One of the best ways to enjoy nature is to canoe along a river or lake.
There’s something both relaxing and introspective when coasting across the calm waters of a lake.
If you’ve always wanted a canoe, then you may wonder what the average price of one goes for.
Here’s what you need to know about the average prices for a canoe.
How Much Does A Canoe Cost?
The average price of a new canoe is $900.
They tend to range from $600 to $1,500.
Big-name brands using high-quality materials can be even more expensive.
If that’s too pricey for you, then you might be able to find a gem among used canoes.
The average price of a used canoe is $400.
They tend to range from $300 to $550.
There are a few factors that can influence the price of a canoe.
What Factors Influence The Price Of A Canoe?
Canoes are a bit cheaper than some kayaks or other water vehicles.
However, first-time buyers might find that the price is too high for them.
Knowing the factors that add to the price can help them find a different canoe that still serves their specific needs but at a lower price.
Here are some factors that can influence the price of a canoe.
1. Materials
One of the biggest factors that can make a canoe affordable or expensive is the material it uses.
Two of the most expensive materials are wood and Kevlar.
Wooden canoes are expensive simply because wood is expensive.
Wooden canoes are traditional.
Before materials like plastic and Kevlar were available, canoes were primarily made out of wood.
Because of that, they’re often durable, seaworthy, and even works of art.
Wooden canoes are usually crafted by hand.
That means a lot more labor goes into its creation.
Besides that, the cost of wood, alone, makes canoes expensive.
Canoes are quite large and so use a lot of wood.
The other most expensive material is Kevlar.
Kevlar is best known for its use in bulletproof vests.
There are some canoe brands out there that also use it to make canoes.
These canoes are usually used professionally for fishing or touring.
The extra durability ensures that the canoe can survive sudden bumps from rocks or abuse through the struggles of fishing.
Kevlar is expensive because it’s a rare and heavily processed material.
It isn’t sold just anywhere.
Canoes can either use elements of Kevlar in their creation or have their entire body made out of it.
The more Kevlar that a canoe uses, the more expensive it’s going to be.
If the canoe consists of wood or Kevlar, then you can expect it to be expensive.
2. Design
All canoes have a similar design, but they’re not always the same.
Different brands use different designs for their canoes.
If a canoe goes beyond the traditional design, then it can become costly.
It’s more expensive because there’s more effort put into its design.
That might mean it needs more materials to support the design.
Brands also know that people like to buy items that aren’t exact copies of something else.
They like to stand out.
Because of that, they know that they’re willing to pay a bit more for a canoe that looks different than most.
All canoes have pointed ends.
Some are wider than others.
This means that some provide more storage or stability than others.
They also have open tops which allow those that are inside of them to sit closer to the water.
This makes canoes ideal for fishermen.
Due to its open design, canoers are able to sit or kneel or move around on the canoe without too much difficulty.
Because of these different designs, some canoes may be more expensive than others.
Those that provide more storage, for example, could be more expensive because the seller knows that there are some people in the market looking exactly for that.
The design of the canoe can impact its price.
3. Durability
When people buy a canoe, they expect it to last for some time.
At the very least, they expect the canoe to be able to float and carry them along the water.
Certain materials offer better durability than others.
Kevlar canoes, for example, are some of the most durable due to the amount of damage and abuse that the material can take.
Some plastic canoes are also extremely durable.
Others are less able to handle the abuse.
Wooden canoes, for example, may not do well over time.
That’s because exposure to water can slowly start to warp the wood if it isn’t cared for.
If the builder used a low-quality type of wood, then it might also dent or even start to fall apart.
Aluminum canoes are also prone to dents.
While they’re pretty sturdy and can take a good amount of abuse, they’re also easy to dent.
If the appearance of your canoe is important to you, then you might not like that your canoe is full of dents.
Some canoes are also easier to repair than others.
Fiberglass canoes, for example, can simply have more fiberglass added to cover any holes or problems.
Durable canoes are more expensive because it usually means they’re using higher-quality materials.
The makers of the canoe are also aware that their canoes are going to last for a while.
That means they’ll have customers making fewer repeat purchases.
They have to put a higher price on the canoe to make up for the missing profits.
Cheaper canoes tend to be those that use lower-quality materials.
An example is inflatable canoes.
Since they’re filled with air and have softer bodies, they’re more prone to leaks.
The affordable price tag on them makes them easier to replace.
The durability of a canoe influences its price.
4. Mass-Produced Vs. Handcrafted
Some canoe brands handcraft their canoes while others put them through an assembly line in a factory.
Mass-produced canoes are more affordable because the seller is able to make a lot of them in a short amount of time.
Since they have a high supply, they’re able to meet the demand for their products.
This means their places aren’t inflated and are more affordable.
There’s enough supply to go around.
Mass-produced canoes may be more affordable, but the cost of buying one is usually unique designs or quality.
The emphasis of mass-produced products is on quantity and not quality.
Handcrafted canoes, on the other hand, are a lot more expensive.
That’s because there’s a lot more labor involved.
The company has to hire a boatmaking expert.
Making a boat isn’t easy.
No matter what material you’re working with, you have to manipulate it to create a shape that will float on the water.
If the design is off by even a small amount, the canoe might sink or tip easily to one side.
Besides complexity, handcrafting a boat takes time.
Most handcrafted boats use wood.
The worker has to cut and shape the wood until it becomes a canoe.
It’s a physically-demanding job on top of it all.
That said, handcrafted canoes are some of the most beautiful in the world.
Each one is unique, too, since it’s impossible to do everything the same way when you’re handcrafting it.
Canoes are more expensive if they’re handcrafted, so if you’re looking for a deal, then you’ll want to buy from a seller that mass produces its stock.
5. Brand Name
The actual brand, itself, can sometimes influence the price of a canoe.
Brands that are well-known and have a strong following can have more expensive prices than a brand that isn’t known as well.
That’s because the big-name brand spent a lot of time and money investing in their product and marketing.
They’ve made their name become associated with a high-quality product.
As such, their customers trust the products that they buy from them.
Some names may also have an association with luxury.
Luxury-brand canoe makers tend to use rare materials in the creation of their canoes.
For example, they may use ancient or rare wood when handcrafting their canoes.
Others might hire artists to paint something unique on the canoe.
Some might have special features that other canoes don’t have.
Whatever the gimmick may be, some canoes are expensive because they carry a certain brand name on them.
How To Save Money On Canoes
While several factors can influence the price of a canoe, there are a few ways that you can save money, too.
Here are some methods you can use to save money on a canoe.
1. Buy Inflatable
If you’re unsure whether canoeing is right for you, then you shouldn’t invest in an expensive canoe at first.
You need to test out the waters.
The best way to do that is by buying an inflatable canoe.
Inflatable canoes are easily folded, which makes transporting them very easy.
Depending on the brand, you might also receive an air pump, but it’s worth buying a battery-powered or some other powered pump instead.
You are not going to want to inflate the canoe with a hand pump.
You won’t even want to canoe afterward because you’ll be too exhausted.
Inflatable canoes don’t last long, so you should go in knowing that you’ll need to replace them faster than you might think.
However, the perk of buying an inflatable canoe is that they usually only cost around $100 with the most expensive pushing towards $300.
That’s not too terrible of a price when you’re first starting.
You may even be able to find a used canoe for around $50.
Keep in mind that used inflatable canoes probably have holes.
Inflatable canoes are a great purchase to save money for those who are trying the hobby out for the first time.
2. Plastic Canoes
The material of your canoe can also determine how expensive it ends up becoming.
To save money on your canoe, you should look into buying a plastic one.
These are less expensive because they usually go through a factory for assembly.
They’re not handcrafted like wooden canoes.
They also don’t use expensive materials like Kevlar.
That said, even among plastic canoes, some can be more expensive than others.
Fiberglass canoes are among the cheapest plastic canoes because fiberglass is relatively cheap and easy to form.
When shopping for your canoe, you should begin your search with fiberglass ones to find affordable choices.
3. Brand
Although you may feel an impulse to go with the top brands in canoes, you don’t need to.
You can certainly expect an inflated price because it’s a well-known brand.
Instead, you should try out some of the new brands entering the market.
They may not have an established reputation yet, but you can be sure they’re going to have cheaper prices to try and compete with the market.
As always, you should always check reviews first when scoping out a new brand.
There are always scammers out there.
That said, buying a canoe from a new brand can sometimes save you a good amount of money.
4. Buy Used
One of the great things about canoes is that they can last for a long time.
As long as you buy one made of high-quality materials and take care of it, a canoe might last you an entire lifetime.
Because of that, it’s not uncommon to see used canoes up for sale.
This is especially true in areas with lakes, ponds, and rivers.
As people move out of an area, they may no longer need their canoes.
As such, they put them up for sale.
One of the best things about shopping for a canoe near an area where boating is popular is that the price tends to be cheaper.
That’s because the seller knows that most people in the area already have a boat.
They put a cheaper price to attract more interested parties into taking it off of their hands.
You can swoop in and score yourself a great canoe at an even greater price.
Before you make the sale final, you should always examine the canoe.
If they let you, then you should also take it for a test to ensure there aren’t any holes or damage that you’ll need to fix immediately.
If they’re not comfortable with you taking it out on a test ride, then you can always ask to run a pot of water over the base of it.
If you see water trickling into the cabin of the canoe, then you know it has a leak somewhere.
Wooden, aluminum, Kevlar, and plastic canoes are acceptable for used purchases.
These materials last for some time and should serve you well, too.
If the used canoe is an inflatable one, however, then you might want to pass on the deal unless it’s your first time and you’re looking for a steal.
Buying used canoes is a great way to save money.
5. Small Canoe
Like kayaks, canoes come in different sizes.
Some canoes are for one person while others are for two or more.
The larger the canoe is, the more expensive it’s going to be.
Since larger canoes use more materials and take more time to make, it makes sense that they’re also more expensive.
If you want to save money on a canoe, then you should consider buying a one-person canoe.
You may find that buying two one-person canoes is cheaper than buying one two-person canoe.
That said, if you’re planning on sharing the canoe with others, then you should also consider splitting the cost with them.
By splitting the cost, you can buy a larger canoe that fits everyone.
On your own, however, you should consider saving money by buying a one-person canoe.
6. Rent
Finally, you can save money on a canoe by not buying a canoe at all.
The cheapest way to enjoy a canoe is to rent it.
There are a lot of associated costs with owning a canoe.
The first cost is storage.
You need somewhere dry and cool to store the canoe.
If you don’t have a garage or shed that has room for it, then you might need to rent a storage unit.
This adds a monthly cost to owning a canoe.
That cost may not be worth it if you’re only able to use the canoe a handful of times in the year.
Another cost is maintenance.
Because you’re submerging it in water, you need to clean the canoe to get rid of any bacteria or debris that may be sticking to it.
If you run into something, then you may also need to take care of any dings or dents before they become worse.
These costs can add up.
The cheapest thing to do is to rent.
You’re able to pay a one-time price to rent a canoe for a certain number of hours.
When you’re done, the person takes it back and you’re able to go home.
You can enjoy the fun of canoeing without the worry of costs associated with owning a canoe.
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