Old Town Saranac 146

Guys, I know nothing about canoes but am wanting to pick up a couple to start playing around with. I have been looking at online classifieds and seen plenty of decent looking traditional 14-16' ones for $250-400. I also came across an Old Town Saranac 146 for $500 which caught my eye. Can anyone offer opinions/reviews of this model?

My goal is a basic canoe that holds 2 paddlers that can be used on floats down pretty flat, skinny water. I don't really have any desire to use it on lakes or rivers where power boats operate. I don't intend or anticipate these to become fishing rigs either - just something to explore in but with enough room for a couple rods and tackle if I choose. The Saranac looks like it would be comfortable for that. I also like that it has the third seat as it would make a good place for a kid to ride as we have twin 7 year olds and a 2 year old. Like I said, I'm a newbie on this stuff so I imagine whatever I buy likely won't be something I hold onto for forever and will likely get sold/replaced if the family seems to have solid interest in it moving forward.

I would search for a used Guide series from OldTown. They are better built. The Sarnac we had the bottom would deform/ push up while in the water. I have an older Guide series with the wood and web seats, it is stable enough I can stand up in the middle and paddle it. The other Guide series is has the seats in it like the Sarnac

I had one of those for a while. It just didn't work for me. I never felt very stable in it (especially with 10' gators following close behind me just waiting for me to fall out). Biggest problem (which would be the same for any canoe) is that I had almost no ability to spin around, stretch my legs, etc. If i had been a young man, I might have felt differently.

I did put cedar strips in the bottom of the one I had to reinforce it and make it hold shape in the water

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I would search for a used Guide series from OldTown. They are better built. The Sarnac we had the bottom would deform/ push up while in the water. I have an older Guide series with the wood and web seats, it is stable enough I can stand up in the middle and paddle it. The other Guide series is has the seats in it like the Sarnac

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Thanks for the info. I noticed it had a single layer bottom so I was kind of wondering about that. For a tandem canoe, are the 14' or 16' versions preferred? Is it simply just longer = more on water weight capacity but a few more lbs to carry loading/unloading?

Both of mine are 14 6 two adults and an ice chest full of catfish was no problem. We use them mostly to chase down catfish jugs. The kids, nieces and nephews have a blast doing.that. The deformation of the bottom makes it paddle funny and harder to control
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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Both of mine are 14 6 two adults and an ice chest full of catfish was no problem. We use them mostly to chase down catfish jugs. The kids, nieces and nephews have a blast doing.that. The deformation of the bottom makes it paddle funny and harder to control
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Awesome. Thanks for the info!

Glad to help

We had a Saranac 146 for a few years. Like others said, the bottom did sorta deform a bit. Not sure you would get away from that with any "budget" canoe though?

We enjoyed it on a small river close to home, mainly just used it for slack water fishing as opposed to our kayaks, so my wife could fish while I fished and controlled the canoe. We never did full river trips with it, I felt that was an argument waiting to happen lol. The river by home has some interesting spots in it that can be tricky to stay dry in a kayak.

I have another follow up question if anyone can help. I looked for used Guide series online and there were a good bit available in the $300-400 range. I noticed most of them had what looked like plastic molded front and rear bench type seats (no backrest). Can you buy add-on or aftermarket seats that are padded with back support to fit these? Also, what could be the solution for a center seat for a third passenger, assuming its a smaller child? Simply a cooler or something to sit on or are there other options available?

They should have the backrest built in on the plastic seat versions. If it is the wood and web seats you can add a backrest to those. A cooler is a good option for seating in the middle

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Originally Posted by scout-j-m

I have another follow up question if anyone can help. I looked for used Guide series online and there were a good bit available in the $300-400 range. I noticed most of them had what looked like plastic molded front and rear bench type seats (no backrest). Can you buy add-on or aftermarket seats that are padded with back support to fit these? Also, what could be the solution for a center seat for a third passenger, assuming its a smaller child? Simply a cooler or something to sit on or are there other options available?

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Canoes are awesome!
Don’t lose sleep on getting the best. I’ve had plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, and Kevlar. Each have their place but any will get you started. Find something in your price range to get out on the water.
Center seat? I bought a sling seat for my first one. Lightweight and surprisingly comfortable. Made 2 others with canvas and rope for other boats thru the years.


Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I’ve never been in the one you speak of. I have, however, spent a lot of hours in Grumman aluminums of different lengths. My last was a 15’ and if I had better shoulders, I would still have it. Flat bottoms make them very stable and I found them plenty wide enough. I faced backwards in the front seat on a throwable cushion to raise the seat to the level of the cross brace. I’ve seen them from 12 or 13’ all the way to the freighter which is 19’ and built for the task it implies. Just some input. You can’t hurt the things and they aren’t heavy but I have Arthur in my shoulders and they don’t work so hot over shoulder high.

The old towns are pretty heavy. I built a hitch rack to haul it on above the roof and bed to my Tacoma. Pretty heavy and awkward to do. Much easier on a trailer.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I’ve never been in the one you speak of. I have, however, spent a lot of hours in Grumman aluminums of different lengths. My last was a 15’ and if I had better shoulders, I would still have it. Flat bottoms make them very stable and I found them plenty wide enough. I faced backwards in the front seat on a throwable cushion to raise the seat to the level of the cross brace. I’ve seen them from 12 or 13’ all the way to the freighter which is 19’ and built for the task it implies. Just some input. You can’t hurt the things and they aren’t heavy but I have Arthur in my shoulders and they don’t work so hot over shoulder high.

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I like the aluminum ones too. I imagine they would be a fair amount lighter and would also store well upside down outside.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

The old towns are pretty heavy. I built a hitch rack to haul it on above the roof and bed to my Tacoma. Pretty heavy and awkward to do. Much easier on a trailer.

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I haven't put too much thought into transportation. I imagine I would mostly do paddle trips where I would need a drop off and pickup vehicle so I need to think about that part. I have an ext cab silverado with 6.5' bed which is 8' with the tailgate down. I can make it work without too much trouble - but a second transportation vehicle would require a rooftop setup on my wifes Honda pilot. I wish I had a small light duty utility trailer. I have an 18ft equipment hauler but that may be overkill lol.

Not to bad to load with help. Not so much fun to wrestle by yourself

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Originally Posted by scout-j-m

I have an ext cab silverado with 6.5' bed which is 8' with the tailgate down.

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I also have a Silverado ext cab - but mine also has a big toolbox making the 6.5' bed even shorter. When I had that same Saranac to haul, I used a set of "bunks" that I made up. I took 2 10' 2x4s and screwed a couple of shorter 2x4s (maybe 18" long) crossways so that it looked like a railroad track. I would slide the tips of that track under the tool box and then put the canoe on top of it. Worked like a charm.

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Originally Posted by DoyleAlley

I also have a Silverado ext cab - but mine also has a big toolbox making the 6.5' bed even shorter. When I had that same Saranac to haul, I used a set of "bunks" that I made up. I took 2 10' 2x4s and screwed a couple of shorter 2x4s (maybe 18" long) crossways so that it looked like a railroad track. I would slide the tips of that track under the tool box and then put the canoe on top of it. Worked like a charm.

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I have a similar toolbox, although not currently installed. Was deep and could only slide one 2x4 under it. Sounds like I could do the same thing you did if I ever put it back in.

Found a photo of the setup I built Attachment 405907