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Old Town Penobscot 164

rated 2.5 of 5 stars
photo: Old Town Penobscot 164 touring canoe

Poor quality

Pros

  • Cheaper than Nova Craft

Cons

  • Quality is not there

Have bought three canoes from Old Town within three years, all with issue shipping and defects.

First, with the Saranac 160 bottom of hull has warped in the middle old. Town blames it on it's an entry level canoe and its one-layer poly allows it to flex and form due to heat, the way it's stored etc. I was under assumption they back the hulls 100% for a lifetime. Don't seem like the case. Canoe has only been on water about a dozen times and stored upside down on the gunnels as required and only sees two hours of sunlight a day were it's stored.

Second, the Discovery 119 arrived. No visible damage from packaging or shipping damage, but had a golfball-size dent in the side. Old Town blames shipping again and doesn't uphold the lifetime hull warranty.

Thirdly, the Penobscot 16.4 that came in with about 15 pea-sized dents. One dent in front with defects on the inside of canoe looks like a wolly worm where the dent is, as well as the whole canoe looked like someone rubbed it down with a brillo pad, as well had bent aluminum top. Old Town again blames shipping and doesn't uphold their lifetime hull warranty.

Quality is everything, without it it's nothing. If they can't honor damage from manufacturer or shipping defect with shipping new products what good are they. You spend over $1,000 for their products, quality should be top notch not second best and you deal with the shippers who damaged your canoe.

Background

Backcountry paddling, have Youtube channel

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $1500

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The Penobscot 164 replaced the Old Town Penobscot 16.

Specs

Price MSRP: $1,299.99
Historic Range: $779.25-$1,199.95
Reviewers Paid: $1,500.00
Activity Touring
Number of Paddlers 2
Material Three Layer Polyethylene
Length 16' 4" / 5 m
Width 37.5 in / 95.3 cm
Width at 4" Waterline 33.75 in / 85.7 cm
Bow Height 20.25 in / 51.4 cm
Depth 14 in / 35.6 cm
Weight Capacity 1250 lbs / 567 kgs
Bottom Shape Shallow Arch
Sides Straight
Rocker Minimum
Seat Type Nylon Web
Product Weight 75 lbs
Product Details from Old Town »

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