Old Town Pack Canoe

I’ve been looking for a solo canoe for weeks now. I’d like to get a nice composite canoe for trips to the Adirondacks but my budget is a bit lower than that what these usually sell for. Through my research on solo canoes I’ve seen people mention the Old Town Pack canoes and it seems like there is a cult following for them. Probably due to them being Royalex, lightweight and there are a ton of them out there. The Pack wasn’t really on my radar to be honest due to it being shorter than what I wanted. I also didn’t want to pay the premium people are charging for them. I’ve seen them as high as $800 and not in the best shape. Maybe one that was truly mint is worth that.

Anyway, one was listed on Facebook Marketplace today for $200. The pictures showed it was in fair shape, you can tell it spent years outside due to the fading but other than that it seemed to be dirty but serviceable. It was located about 30 minutes away so I reached out and it was still available. I decided to take a gamble and said I’d take it. It was being sold by a young family who was moving in a few days and you could tell by their yard. It seemed OK, no cracks and the wood is sound. Some flex in the bottom when pushed on but I’ve read many of these will oil can a bit when on the water. Hardly any scratches on the bottom and it has Kevlar keel guards. Seat should hold up once oiled. If not I’ll replace the caning with webbing. I’ll look it over more carefully tomorrow when I wash it and wipe it down with 303 to see if I can get any of the original color back. Hopefully it paddles well. It is a 1990 model. Here are some pictures.

Good one

That's awesome, looks like you got a good deal!

Awesome. I absolutely love mine

Good deal. They are usually $500 around here. That should clean up well.

I never see an OT Pack in any shape going for that price around here. Good catch.

Re: the hull flex.... That's normal on a flattish bottom, especially for RX that hasn't aged too much. If you hear crunchy noises when you push on it, that simply means the middle foam layer has hardened and become brittle (just that layer) so the hull won't be as resilient to impact or wrapping as it once was. In that case, you'd want to treat it more like a lightweight composite. But if no crackly noise, you're golden.

Either way - that's a good deal!

The Old Town Pack---the little barge that can---

Clean it up--get it on the water---let us know what you think---

Sure I'd like something a little longer, sleeker, tac a little straighter-----but heck for the price, weight, materials, the Old Town Pack just keeps on going.....and going.....

Someday I might add another solo canoe but I'd be hard pressed to move the Pack on------

I even sail mine once and while.....

FreeMe said:

I never see an OT Pack in any shape going for that price around here. Good catch.

Re: the hull flex.... That's normal on a flattish bottom, especially for RX that hasn't aged too much. If you hear crunchy noises when you push on it, that simply means the middle foam layer has hardened and become brittle (just that layer) so the hull won't be as resilient to impact or wrapping as it once was. In that case, you'd want to treat it more like a lightweight composite. But if no crackly noise, you're golden.

Either way - that's a good deal!

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No cracking sounds internal or cracking on the outside surface that. I’ve flexed all areas. The hull seems to still be quite resilient. I’ll know more when I get it on the water and get my weight on it. The seat has a couple of tears so it might be a bit delicate. I will be sure to take a roll of duct tape on the first paddle in case I need to make a quick repair. It will need a permanent fix and when I do that I will probably take out all of the wood and sand it down and oil it. The finish is flaking off in a few areas.

Got a chance to give it a good cleaning. Got it about 90% clean and that’s fine with me. Subsequent cleanings will get the rest. Two applications of 303 got the color a bit darker. I plan to apply 303 a few more times over the weekend it looks much better now.

RavenLoon said:

Good deal. They are usually $500 around here. That should clean up well.

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I’m fairly certain I lucked out due to the seller not stating it was a Pack in the title of the listing. There are a couple well over $500 for sale around here and one is in terrible shape.

mjh said:

The Old Town Pack---the little barge that can---

Clean it up--get it on the water---let us know what you think---

Sure I'd like something a little longer, sleeker, tac a little straighter-----but heck for the price, weight, materials, the Old Town Pack just keeps on going.....and going.....

Someday I might add another solo canoe but I'd be hard pressed to move the Pack on------

I even sail mine once and while.....

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Yes I’m interested in seeing how it paddles. Even if I end up finding something longer and faster this might be great to keep around for fishing or for my kids to use.

I had a pack for several years, it was a great canoe. I've got a Yellowstone Bell solo now. The bell is faster, tracks better, and flips much more quickly. If I had a Pack canoe for $200 it would be mine forever. When I had my Pack, I could carry it in one hand my rod and tackle box in the other with the dog trailing along and it was one trip from the car to the shore line and fishing. I think the Pack was much more stable than a lot of other solo canoes especially for fishing. The Pack doesn't track the greatest but you learn to adapt and the trade off is stability. Have fun with it and store it out of the sun.

I used to think the OT Pack had a very limited use. Yeah - fishing, birdwatching, lilydipping - but especially not river running. I was wrong about that. Eventually, I followed another paddler who was in a Discovery 119 (pretty much the same size/shape) down a local technical class 2+ (or 3, depending on who you ask) stream. He paddled those rapids that included some "must make" moves and waves that I expected to swallow that little canoe - and he paddled it dry. It was no accident - I could see that he had a definite and repeatable skill in handling the boat. It was a real "aha" moment for me, and changed the way I approach big waves.

Another thing about short and shallow solo canoes....they're less effected by wind. Yeah - if I ever see a deal like that on an OT Pack, I'm gonna grab it.

chickasaw_hunter said:

I had a pack for several years, it was a great canoe. I've got a Yellowstone Bell solo now. The bell is faster, tracks better, and flips much more quickly. If I had a Pack canoe for $200 it would be mine forever. When I had my Pack, I could carry it in one hand my rod and tackle box in the other with the dog trailing along and it was one trip from the car to the shore line and fishing. I think the Pack was much more stable than a lot of other solo canoes especially for fishing. The Pack doesn't track the greatest but you learn to adapt and the trade off is stability. Have fun with it and store it out of the sun.

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I agree with everything you just said. And I do the same things. I often find myself standing and flyfishing out of my OT Pack. Thats something ive struggled with even in the newer fancy fishing kayaks. And im not a small lad at 6'3 and 210.
OP, if you were closer, I'd probably double your money just to have another...

Good catch, that sure is nice canoe and it sure cleaned up clean! I am obviously on the market for a solo canoe as my recent thread on middle seats indicate. You got a great deal on that canoe, at least compared to the part of the country that I reside. The specs show 33 pounds on that model. Wow, that would be a lot easier portaging than my 90 pounder!

Are the packs 12 feet or did they have models with different lengths?

somhoops said:

Good catch, that sure is nice canoe and it sure cleaned up clean! I am obviously on the market for a solo canoe as my recent thread on middle seats indicate. You got a great deal on that canoe, at least compared to the part of the country that I reside. The specs show 33 pounds on that model. Wow, that would be a lot easier portaging than my 90 pounder!

Are the packs 12 feet or did they have models with different lengths?

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I believe the Pack was always 12’ long. I know some people convert the shorter 14’/15’ Old Town tandems into solos.

I have three. 2 angler versions and one regular. I use them more than any of my other canoes or kayaks. I would buy another if I could find one.

that OT sure cleaned up nice! I think you got a great deal!

im fond of mine.

Riverpirate said:

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Great picture. I plan to try a double blade kayak paddle with the Pack. I’ve read a 260cm or longer paddle works well. I think my longest kayak paddle is 240cm so I’ll need to buy a new one.

I'm using a 260cm Slice. Not as light as carbon but at a reasonable to me cost.

Mine is 240 but I use a pretty high angle and close to the boat stroke.