FWIW, my brother has a SR about that age. He is happy with it and still takes it to Q every year. Don't let age alone scare you. It's all about condition. He stores his canoes in his garage. Was it stored inside or out?

LL,

The prices tend to run a bit more, but you might check with several Ely area outfitters that often turn over used canoes from previous seasons.  For instance Piragis turns over their inventorty annually.  Check their website for used canoes.  Usually there is a good selection on manufacturer, size and layups.  If in Ely, they will let you 'test drive' with no commitment and they love to talk canoes.  The cost may be a bit more, but the canoes have only one season on them, you have more options and you'd only have to haul the boat one way....the first time anyway. 

I've never paddled a SR, but have done two person trips in a Wenonah Spirit II @17' with three packs and comfortable amount of room.  A 16' might get a bit tight, depending on how much gear you hall.  I'm pretty light, ie no chairs along, mostly the basics, but not hyper-light, so I generally carry less gear.

Good luck on your search.

pd

just some thoughts 

$600 is pretty cheap for a decent canoe - you don't need to own it for a hundred years you know - you could buy it, use it and sell it for $400 after a year or two and no big deal - or you could buy it, and a month later find a canoe you like a lot better - buy that one and resell the first for likely what you paid for it or not much less (depending on the "market" you are in).  If it makes you feel better to get a deal, offer the guy $500 - one thing to watch for in a used canoe is if it has wood gunnels - if the canoe was kept outside, the gunnels tend to rot; check the bottom for soft spots too - indication that water may have seeped into the fabric from a deep gouge

do you still have the same first vehicle/house/bike you ever bought ?  of have you upgraded/bought newer ?  same with a canoe - lots of people have the attitude that they have to get the perfect canoe the first time and pass it down a hundred years later - not so

for many years, we tripped in a 15' Grumman -  that had plenty of room for two with gear;  my current tandem boat is a Bell Northstar 16.5'  - no problem for two with gear -- it all depends on how much or how little gear you will take

One of my adult sons and I with gear for a week would be too tight in a 16 I feel. We try to pack light - three packs - and are comfortable in an SR17, which IIRC is just two pounds more than 16, all else being equal.

It is the Duralite.  Because of the distance (175 miles, one way) and age, I've decided to just remain patient.  I would rather find something a bit newer (used) and pay double that if I feel it is a better canoe long term for me. 

This canoe will be used tandem, and we likely will be going more into the Quetico with some BWCA trips too.  Our upcoming trip in May, we'll be on the north/northwest part of the park. Entering at Sue Falls.  That portage between Cirrus and Kasakakwog, uffda.  The lighter the better.

Thanks for the help guys.

Quote:


You mentioned little about its intended use.  For a tandom canoe for long trips, you may want a larger canoe.  For a canoe you can also use on rivers, Kevlar may not be the material of choice.

BillConner wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2015 at 7:26pm:


I don't know about Royalex, but they did make them in something called Duralite?

I've paddled/portage both and the weight is about the same but the Kevlar seemed "stiffer" than the Duralite. Construction was the same structurally. My friend and former outfitter Q-Dave said he though the Duralite was the better value for the money?

Didn't SR make these in Royalex back then? Not that it would be bad but price may not be quite the same deal.

I have a Q16 that is rigged for solo. It was a 6 year old livery canoe so it had a lot of miles and was not babied at all. It still is a very sound unit. If you can give a look and paddle and everything seems solid I would jump on it. A for a new one you need to put a 2 in front of that 600.00.

LL
It is worth that if the bottom does not oil can.