspal, olive green tomorrow morning for 300$. I'm so excited, I want to re-paint it to birch bark and basically redo all the foam. It has a trolling motor mount also, so I will be using it to cross some lakes up here in Iowa to get to the deep spots nobody wants to walk to.
So I have owned a sportspal canoe for about 40 years, and I got it used as a teenager, so it’s been that name for a while. You are right that they are wide and stable. I always thought that the foam was to help prevent flipping it, nothing about being quiet with items rubbing against the sides. They are very noisy if you paddle over submerged objects as the aluminum will flex. They are especially noisy when beaching them on a hard surface. The width makes them very stable to hunt or fish out of, and are great with fidgety kids. However the added width makes it paddle like a brick, so wouldn’t want to go on too long of a paddle. Also, if by yourself in an empty canoe, hard to control in the wind. Moving forward and kneeling is what I found best in windy conditions, but when you forget knee padding, those centre ribs don’t feel pleasant on the knees.
I bought a Nucanoe frontier 12 fished out of this summer. I can see that your canoe would be nicer to put things in with the deep sides. Josh congratulations of your awesome family and your UA-cam channel kicking off. You are you and that’s unique and that’s why I watch your stuff.
I picked up mine a 15' for a 100 bucks and all the support bars and foam are still available for replacement and priced nicely...i use the crap out of it all year long, that foam flooring is super nice on cold days to keep your feet warm even with muck boots on they will get cold floating in ice water during Michigans muzzle loader season.
I inherited the 16ft version built back in the 1980s. It's still in great condition and you're right I would take it every single time over my kayak if I had the shorter version. But it does work great for two people in cold icy conditions. The noise dampening foam in the bottom really makes a difference
Got a canoe something like that. I lined the inside with outdoor carpeting. Don’t have the foam on the outside. Got the flat back though. I put a small trolling motor on the back. So I don’t get all sweated up rowing places.
Enjoyed the video and congrats on the canoe... couple of random comments... going back almost 40 years ago, I wanted a maxi poke boat so bad I couldn't stand it but definitely couldn't justify the price. To me the s-11 is a much better deal although 10 plus pounds heavier... you can get to a hole up river or float hunt with a dog behind you; even throw a deer in the darn thing. You would be hard pressed to do any of that with the maxi poke boat. I wasn't even looking for it and stumbled onto a s-13 sportspal in the color I wanted on facebook marketplace and jumped all over it ($300 bucks). I took my bench seats out (like yours) and use a modified millennium seat with a homemade base (works very well). Things that are annoying but aren't deal breakers... the ribs coming out are a little bit of a pain in the arse. When I sneak hunt and sit on the deck with my legs extended it is an uneasy feeling to have my legs under the thwarts. My 70 lb lab has a bad habit of breaking (I know, it's my fault) .... one of the holes I hunt the beaver slapping their tails at 0530 in the pitch black will get me every time... .over the side he goes chasing a freaking beaver... good news is the rock steady sportspal has never thought about tipping (knock on wood) ... we have fixed the breaking. The s-13 weighs 57 lbs and is surprisingly quiet. I'm shopping a small outboard now... leaning toward a 3hp 2 smoke.
That's what I plan on getting this fall for they are a little pricey but if taken care of they'll last a lifetime get this I've already bought the accessories for it and don't even have the canoe yet so I guess I'm gearing up for it !!
@@jeffreyelliott622 I coughed up $1500 in 2020 for mine 😂 😳 I still cringe I got the camo finish. Has a real low profile on the water. Looks dope. Doesn't swing back and forth when you paddle like a kayak. The beavers will still ruin your morning hunt no matter how quit you paddle with all the tail slapping. It can be real startling out of nowhere in the dark 😂
I have an Ascend H 10. It’s 10’ kayak with a large openings and deep sides kinda like a canoe. It’s rated for 400lbs. So far I’ve transported 1 Buck in it no problem. Use it a lot for hunting. It cost about $749 only sold by Cabelas. Great kayak!
@@beforetheecho they are made by 2 companies now Raddison and Myers.. Meyers is made in the USA, from a thinner (but aircraft grade) aluminum, Raddisons are made in Canada and are a thicker (plain) aluminum, and are slightly heavier ;)
I nevr tried a canoe or kayak i always find my self around around water and think damn i need to get over but stopped by wTwr so i normally just get wet alot 😂
Almost $1500. Yikes. I have an Ascend H12 that I have rigged up a trolling motor for and the ascend was only $600 when I first bought it on sale at Cabelas.
@@beforetheecho totally understandable! I like the Ascend but at 90lbs it’s heavy and doesn’t slide through the water as well as a canoe. If I could find a used one I would probably scoop it up.
After looking for almost 10 years I finally found a used Sportspal (branded Sears, actually found by a friend, on CL near him) couldn't be happier, so light, with tons of space, all in a compact package (10'6").. I've been using it all summer for fishing, can't wait to take it hunting this fall :)
I'm getting a 14' Sportspal, olive green tomorrow morning for 300$. I'm so excited, I want to re-paint it to birch bark and basically redo all the foam. It has a trolling motor mount also, so I will be using it to cross some lakes up here in Iowa to get to the deep spots nobody wants to walk to.
So I have owned a sportspal canoe for about 40 years, and I got it used as a teenager, so it’s been that name for a while. You are right that they are wide and stable. I always thought that the foam was to help prevent flipping it, nothing about being quiet with items rubbing against the sides. They are very noisy if you paddle over submerged objects as the aluminum will flex. They are especially noisy when beaching them on a hard surface. The width makes them very stable to hunt or fish out of, and are great with fidgety kids. However the added width makes it paddle like a brick, so wouldn’t want to go on too long of a paddle. Also, if by yourself in an empty canoe, hard to control in the wind. Moving forward and kneeling is what I found best in windy conditions, but when you forget knee padding, those centre ribs don’t feel pleasant on the knees.
I bought a Nucanoe frontier 12 fished out of this summer. I can see that your canoe would be nicer to put things in with the deep sides.
Josh congratulations of your awesome family and your UA-cam channel kicking off.
You are you and that’s unique and that’s why I watch your stuff.
I picked up mine a 15' for a 100 bucks and all the support bars and foam are still available for replacement and priced nicely...i use the crap out of it all year long, that foam flooring is super nice on cold days to keep your feet warm even with muck boots on they will get cold floating in ice water during Michigans muzzle loader season.
I inherited the 16ft version built back in the 1980s. It's still in great condition and you're right I would take it every single time over my kayak if I had the shorter version. But it does work great for two people in cold icy conditions. The noise dampening foam in the bottom really makes a difference
Got a canoe something like that. I lined the inside with outdoor carpeting. Don’t have the foam on the outside. Got the flat back though. I put a small trolling motor on the back. So I don’t get all sweated up rowing places.
I have been looking for a canoe to get to a spot on state land. This video helps with what one I am now going to look for. Thank you
Congrats it looks like a good one for hunting. There's times I can use one hunting plus fishing smaller streams. I'll check them out.
Enjoyed the video and congrats on the canoe... couple of random comments... going back almost 40 years ago, I wanted a maxi poke boat so bad I couldn't stand it but definitely couldn't justify the price. To me the s-11 is a much better deal although 10 plus pounds heavier... you can get to a hole up river or float hunt with a dog behind you; even throw a deer in the darn thing. You would be hard pressed to do any of that with the maxi poke boat. I wasn't even looking for it and stumbled onto a s-13 sportspal in the color I wanted on facebook marketplace and jumped all over it ($300 bucks). I took my bench seats out (like yours) and use a modified millennium seat with a homemade base (works very well). Things that are annoying but aren't deal breakers... the ribs coming out are a little bit of a pain in the arse. When I sneak hunt and sit on the deck with my legs extended it is an uneasy feeling to have my legs under the thwarts. My 70 lb lab has a bad habit of breaking (I know, it's my fault) .... one of the holes I hunt the beaver slapping their tails at 0530 in the pitch black will get me every time... .over the side he goes chasing a freaking beaver... good news is the rock steady sportspal has never thought about tipping (knock on wood) ... we have fixed the breaking. The s-13 weighs 57 lbs and is surprisingly quiet. I'm shopping a small outboard now... leaning toward a 3hp 2 smoke.
I have an Old Town 119 solo sportsman that I highly recommend. Only 50 lbs and fast on the water. Can haul you, a buck and a deer cart just fine.
That's what I plan on getting this fall for they are a little pricey but if taken care of they'll last a lifetime get this I've already bought the accessories for it and don't even have the canoe yet so I guess I'm gearing up for it !!
@@jeffreyelliott622 I coughed up $1500 in 2020 for mine 😂 😳 I still cringe
I got the camo finish. Has a real low profile on the water. Looks dope. Doesn't swing back and forth when you paddle like a kayak.
The beavers will still ruin your morning hunt no matter how quit you paddle with all the tail slapping. It can be real startling out of nowhere in the dark 😂
@@brushcrawler8612 I'm looking to get the Photic color which matches my late dad's 1994 Chevy K1500 4x4 !!!
I have an Ascend H 10. It’s 10’ kayak with a large openings and deep sides kinda like a canoe. It’s rated for 400lbs. So far I’ve transported 1 Buck in it no problem. Use it a lot for hunting. It cost about $749 only sold by Cabelas. Great kayak!
Got the same one
Very similar to a Radisson, Adirondack hunters will be familiar!
I think they are the same.
@@beforetheecho they are made by 2 companies now Raddison and Myers.. Meyers is made in the USA, from a thinner (but aircraft grade) aluminum, Raddisons are made in Canada and are a thicker (plain) aluminum, and are slightly heavier ;)
Looking forward to trying it out!
Got me an Old Town 12ft. Had to add a motor cause the Potomac can suck in the winter.
I nevr tried a canoe or kayak i always find my self around around water and think damn i need to get over but stopped by wTwr so i normally just get wet alot 😂
Great content! Keep it going Josh!
I have a pelican that's been ok, but those are the cats meow!
Great canoe, I have two of them.
I would love to use one, but so many beaver dams make it so it wouldn't work here
Made in North Bay Ontario .
Almost $1500. Yikes. I have an Ascend H12 that I have rigged up a trolling motor for and the ascend was only $600 when I first bought it on sale at Cabelas.
I have an ascent kayak too they are great.
Just needed a canoe for the kids
@@beforetheecho totally understandable! I like the Ascend but at 90lbs it’s heavy and doesn’t slide through the water as well as a canoe. If I could find a used one I would probably scoop it up.
16 lb $1600 kevlar canoes seems more like it tho.
The only seeing I see about the canoe that’s no good is the where the seat is, you can’t portage it on your shoulders.