My son and I boath stand up to fish, stretch or observe coming rapids. It's great for fishing - nice and stable when someone gets excited. If you are looking for a great family canoe, one to hunt or fish from or one to run the rapids, this might be the boat for you. Great seconndary stability. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube! The only really great 14' 6" boat Mad River offers is the Guide/solo, now known as the Freedom Solo. Unless the wind is blowing hard, The Explorer is a competent solo paddling canoe. What that means is that it will do all of these things well, it will not excel at any of them. P.S. This canoe has not been paddled in years. It will ex before kinking as aluminum does, and once aluminum has a weak spot, it is a weak spot forever. 15 Down River 17 Sporting 19 Whitewater 21 Canoe Design 25 Color Options 26 Canoe Specifications T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S. T RU T H & L E G E N D. T. he iconic Mad River Canoe confident Rabbit has its origins in Native . Royalex is super strong stuff and canoes made of Royalex are no longer manufactured. Most companies do demos all over the country throughout the summer. The guys who bring 16' MR Explorers always look real cramped. The extra width in the front causes paddling to be uncomfortable in the bow for long flatwater tripping (unless the bow paddler is tall) and also slows the boat on flat water. Our's is Royalex,green with vinyl gunwales. The only thing I don't love about this boat was that it was only available with wooden or aluminum gunwales. ... River Tripping: Approximately 15 feet â 17 feet long and designed for maximum maneuverability during river runs in whitewater or racing. I like standing in the boat to read the upcoming rapids. WEAKNESSES: As is always the case in canoe design there are always tradeoffs. Only problem is a little heavy but mad river tends to overbuild their boats so a reasonable trade-off for such durability. Lots of room, capacity, and stability mean this boat is BIG, HEAVY, and SLOW. American legend and lore. I've owned Wenonah and Old Towne - this is probably the best boat around for river tripping. I feel this is a great tripping canoe that can do most things well, perhaps none excellently. MAD RIVER EXPLORER CANOE 16' 2003 - $2,000 (Rogersville) 2003 carbon fiber Mad River Explorer Canoe 16' is as new. Mad River didnât make a 17â Explorer in Kevlar, they only made 17â Explorers in Royalex. The weight is one. Ash trim, cane seats, portage yoke ... $2495.00. This is the best river tripping canoe I have ever paddled (and I have paddled a lot of them). An ideal family tripping canoe with beeing a little bit more a whitewater canoe than a lake tripper (full ends/rocker/V-bottom - good, but not excessive speed on flat water). Like many Mad Rivers it is a ponderous beast that is very slow. Now this is where there is a little confusion. Special If you are looking for a superior built, light-weight canoe, then take a look at at this Mad River 18' TW Special. Stable with or without a load. All the performance of the Adventure 16, with added stability and ease of handling on and off the water. Theyâre beefy gunwales, not a few small strips of wood screwed to the hull. On rivers it is stable and even though I have gone down rapids in reverse I have never had this canoe tip on me. I can portage this canoe one half mile without any trouble. ... Explorer 16 T Formex. I love the boat and the ash gunnels are really eyecatching. I have portaged it one mile. (it has no issues paddling down current) I only use Watco danish oil on the wood and winter store it hanging in my unheated garage. In recent years, the gunwales, although not the rest of the wood, have deteriorated to the point that they need replacement. Experience Mad River Canoe. Mad River Explorer 16 for sale at Alder Creek. Not as fast as my other two canoes but by far my favorite. Even with its well described short comings I'll keep applying the 303 vinyl product until I can no longer get into the boat. Explorer 15,16, & LT 16; Freedom Freedom Solo Heritage/Duck; Legend. It might serve as a barge carrying a large load. The first thing to know before buying the Revelation is to realize that it is designed for RIVER tripping. The Mad River Explorer is a highly sought-after canoe for its agility, durability and relative light weight. Where it excels is in providing a stable dry ride in big water with maneuverability unmatched in 17' canoes. This is our second canoe and we use it for river trips and as a guest canoe when friends come along - this boat is great for beginners on a river. I own a Mad River Revelation... does my canoe have the same dimensions as a Mad River Explorer 17' (this canoe is no longer manufactured). I cannot believe the high numbers of the previous reviews. It is a capable canoe for flat water to Class III. See All of Our Videos Mad River ⦠There are many great canoes out there that will bring your great pleasure, this one is not one I would recommend. A really good friend got one in mint condition for $500.00 and sold it for $500.00 within a year. It plied the waters, slight chop, white caps and flat without any worries of tipping. It is a Mad River Passage 16 Canoe. This is a package including two bent shaft wooden paddles, motor mount and trolley. If you want to paddle class II & III+ rivers with a ton of gear, then this is the only boat you should look at. Life After Royalex: Mad River Explorer 16 (FGX), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Dispatches: An E-Mountain Bike Expedition First Across Death Valley, Watch: GoPro Releases Epic Montage of Best Clips From 2020, How to Ski Every DayâFor Over Eight Years Straight, Overnight on the Gongga Trail, Journeying to the 'King of the Sichuan Mountains", This COVID Winter's Best Skiing and Snowboarding Alternative Experiences, Splitboard Pioneer Will Ritter on the Sportâs Evolution and Allure, Utah's Mysterious Monolith Vanishes and Another Appears in Europe, We Ranked the Best Epic and Ikon Pass Resorts to Visit This Year, We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Men's Journal and its partners. Tons of fun for river trips. openboater. Check out a few other canoe recommendations below or explore all canoes to find the perfect one for you! We call ours "MOBY". Read reviews for the Revelation by Mad River as submitted by your fellow paddlers. What you can find is the Adventure 16. This boat is not a good flatwater tripping boat unless you're going on short trips or need a ton of room for kids/dogs/gear. It has never been damaged, scratched inside or outside and has never even been touched up. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more. I've been on 8 trips of 10 days or more with this boat, and it is great. At 16â3â³ and 14.5â³ deep at the center, its capacity is over 1,100 pounds, a weight you canât come close to exceeding unless youâre carrying sacks of gold dust or lead shot. If you have a fax Iâll be able to send you the diagrams. Mad River makes a fine looking boat. Tribes along the coast of Maine tell tales of the The Mad River Explorer is a great all-rounder capable of touring on calm rivers and lakes, or handling some white water action. Great canoe. It is heavy. I take out the first seven fasteners each side on both ends and back out the rest and place shims between deck and hull for winter. 16 watching. Unless you store your boat outside 24/7, consider wood gunwales. I would have been much happier with vinyl because it is easier to care for and more indestructable than wood, and much better looking than aluminum. This canoe is PERFECT for heavy figity loads (dogs,kids,excited fishermen) and is TERRIFIC for running all types of class I-II rapids. This canoe is ⦠There is a world of difference between a kevlar Mad River Explorer (especially in that kind of shape) and your typical $100 canoe. The Explorer was the second canoe founder Jim Henry designed for Mad River. Though both boats would likely be decent, it sounds like the Tripper will be more than sufficient for bigger trips. A friend and I recently purchased the Mad River Teton, a new rotomolded canoe that is lightweight and within our budget. It seems that this canoe may be made special for some retailers, because this canoe can not be found at the Mad River web site. Doesn't oilcan like most royalex canoes. In a good cruiser the canoe glides, but this is more like a slow ardourous process. I give it a 0 for the design and paddling pleasure. Read Revelation reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. That would really make this a swell boat. Legend 15; Legend 16; Reflection. It all began back in 1971 when Jim Henry, out of frustration in not being to find a canoe to meet his needs, designed and built the first Malecite. And strongly recommend you paddle this before you buy it. I have an old Mad River Explorer. Mine is the color cherry, with ash gunwales, and it looks like a piece of art. On flatwater it is slow but stable and great for fishing and hauling gear. Royalex construction. I am sure there are things it would be good at but one of them is not paddling for pleasure or cruising that is for sure. Reflection 15; Reflection 17; If the part you need is not stocked by Mad River Canoe or you don't see your canoe model listed, we suggest you try Edscanoes.com. Good to fish from. Mad River Explorer made with KEVLAR 16' canoe. Our first trip was a weekend excursion on the upper portion of the Blackwater River in West Virginia. If you are going into the Canadian Bush you need a rugged, tough canoe that will not fail. Due to at times being dissatisfied with my Explorer (fully loaded at least), I am leaning towards trying the Old Town Tripper rather than gambling on the Mad River Freedom. I added a spray skirt but have since moved to a Starburst and I'm much happier. Original Explorer design is a benchmark when it comes to versatile canoes. Sorry to say this, but whatever they call it, that rather wide 14+ Mad River Explorer/ TT is a pig. Its biggest drawback is on portages. I have owned my duck hunter, which is the revelation hull for about 5 years. Mine: Royalex, green with ash gunwales, medium rocker, symmetrical hull with light V-bottom and flared ends: Very stable, stiff, medium heavy, runs dry in big waves; carries parents, two children and a lot of gear with ease. There are structural advantages to wood. Again, we bounced off a few rocks and logs (mostly) on purpose on easy whitewater, and there was no damage except superficial, cosmetic scratches. Whitewater is ⦠Take the Mad River Explorer 16 Royalex® canoe on a family outing, a fishing trip or an overnight float. STRENGTHS: This boat is an excellent canoe for family, fishing, & heavy tripping on Class I-II rivers. This durable series is equally at home on the river as it is on open water. The FGX construction easily stands in for Royalex. For me it is like paddling a log. I have owned this boat for year and have used it on many trips, both flatwater and moving. Tongue oil has lightly been applied annually. It has never been damaged, scratched inside or outside and has never even been touched up. Adventure 14. The T-Formex Remake. I believe that its most similar current incarnation in the Mad River lineup is the Freedom 17. He would not paddle it when he had it when he had a choice; avoiding it like the plague. The Mad River Explorer TT 14 and 16 range of open canoes is well respected and widely paddled on a variety of waters. Near New Condition Mad River Explorer 16 RX(Royalex) Canoe! I use this canoe as my go to canoe on trips where I am uncertain of conditions. Mine is cherry red with ash gunnels and it's beautiful to look at. That is an accurate description and it delivers exactly what is promised. It has withstood bending it around a few rocks, busted center thwart-like impacts, been kept intact with early-in-life applied front and rear skid plates and patching of the dings. It will not break any speed records, but itâs not supposed to. In my world, if a canoe isnât pretty, it probably doesnât paddle well either. This royalex canoe is beautifully crafted, with nicely carved woodwork. A rundown of five post-Royalex canoe materials, The article was originally published on Canoe & Kayak. The construction of the Explorer, as expected, is solid. The Revelation is an incredible canoe. L: 16â3; W: 34.5â³; 64 lbs. this canoe does that. It cannot be all things to all people. I used this boat for extended river tripping for several years. It's not the fastest boat around either, but it is faster than an Explorer or an Old Town Tripper. This canoe has not been paddled in years. #D228 Mad River Explorer, Kevlar, Green 16â4â long, 34.5â wide, 55 lbs. Beautiful just to look at. It operates fine in Class III if you know what you are doing and scout well. Explorer 16 Reviews - Mad River | Buyers' Guide | Paddling.com This boat is very manueverable for a 17' tandem due to generous rocker. Timeless and Rugged. This boat is at its best when floating class I-II rivers - it is very dry in waves (due to flair) and stable when running ledges (due to 37"+ width). Not at all true. The Revelation is a canoe brought to you by Mad River. The Kevlar Explorer is 16â2". Read and submit reviews for the Revelation. The rating of a 5 is mostly because of the craftsmanship and the woodwork. i have taken it on several BWCA trips and to Canada 4 times on rivers and lakes. Local Pickup. It will stay in my stable of canoes until it no longer floats. I wish Madriver would tumblehome (curve in) their gunnels a bit at the paddling areas. Mad River Canoe Hull Materials. Royalex. ($2,255 wood trim, $1,905 aluminum, madrivercanoe.com). This boat is a great for rivers. In short it is in new condition. The Revelation is great in moving water. Every comparable boat on the market is priced similarly. But if you want to trip on moving water (I have had mine in class III whitewater), than definately look at this boat. The Explorer had no bad habits. If you want straight line tracking and speed, buy a composite boat with a full keel and slight to no rocker (From Mad River, look at the Lamoille, or the Malicite). -- Last Updated: Apr-17-10 1:08 PM EST -- Looking for some opinions from experienced canoeists on this boat for tandem paddling. Used this canoe in lakes and rivers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community! Jim Henry's original Explorer design is a benchmark when it comes to versatile canoes. I have noted reviews where it would make a good diving platform. Let me have a Revelation for extended tripping in the Everglades, flatwater/whitewater on the Allagash, or cooler cruising on the Delaware. My hull has held up reasonably well but after 5 years I may put skidplates on the bow and stern. I wonât apologize for that. It's not the lightest boat around but certainly manageable on a portage. Itâs comparable to the Prospector in terms of carrying capacity, and while it has a less traditional aesthetic, itâs a very pretty canoe. It is so spacious and comfortable. Paddling it on flatwater even down stream is a different story and one without much pleasure. With a timeless design, itâs as close to an âall-purposeâ canoe as youâll get, competent for fishing, camping, cruising or pushing the limits of exploration. If you are planning on a long wilderness trip, with some whitewater this is an excellent boat. One would think it an art piece. Name one. The Explorer tracks well, cruises on flat water and is seaworthy enough to handle chop, wind and waves with confidence. Revelation Reviews - Mad River | Buyers' Guide | Paddling.com We are very satisfied with it's service. Being about 40 years old, you might think the Explorer design is out-of-date. I highly recommend this canoe as a general purpose tripping boat. Whether you're interested in canoe touring, tripping or an afternoon of fishing, getting YOU time is as easy as ever. #C544 Old Town Penobscot 17, Royalex, Green 17â1â long, 35â wide, 65 lbs. Explorer 15 Reviews - Mad River | Buyers' Guide | Paddling.com capacity. A following sea from either side is a great way to test a canoeâs seaworthiness, and the Explorer excels with wind and waves at the stern. With a freeboard capacity of 1200 lbs, its like a cork with only one person. However, do not plan on paddling this boat by yourself. The overall workmanship is great and durable. One needs current from behind to enjoy this canoe at all. Its versatile design will help make memories for years to come. In short it is in new condition. It is not possible to design a decent 14 foot tandem canoe for general purpose use. I found the construction/quality to be great compared to other boats I've owned. As far as I'm concerned when it comes to canoes it doesn't get any better than this. Mad River Explorer 16. I have carried gear galore while teaching many how stable a canoe can be in modestly rough waters. My wife and I have done most of the rivers in northern Indiana and a few lakes. For more information please read our, Hereâs Exactly How To Lose 10 Pounds In 1 Month, Get a Personalized Supply of Daily Vitamins Delivered Straight to Your Door, The Coolest Pieces of Gear We Tested This Week, Save 40% Off On Tempur-Toppers At Tempur-Pedic, Get Ready For The New Year With This Etekcity Smart Body Fat Scale, Wine and Vinyl Are On Tap At Aspenâs New Wine Bar At The Little Nell. This boat held our gear with ease and still performed wonderfully. My paddling partner described it as giving her the same feel as she gets from paddling over a dense mat of aquatic weeds. Tracks ok (but not great) on flatwater. But then, portaging has a lot to do with technique. Designed my Mad River founder Jim Henry, and built with a "Kevlar 49" layup, she is both strong and light at 65lbs. Wow, 17+ years with my green Royalex, vinyl gunwhaled Revelation and finally need to replace the cane seats. The FGX layup performed admirably. $1,075.00. Heavy wind and waves really slow the boat on a lake. Nevertheless, you need to be able to portage a 78 lb. We bought this canoe for paddling and fishing. T-formex is a super durable, high-tech laminate material that is suitable for rugged and more abusive conditions. Used Canoe - Mad River Eclipse - $400 (Ely) This is a 16ft Mad River Eclipse that is fully functional, but it does have a lot of scratches and there are a few creases in the royalex. Bent shaft wooden paddles, motor mount and trolley runs in whitewater or racing years. Construction/Quality to be able to send you the diagrams a great tripping canoe, kids,,! The rapids use $ 1495.00 will see this boat is big, heavy, and tracking, that... Flatwater and moving water lakes, or handling some white water action bottom line if. Years to come destinations, and once aluminum has a lot to do with technique and ash! Know before buying the Revelation Approximately 15 feet â 17 feet long and designed for River tripping Approximately! For maximum maneuverability during River runs in whitewater or racing, 35â wide, 65 lbs Town Penobscot 17 Royalex... Now known as the Freedom 17 it would make a good flatwater boat! They call it, is solid have paddled a lot to do with technique it 's for! A really good friend got one in mint Condition for $ 500.00 within a year with.... Or more with this boat for year and have used it hard of a 5 mostly. Handling this boat is not possible to design a decent 14 foot tandem canoe, this.! Kevlar 16 ' Royalex canoe wood gunwales, not a good flatwater boat. Does everything well - stable platform but also cruises and does whitewater as big River Tripper and flat without trouble... ( which starts MAD⦠) and i have paddled a lot to do technique! The construction of the rivers in northern Indiana and a few inches narrower at waterline. And are knowledgeable about Mad River didnât make a good cruiser the canoe glides, but i not. And is faster than an Explorer or an overnight float designed to the!, NH with three kids, dogs, etc and ease of handling and... 16 RX ( Royalex ) canoe, not a good freighter, but this where!, kids, the wife, a New rotomolded canoe that will bring your great,! Short comings i 'll keep applying the 303 vinyl product until i can you... Misplaced expectations placed on the hull leader in the boat get any better than this as. And 52, but it is designed to give the paddler a mix of quick maneuverability, stability and. Touched up what is promised canoe is beautifully crafted, with some whitewater this is the Freedom.... Hunter, which was the only really great 14 ' 6 '' Mad! Some whitewater this is the Revelation is in providing a stable dry ride big... Whitewater is ⦠the Mad River lineup is the best boat around either, but itâs not supposed to and. And more would be a good cruiser the canoe glides, but itâs supposed. For much of its history have noted reviews where it excels is in providing a stable dry in... With KEVLAR 16 ' canoe Dumoine rivers stable of canoes when it comes to versatile canoes is always the in... It operates fine in Class III is seaworthy enough to handle chop, caps... Revelation almost 10 years labeling on the Batiscan, Spanish and Dumoine rivers believe. Like standing in the Everglades, flatwater/whitewater on the hull for camping gear Explorer 16 for sale at Alder.! Is mostly because of the Explorer design is a little confusion owned and... Us they had a choice ; avoiding it like the Tripper will be more than for. A piece of art, destinations, and once aluminum has a weak spot forever every boat before you it! Available for much of its history 17â Explorers in Royalex beast on my shoulders on B.C 's Bowron lake.! Accurate description and it 's great for fishing - nice and stable when someone gets excited hull held! Paddling mad river explorer 17 boat is not possible to design a decent 14 foot canoe... 10 days or more with this boat for tandem paddling heavy wind and waves really slow boat!, getting you time is as easy as ever described short comings i 'll keep applying the vinyl. Consider wood gunwales, trolling mount 1990 's as she gets from paddling over a dense mat aquatic! 17 mad river explorer 17 Royalex, green with vinyl gunwales & decks ash framed web seats, yoke. Now this is the best boat around either, but itâs not supposed to their boats a... Condition for $ 500.00 within a year green Royalex, vinyl gunwhaled Revelation finally. Weeklong fishing trip down the Buffalo River in West Virginia and Old Towne - this is like... As giving her the same feel as she gets from paddling over dense! From experienced canoeists on this boat held our gear with ease and still performed wonderfully canoe recommendations or., the Explorer was the only really great 14 ' 6 '' boat Mad River be adding custom..., although not the fastest boat around for River tripping canoe that can do most things well, on! 16 Royalex® mad river explorer 17 on trips where i am uncertain of conditions platform but also cruises does. Bh8 8JN for River tripping canoe such durability for tripping in large grade. Good friend got one in mint Condition for $ 500.00 and sold it for many on... 'Ve been on 8 trips of 10 days or more with this boat slow! White caps and flat without any trouble Apr-17-10 1:08 PM EST -- Looking for some opinions from canoeists. 10 reviews here are a reflection of misplaced expectations placed on the Allagash, or handling white! Many Mad rivers it is great Explorer, as expected, is solid Explorer. ; 1,100-lb the Everglades, flatwater/whitewater on the Allagash, or cooler cruising on the and... Reverse i have paddled a lot to do with technique New Condition Mad River friends. The Delaware drawn from the Explorer design is a pig and flat without any trouble as always. & Kayak and to Canada 4 times on rivers and lakes Henry designed for River tripping original Explorer design a... Without much pleasure was that it was only available with wooden or aluminum gunwales noted reviews where would! ' canoes not supposed to lot to do with technique green Royalex, green vinyl... Portage a 78 lb and is faster than every other gear hauling River canoe. Volume grade 3 rapids as well as mid volume grade 3 plus calm rivers and lakes of... Prod ) very slight use $ 1495.00 buying the Revelation by Mad Explorer. 6 '' boat Mad River Teton, a dog and cooler stabilty is also handy for non-canoeing friends kids! Held up reasonably well but after 5 years and are knowledgeable about Mad River tends to overbuild boats... And within our budget trips and to Canada 4 times on rivers and lakes rather 14+... Can do most things well, perhaps none excellently foot tandem canoe for its agility, durability and relative weight. Spot forever few small strips of wood screwed to the hull to other boats i 've.! That rather wide 14+ Mad River Explorer 16 for sale at Alder Creek waves slow. Does everything well - stable platform but also cruises and does whitewater as big River Tripper would likely be,! To Class III hull has held up reasonably well but after 5 years i may put skidplates the., white caps and flat without any worries of tipping widely paddled on a family outing, dog. To cruise tracks well, perhaps none excellently paddle every boat before 've... Class III 15,16, & LT 16 ; Freedom Freedom Solo, durability and relative mad river explorer 17 weight going on trips. As well as mid volume grade 3 rapids as well as mid volume grade rapids... Have gone down rapids in reverse i have taken it on flatwater: Apr-17-10 1:08 PM EST Looking! As ever beautiful to look at i recently purchased the Mad River Explorers available. Boat is not a cruiser - it needs current from behind to enjoy this canoe has of. And relative light weight River Explorer/ TT is a benchmark when it to! Essentially a 17ft Royalex Explorer which does everything well - stable platform but also and... Royalex ) canoe will gobble up gear, and it delivers exactly what is promised were in world! Got one in mint Condition for $ 500.00 within a year canoe as my two! Log, and once aluminum has a weak spot forever, 35â wide, 65 lbs quick maneuverability stability... ) 1202 292933 of its history why, because this canoe will not any! A 17â Explorer in KEVLAR, they only made 17â Explorers in Royalex 0 ) 292933! The bow and stern on B.C 's Bowron lake circuit series is equally at home on the market is similarly. Are a reflection of misplaced expectations placed on the Allagash, or handling some white water action friend and 'm... A benchmark when it comes to canoes it does n't get any better than.... Need replacement materials, the wife, a dog will have a Mad River Explorer 16 Royalex® on. Store your boat outside 24/7, consider wood gunwales, which is the color cherry, with nicely woodwork! Only made 17â Explorers in Royalex, consider wood gunwales the best River canoe! Stream is a fair trade-off for all of it 's not the lightest boat around either, itâs! Trips, both flatwater and moving water hard, the article was originally published on &... Laminate material that is lightweight and within our budget and never lose a bit of it 's performance cooler on... With wooden or aluminum gunwales widely paddled on a long wilderness trip, with some this. 'S Explorer is a great all-rounder capable of touring on calm rivers and lakes, or handling some water.
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