What would be the canoe recommendation for two adults and two children, 7 yr & 5 yr? I was thinking a 4-seat canoe but I was also wondering about a 3-seat and have the boys ride side by side on the middle seat.

Is that a dumb idea? We are only doing one moderate portage.

A canoe such as the MN 4 is very long and big. MN boat license for that size boat is a lot blah blah blah. I'd look at a souris river 18.5 or maybe talk to chuck at Spring Creek. I wonder how a Champlain would work. I think wide enough for two kids and he has third seat options. I know he has some used and refurbished.

With the boys being that young they could sit on the same seat in a 3 man canoe.

Wenonah Seneca would be a nice wide 3 person.

We own a Souris River Q 18.5. Our girls are 11 and soon to be 8 and have been riding side by side since they were 4 and 2. It's works great and is rock solid stable even with the dog along.

You have to think about lots of different aspects

Is your other adult willing to learn to steer or can steer?

The kids. They are getting older. Do they want to learn to paddle?

at this point in time if you pack carefully you can add a center seat into any large canoe. Eds Canoe sells side by side seats.

When our kids were six and nine, we had two canoes. By then they were both competent bowwomen and both us adults knew how to paddle.

I would think about finding something used as this may be a canoe your kids rapidly get bored with especially if they want to become competent paddlers. You can always add the third seat.

You'll be fine with just a three seater and could get away with a two seater with a drop in seat depending on the length of the trip.







Rented SRQ 18.5 for a week long trip last year.





The youngest of the three sat up front with mom (I wouldn't try this in a Wenonah).






Did the drop in with my Alumacraft the year before for a five day trip.

Thanks for all the advise everyone. It sound like a three seater will work just fine.

Yeah, I say the 3 seater as well.

I have been hauling twins side by side in my SR Q18.5 for a while now. It works great. Only concern with side by side seating is if one weighs significantly more than the other. Can try to offset this with how you load the canoe so you don't lean to one side more than the other. The Q18.5 is so stable it has not been an issue for me.

How big are they? I agree with sleepy. If sharing a seat, the heavier one might keep a water jug spacer or the tackle tray between himself and the side.The only issue I foresee is when they will tire of paddling one side and want to switch sides. But after the first such switch, they'll be fine.

I enjoyed my 9 day 2014 trip with a youth 100# and 3 adults 150#, 200#, and 250# in a MN3. The youth sat on a pack and all paddled well. A week ago I tried out a MN2 that I just bought. I got some junior paddles and took seven 50-100# nieces and nephews for tours around the pond three at a time - four people and the excited dog in a 2p boat. All paddled (as they were able) and when the boat was too stable for the dog, she migrated from back to front, or vice versa and it was great fun. Otherwise empty, the drop in seat from Spring Creek Outfitters (accompanies the sail kit) and a foam floor seat from my Radisson canoe were perfect. With packs, the extra seats would be baggage. If you're renting from an outfitter with a campground at a lake, try one. They might not charge for a test float.
Yeah, like sleepy says, if sharing a seat, the heavier one might keep a water jug spacer or the tackle tray between himself and the side.

We rented the MN 4 from VNO. The girls were 9 and 12. Worked great. Portages easier than I thought. The only challenge we had on size was when we were fighting current AND high winds at the same time. Would absolutely do it that way again.

quote brux: "You'll be fine with just a three seater and could get away with a two seater with a drop in seat depending on the length of the trip.









Rented SRQ 18.5 for a week long trip last year.







The youngest of the three sat up front with mom (I wouldn't try this in a Wenonah).








Did the drop in with my Alumacraft the year before for a five day trip."

You guys are awesome! Way to get the family out there- it looks like fun. My kids are too young now, but that'll be me in a couple years.

Souris River 18.5 all the way.

It is light enough to take on single portage tandem trips(center seat easily removes) stable enough for the kids side by side or for 3 large men. Very versatile, and light weight. It is also fast, tracks very straight and is easier to turn and then MN4....don't get that long ass canoe....get the SR18.5

Wow brux , your family looks a lot like our family.. but we are in a mn 3

Agree with the 18.5 Souris River.

Another backer of the SR Q18.5 versatility. Light at 49 lbs. Not too big for two paddlers. Still very maneuverable. Great for three adults and odd number groups. Nice when some one drops out at last second and your group of 5 becomes 4. No worries, same canoe still great. I love mine.