The canoe will need to carry two adults, two dogs, food, water, and camping gear for multiple days or even a week or more, so I'm thinking 17' or so touring type. It'll be used on slow rivers and lakes, no white water but it'll inevitably be sliding across the occasional rock.
I've been looking for a nice used one but haven't had any success, most I run across are too small.

Wenonah Champlain 18' https://www.wenonah.com/Canoes.aspx?id=15
seems to fit what I'm looking for but was hoping to not spend this much.

Mad River Journey 167 is priced a lot better but I don't believe its polyethylene hull is as rigid and it's going to be pretty heavy when it comes time to put it on top of the truck. https://www.madrivercanoe.com/us/canoes/journey-167

Neither of the above are T-Formex which is supposedly the replacement for Royalex, I haven't run across a T-Formex Touring canoe yet.

Any thoughts on others I should be considering? Or any suggestions where to buy at a good price?

Having ridden in the Grumman aluminum canoe and the Old Town canoe I would say to avoid one with a keel.

If you are doing an eddy turn with a canoe with the keel you will flip the boat over.

The Old Town didn't have a full length Keel and doing eddy turns with it was a breeze.

An eddy turn is where you put the nose of the boat in an eddy and let the current of the stream turn you around, and hopefully land you in the eddy to rest for a bit. Sort of like doing a 180 degree turn with a car, but without the squealing tires.

Thanks lizardman, I had read about keels in an old LL Bean book that while useful on lakes are not so good on moving water so I'll be sure to avoid any with a keel.

Easy Rider makes excellent canoes.
This model in Royalex would be perfect for you:

http://easyriderkayaks.com/raven18-6.htm

At 78 pounds it is a bit heavy, but it has the room you need and is tough as nails.

My daughter has a 15' Mad River (a few years old). It is lighter than any Aluminum canoe of the same size and paddles well. This was important to her because on Minnesota's Boundary waters, one has to portage a bit. It's also very ding resistant.
It is well made and was easily that best canoe that I had seen (at the time it was purchased).

quote:

Originally posted by mod29:
Easy Rider makes excellent canoes.
This model in Royalex would be perfect for you:

http://easyriderkayaks.com/raven18-6.htm

At 78 pounds it is a bit heavy, but it has the room you need and is tough as nails.

Thanks Mod, yes a Raven 17 or 18.5 might be just the ticket. Actually I never heard of Easy Rider, just tried to call but they are closed. Curious how feasible it would be to have a canoe shipped all the way from Washington State though? Also I was under the impression that Royalex hasn't been manufactured for a couple years now. I'll email them.

The email I sent bounced back, I'm wondering if they are still in business?

quote:

Originally posted by xl_target:
My daughter has a 15' Mad River (a few years old). It is lighter than any Aluminum canoe of the same size and paddles well. This was important to her because on Minnesota's Boundary waters, one has to portage a bit. It's also very ding resistant.
It is well made and was easily that best canoe that I had seen (at the time it was purchased).

Good testimonial xl, Mad river is one of the ones I've been considering. I probably need to go to a store that stocks a lot of canoes and just compare. None around here, that I know of, but I visit northern VA every month or so.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

The email I sent bounced back, I'm wondering if they are still in business?

Their web site says they're closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Should be open tomorrow.

ETA: It's curious your email bounced back.
I haven't been by their location in a long time, so I can't say for sure they're still in business. But if they are, you can't go wrong with a Raven.

quote:

Having ridden in the Grumman aluminum canoe and the Old Town canoe I would say to avoid one with a keel.

I have an old Grumman aluminum canoe. It's a tank and weighs a ton. It's hard for two people to put it on top of the Tahoe, especially if one of them is my 5'2" wife. Having said that, it holds up well on shallow, rocky shoals. It will likely last forever and I like it.

Can't go wrong with Wenonah. I am a fan of Merrimack Canoes too.

https://merrimackcanoes.com

I've only dealt with the smaller 14.5' model but it is very well built and feels/handles amazing with 1 or two people on board.

I've had a Wenonah kevlar model in the past and it was great and well built, especially how light it was and easy for one person to offload it from the car, etc. But it was so freaking terrible feeling on the water. Super unstable feeling, never felt I could relax.

I have had an Old Town Camper for almost 20 years and have had no complaints or issues. It should fit the needs.

Many river trips in n Old Town Discovery 169. Huge payload capacity. Stable and tracked great. Slid effortlessly over river rocks. The poly was pretty much indestructible.

quote:

Originally posted by mod29:

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

The email I sent bounced back, I'm wondering if they are still in business?

Their web site says they're closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Should be open tomorrow.

ETA: It's curious your email bounced back.
I haven't been by their location in a long time, so I can't say for sure they're still in business. But if they are, you can't go wrong with a Raven.

Yes I saw the showroom was closed Sun-Tues but when my email bounced and the fact their site still shows them using Royalex (which from my understanding is no longer made) has me wondering if they're still around making boats? I'll try calling tomorrow.

quote:

Can't go wrong with Wenonah. I am a fan of Merrimack Canoes too.

https://merrimackcanoes.com

Thanks I'll look into Merrimack as well. Also Old Town Camper and Discovery

quote:

......It was made out of the Royalex. I sold it for close to what I paid for it since they're not making them any more. I'd check to see if you can find a good condition used one. The capacity is insane, like 1100 lbs. Very stable and works pretty well on everything. And it can take a beating. Hard to go wrong if you can find one reasonable.

I have been looking for a Royalex touring canoe but they seem to be either beat up or too far away. I'd pay good money for a nice 17-18' one. Saw one like new for $1,000 but all the way to Baltimore.

Supposedly the new T-Formex that is out now is similar to Royalex but it's not been out very long. I wish Wenonah used it in their Champlain.

If you find what you want, the drive can be justified.

I drove all the way to Boston to get a Bolens lawn tractor. He also gave me a 3-pt hitch and some other parts.

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
If you find what you want, the drive can be justified.

I drove all the way to Boston to get a Bolens lawn tractor. He also gave me a 3-pt hitch and some other parts.

LOL I suppose you're right. Some years back I flew to Portland Oregon to buy a rather common BMW K100RS 16V then rode it back. I may look into that canoe after all.

Still remember visiting the Old Town factory with my dad and picking up our new canoe when I was a kid.

What a great memory zoom!

Owned two Wenonah's over the years both great products. Light weight and easy paddling. They are fast due to excellent hull design. Also as you get older, the light weight makes them easier to load/unload. The Kevlar with foam core are unbelievably light.

Had a canoe, loved it.

If your other adult is your wife... you may find your marriage is much happier with individual kayaks! :-)

Yes, more expensive, but, cheaper than a divorce... so, there is that. :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Dreamerx4:
Had a canoe, loved it.

If your other adult is your wife... you may find your marriage is much happier with individual kayaks! :-)

I get what you're saying, not wife.
But a lady friend who loves canoeing and camping. We both have dogs and take them camping with us and now want to do so from a canoe.