Best Canoes For Families For 2024
Paddling the Best Canoes For Families is an awesome way to bring your family together and get the kids off their screens. Gliding across the water in a canoe creates special memories and helps kids appreciate nature.
Choosing the right canoe for your family is key, especially if the kids are young. You want something stable and comfortable so everyone enjoys the experience and gets hooked on paddling. An unstable canoe that flips easily can turn kids off from canoeing forever.
Before you hit the water:
- Take a paddling safety course to learn proper techniques. The American Canoe Association has great classes.
- Do a boating safety course to learn water rules and regs. The Coast Guard and Power Squadrons offer them.
- Get some on-water training if you’re new to canoeing.
This guide shares tips on picking the perfect family-friendly canoe. We’ll recommend stable, easy-to-paddle options that make paddling fun for everyone. With the right canoe, you’ll make memories that last a lifetime and get the kids stoked on the outdoors.
Top Picks: Best Canoes for Families for 2024
Take a look at the best family canoes recommended by reviewers in our Paddling Buyer’s Guide. You can see and review all the Best Canoes For Families here.
| Rank | Canoe | Manufacturer | Model | Price |
| 1 | Prospecteur 15 | Esquif | Prospector 15 | $2349.00 |
| 2 | 16’ HURON | Rheaume Canoes | HURON | – |
| 3 | Kodiak 130 | Lifetime | Kodiak 130 | $698.95 |
| 4 | Saranac 146 XT | Old Town Canoes and Kayaks | Saranac 146 XT | $749.99 |
| 5 | Baraka Hybrid Inflatable Canoe/Kayak | Gumotex | Baraka Hybrid Inflatable | $1699.00 |
| 6 | Haida 17′ TuffStuff | Nova Craft Canoe | Haida 17′ TuffStuff | – |
| 7 | Bob Special Fiberglass | Nova Craft Canoe | Bob Special Fiberglass | – |
| 8 | Bob Special 15′ Aramid Lite | Nova Craft Canoe | Bob Special 15′ Aramid Lite | – |
| 9 | Bob Special Blue Steel | Nova Craft Canoe | Bob Special Blue Steel | – |
| 10 | 14′ Explorer | Rheaume Canoes | Explorer 14 | – |
Top 2 Best Canoes For Families Under Review
| Material | Brand | Length | Type | Capacity | Colors |
| UV Stabilized Fortiflex High-Density Polyethylene | Sun Dolphin | 15 ft 6 inches | Double-Ended Family Canoe | 800 lbs | Camo, Hazelnut, or Navy |
This is for families who want to have fun on the water. It has enough room for 3 people to sit and paddle. You can paddle with one, two, or three people. If you paddle with one person, they should sit at the back and the other two can just enjoy the ride. The best thing about this is that each seat has a place to keep your things, so you don’t have to worry about them.
Features
Grumman Double-Ended .050 Canoes
| Material | Brand | Length | Type | Capacity | Colors |
| Aluminium | Grumman | 17 ft | Double-Ended Family Canoe | 660 lbs | Bare, Olive Drab, Burgundy, Hunter Green, Insignia Blue |
This is a good canoe that does not tip over easily. You can use it in different places, like a fast river or a quiet lake. It has room for more than one person and it is not too heavy. You can put it in your car by yourself.
Sun Dolphin Scout Elite SS
| Material | Brand | Length | Type | Capacity | Colors |
| UV-Stabilized Fortiflex High-Density Polyethylene | Sun Dolphin | 14 ft (4.27m) | Double-Ended Family Canoe | 765 lbs | Hazelnut or Navy |
This is a special canoe that has parts of two different kinds of canoes. It has a small place to put a motor that makes it go faster. The shape of the canoe is normal in the water. It also has places to hold fishing rods and paddles.
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Shopping for a used family canoe?
A canoe is not just a boat; it is a way for a family to have fun together and learn good things like working as a team and loving nature. Families will grow bigger and need bigger canoes, and sometimes they will sell their old canoes. You can buy a used canoe and make happy memories with your family.
When you want to buy a canoe, ask the seller some questions. What did they do with the canoe? How many kids do they have? How old were the kids when they used the canoe? Where did they go with the canoe?
Think about what your family needs and what the seller’s family has. Make sure the canoe is right for you. The seats should be cozy for everyone, and everyone should fit in the boat.
Be Safe And Smart When You Paddle Don’t drink alcohol and paddle. It is against the law to paddle when you are drunk.
This is true for all boats. This includes canoes, kayaks, SUPs, and rafts. You can look for used canoes online on websites like Craigslist, Kijiji, or Facebook Marketplace. You can also talk to other families who have Best Canoes For Families. They might want to sell their canoe. Some places that rent canoes will also sell them at the end of the season.
Family canoe buying guide
If you want to go camping, get a bigger canoe with space for paddlers plus all the gear. For day trips, a smaller canoe will work. And if you might add a motor later, look for a square-sterned canoe.
Also, consider the material. Lightweight canoes are easier to carry and load onto your car. But they cost more than heavier plastic or aluminum canoes that can take more abuse from kids and dogs.
Prioritize stability and ease of paddling if this is your family’s first canoe. Look for wider beams, shallow arch hulls, and multiple seats. Storage space for snacks and toys is a plus too.
What is a good family canoe?
A good family canoe should have three things: seats, balance, and space. A good family canoe should have enough seats for everyone, enough space for all your stuff, and not tip over easily on the water.
Some family canoes have an extra seat in the middle, behind the part that holds the canoe. This is a good thing, but not needed. You can use bags or pads as a seat. For little kids, it is better to have them sit on the bottom of the canoe. This will make the canoe more balanced.
Balance and space are two of the most important things for a family canoe. A balanced canoe will make you feel safe with a full canoe. Families with young kids who may move around a lot in the canoe will like a canoe that does not tip over easily. Look for a canoe that is wide and flat on the bottom to make it balanced.
Space is also important for a family canoe. Even on short trips, it is good to have a lot of space for your things – food, toys, and other things to make the day more fun for everyone. When you look for canoes, look at how much weight they can hold. You don’t want to be too close to the limit.
Family canoes can be called that, but other canoes may work too. Canoes made for carrying big things or hunting will also be balanced and have a lot of space.
Canoe vs kayak for family
The clear bonus of a canoe over a kayak for a family is the open space and roominess. It’s easier to get in and out of a canoe versus a kayak. And once inside, little kids have more room to move around.
If the boat flips, there’s less chance of getting trapped in a canoe. Kayaks made for 3 or more people exist but are rare. Family-sized 3-seat Best Canoes For Families are more common, and 4-seat ones do exist too. Small kids can also sit on the bottom, using canoe bags as seats.
Always Wear a Life Jacket
- Everyone, even strong swimmers, needs to wear a life jacket at all times in the water. It’s really hard to put one on if you fall in. Even light wind can blow you away from your boat faster than you can swim.
- Always wear a USCG-approved level 70 or type III life jacket made for paddling.
Most stable canoe for family
When picking a canoe for a family, look for wide hulls that are flat on the bottom. These offer great initial stability – meaning they feel steady and stable when resting in the water. Good initial stability is important with kids who will likely move around.
Some especially stable and wide canoe models are the NovaCraft Haida, Sun Dolphin Mackinaw SS, and Esquif Adirondack. Many companies also make a Prospector design. This shape balances stability with the ability to maneuver.
A wide, flat-bottomed hull prevents happiness when weight shifts. Kids can move freely without worrying the canoe will feel unstable. The models mentioned above are great choices for families looking for an easy-to-balance canoe.
Can a family of four fit in a canoe?
A 17-18 foot canoe fits 2 parents and young kids comfortably. For older kids or more space, choose a 20-foot canoe. The extra length provides leg room and capacity for gear. Prioritize comfort and test different sizes to find the ideal balance of space versus maneuverability for your family. Consider future needs as your kids grow when selecting the right canoe length.
What size canoe for a family of four?
A big canoe is 18 feet long. It has room for four people, two big and two little. The little ones can sit on a soft pad. A bigger canoe is 20 feet long.
What size canoe for a family of five?
A family of five can comfortably use a 20-foot canoe, but there are even bigger options like Voyageur-style canoes that can seat six or more. However, these larger Best Canoes For Families might be harder to find and may need their trailers. As an alternative, using two Best Canoes For Families could be a more practical choice as the family grows, allowing space for everyone and their gear.
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