Old Town Kayaks -- a Venerable Company That Delivers

Old Town Canoe is one of those venerable companies that have been around for over a century, and Old Town kayaks are worth considering if you're in the market for a new boat.

We recieve a lot of email from paddlers all over the world, and owners of Old Town kayaks seem to be among the most loyal group of boat owners around. Paddlers rave about OT's comfortable cockpits, sturdy construction, and stability on the water.

Just as with any other kayak brand, we've heard a few complaints about Old Town kayaks, mostly minor issues regarding seat comfort and the tendency for the rubber hatch covers on some models to leak. But these negative comments have been relatively few and far between, and you'll find Old Town owners to be a loyal and happy bunch overall.

Old Town Canoes -- the company

Located in the town of Old Town on the Penobscot River in northeast Maine, Old Town Canoe has been around since 1898. The company's first wood and canvas canoe was built founder A.E. Wickett behind a local hardware store. Wickett's canoes were a hit, and the company was incorporated as Old Town Canoe Co. in 1903

The word spread about Old Town Canoes, and the company was producing upwards of 400 boats per month in 1906, a phenomenal number considering the manufacturing methods of the day. By 1910, Old Town was boasting itself as the Canoe Center of the World, with 3,500 canoes built that year.

Over the following decades, Old Town Canoe moved into a converted shoe factory near the Penobscot River. The first Old Town kayak was produced in 1940, a wood and canvas boat. The company continued to grow and thrive, and eventually became the world's largest canoe manufacturer.

In 1974, Old Town Canoe was purchased by Sam Johnson of S. C. Johnson Wax, making it a subsidiary of Johnson Wax Associates. That company later became Johnson Outdoors Inc. Old Town Canoe is now part of a prestigious family of quality companies including Carlisle Paddles, Dimension Kayaks, Escape Sailboats, Extrasport PFDs, Leisure Life Ltd., Necky Kayaks and Ocean Kayak.

In 2003, Old Town produced its one millionth boat.

The Products

As we said in the opening, Old Town kayaks and canoes have a loyal following. Users have raved about their roomy and comfortable cockpits, good handling characteristics, and the quiet and warmth of OT's 3-layer Polylink 3 hull material. OT has updated their hatch covers, using a twist lock system that eliminates much of the leaking problem of the older covers.

The Old Town kayaks also seem to track well, even without a rudder. The Loon series of kayaks are great for exploring lakes and wetland areas, but not ideal for day touring. The Castine, Nantucket, and Adventure boats are longer, have more storage capacity, and are more suited for touring. For general recreation, you'll probably want to go with one of the Casco or Otter models.

Old Town recently introduced its Predator Series, a line of canoes and kayaks specifically designed for anglers and hunters. These boats are stable, relatively small, and light weight, and can be easily car-topped or loaded into a pickup.

As mentioned earlier, we have heard some complaints about the Old Town kayaks, but most of these have been small gripes about leaking hatch covers and the hulls scratching easily. One user wished that there was a drain plug on his Loon 111.

Conclusion

These few minor faults aside, we would still highly recommend a Old Town kayak to anyone considering a new recreational or touring boat. The OT boats feature solid designs, rock-solid construction, and their Polylink 3 hull material is a winner. They offer a wide selection of accessories, and a fit and finish that's second to none.

Need a New Touring Kayak?

Is that trusty old touring kayak getting a little long in the tooth? Are you finding it harder and harder to keep up with your paddling companions? Are you finding that your current boat just doesn't have the storage capacity for those long, multi-day excursions? Or are you in the market for your first sea or touring kayak?

If so, you might consider purchasing your next boat from one of the online merchants. Retail paddling shops are great if you can find one, but most only carry one or two brands, and expect to pay the full retail price. Online merchants, on the other hand, often carry several brands and dozens of touring and recreational kayaks, and usually at very competitive prices. They have secure ordering systems, good warranty and return policies, and will ship virtually anywhere in the world. And you won't have to spend a weekend driving all over town in search of that perfect new boat.

If you've got a moment, check out one of our recommended merchants. You'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

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Tips & Tricks

Use Those Hips

When performing a roll, the natural (and very
understandable) urge is to get your head back above water as soon as possible. For beginners, this usually entails trying to right the kayak using one's upper body strength alone-- a big mistake.

Instead, stay calm, perform your sweep stroke, and then use your hips to complete the roll. When done
correctly, the paddler's head is the last thing to
come out of the water. Practice in a pool with an
assistant when possible. After a few attempts, you should get the maneuver down to where you snap your
hips automatically every time you roll.