Submitted: 08-03-2004 by jayp
I have several Royalex boats, and this one gets lots of use - depending. It paddles relatively easily, tracks well, and turning is snappy if you heel it over. The round bottom is great; you can lean it until water comes over the gunwale and bring it back upright again. However, the lack of bow flare allows it to ship water in big waves or even moderate drops. Hence, keep it away from big water. I would not recommend this boat for novice paddlers or family. The lack of initial stability makes it feel tippy to beginners, and it's not enough boat to carry a large load. That said, my Penobscot 16 has been soloed down many Maine rivers - the St. John, Allagash, Machias. All in all, the design is a good compromise between easy flatwater paddling and downriver canoeing, but it's not the best in either category. |