Choosing a Mad River canoe

Mad River Canoes:

The first step in choosing a Mad River canoe is to determine the ways in which you plan to use it. First decide how you will be using your new Mad River canoe. Review the chart below to find a canoe that's right for you. Once you have identified the ways you plan to use your canoe,

Refer to our usage guide.
Then familiarize yourself with some canoeing terms.
Review basic concepts of canoe design
Finally check the hull construction guide to find the Mad River canoe that matches your usage requirements and performance expectations and paddling preferences.

If you are looking for a well - rounded, multi - purpose craft, chances are you will find it in our Versatile Series. If you are seeking a canoe with more perfomance characteristics and a little less versatility, it's probably in our Focused Series. For a craft that is suited to a single purpose, it's likely to be in our Specialty Series.

Recreation

For recreational use, you'll want a canoe that is predictable in a variety of lake and river conditions. You'll want a boat suited for day use and the occasional overnight trip. A boat for recreational use should offer more than fun, it should also be a confidence builder a versatile, stable, and comfortable craft that offers you and your family a true sense of security.

Cruising

For the sheer joy of paddling, it's hard to beat lake and river cruising. Here, you'll want a fast, lightweight boat capable of covering distances on gentler waters quickly with minimal paddling effort. You'll want a Mad River canoe with a streamlined, high-speed hull for easy, efficient paddling, yet one with enough cargo capacity for weekend camping trips.

Tripping

If tripping is your idea of adventure, you'll want a ruggedly built, easy paddling canoe that will take you and all your gear into the wilder ness for a week or more and back out again safely. For extended tripping, you'll appreciate a high volume, efficient paddling canoe with the ruggedness that inspires confidence when you're days from civilization.

Whitewater

To some, paddling whitewater is the ultimate in canoeing adventure. If you want to challenge whitewater, you'll want a craft as durable as it is maneuverable, with a Mad River hull design that will help to keep you dry. If you get your kicks playing in rapids, you'll want a model with extreme rocker. For river running, a straighter keel with flared or full ends is more desirable.

Sport

If you are a hunter, fisherman, or photographer, you want a durable boat that will provide a stable platform for shooting, casting, or picturetaking. A canoe suited to the needs of the sportsman should be maneuverable enough to navigate the narrow backwaters, yet roomy enough to carry your gear.