I live near a lake, but despite learning to swim, paddle, row and sail, I've never owned a boat. I've never really wanted to own a big boat, but always wanted something small, just to go out on the water, and explore all the inlets and the brooks on the pond I live near.

My son and I were delighted at the beginning of the summer by the gift of a canoe, a Coleman Ram X-15 to be specific. My girlfriend bought it for us as a combination Father's day gift for me, and birthday present for my son. It even came with paddles and life jackets.

The Canoe itself

Our canoe is red, (well actually faded to an almost orange on the outside, still red inside) 15 feet long, fiberglass with metal support rods and has two seats made of hard black plastic. It looks like the picture. It seats 2, but will carry three. A third person can sit in the middle while the people in the front and back can paddle. It seems quite durable, we got it preowned, so it already had use, and we use it frequently. I have had no problems with this canoe, and it is still watertight.

Popularity

I can only speak for the pond I live on, but I noticed not less than four other Coleman X-15 canoes on the shores just like ours! It seems to be a quite popular make and model.

Ease of Use in Water

My son and I had no problems paddling the canoe, I was surprised how quickly he picked up the concept of which way the canoe would go depending on which side you paddled on. When we go out, we usually both paddle, I sit in the back and he sits in the front. In a canoe, you both face the same forward direction. The canoe can also be paddled by a single person in the rear alternating paddling on each side.
We were both also quite pleased when we found out how fast this canoe will go! If we both paddle at once on our respective sides, on a clear calm day, the canoe will move silently and quickly through the water. Even paddling nonchalantly, we could get across our pond in about 20 minutes. The pond we live on is between a mile and two miles across, I really don't have accurate measurements. It is also easy to turn and use in shallow water. A small brook runs off the pond and winds around into a much smaller pond, and we frequently enjoy going down the brook into the smaller pond to see turtles and frogs.

When I use the canoe myself, I usually sit in the front seat and face the rear, and go backwards. The rear seat is too far to the rear to paddle by myself, because my weight lifts the front end of the canoe up out of the water. (and honestly, I really don't weigh a whole lot!) However, the front seat is set back enough to allow the person paddling in the front to place their legs in front of them. By paddling the canoe backwards, the seat is far enough from the end that my weight doesn't displace the front of the canoe. Since it is a canoe, and looks the same from the front or back, only I know that I am actually paddling the canoe backwards.

Will it tip?

This is a canoe. Even if you weren't in the Boy Scouts (or Girl Scouts) you should know that a canoe isn't a boat designed to bounce around on or stand up or shake around in. My son and I have never tipped it because we both use common sense on the boat. My son has also had no problems fishing from the canoe with a small fishing pole (catching fish on the other hand is another story). However, I can guarantee you that if you shake around or stand up, you will tip this canoe.

Remember always wear your personal flotation devices!

Ease of Use getting to Water

The only difficult part we had with the canoe was bringing it to our house to the water. This Coleman canoe weighs about 70 pounds and it is awkward to carry. We keep it chained to a dock by the pond, so for the season, all we have to do is unchain it and push off, and then chain it back up, but at the end of the season, we will have to carry it back to the house again. This is a task I don't look forward to. I don't have a car carrier yet, but again, I imagine that placing this on a car and moving it off a car will be no easy task.

The Unwritten Specs

A canoe is more than a color, a measurement, a number of seats, metal or fiberglass. The best part of the Coleman Ram XR15 is one that can't be described in specs and measurements. When I stand on the shore of the pond it is quite relaxing and pleasant. It is a whole other world out on the lake. There is something about being out on the water, with no cell phone, just wind in your hair and the sun on your back with only the sound of paddles gently hitting the water. My son and I have really enjoyed the peace and happiness of just paddling along the shores of the lake or going down the brook through all of its twists and turns until it opens up into a small pond of its own.

We have been out in the early morning, in the afternoon and even in the evening as the sun has been setting and each offers its own unique experience. We can see lily pads, ducks, swans, turtles and herron on the pond. Everything looks different from the middle of the lake.

When I have gone out by my self in the canoe, I have just found it incredibly relaxing, almost like meditating. Being out on the water in the canoe just gives a sense of peace that should be experienced by everyone. It is this final aspect of the canoe, the one that transcends the specs, it is the experience of being in a canoe that makes it a worthy investment of time and money.

Summary

If you live any where near a body of water, a canoe like the Coleman Ram XR-15 is a great way to relax. You can find one pre owned in the Want ads for less than $500.00 and the benefits it will have on your mind and body are well worth it. I would recommend a canoe to all but those afraid of the water. Going out on my canoe is one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind.

Recommended: Yes

Ease Of Use: Excellent
Recommended Use: All-Purpose