I dabbled in kayaks between the ages of 17 and 19. I had little money, and could only afford a well used and significantly damaged fiberglass slalom race kayak. That summer, I learned a lot about fiberglass and how (not) to repair it. My passion was longer trips which my kayak was not good at, so it wasn't a natural fit. The cockpit was also quite small for me, and I nearly drowned in the darn think when I got turned upside down on a shallow river. I had lost my paddle, and I had a really hard time wet exiting. Then a friend heard from a friend that yet another guy was selling a canoe. It was the ugliest (someone was turned lose on it with some spray cans), and heaviest canoe I had ever laid eyes on, but it was cheap and was going to be mine!
I don't remember the brand, but it was on the order of 16' long, at least 3' wide, and the seats were milk crates. It was made of fiberglass, and it weight around 90 pounds. In spite of all its flaws, I loved paddling it, and I was hooked on canoeing for ever. I don't think I could car-top that sucker anymore...I also don't have to as my current canoes are much better quality. I don't miss the physical labor it took to go paddling. However, I off and on still think about that canoe and the good times my then girlfriend (now wife) and I had with it.
