Canoeing has long been an activity that has been enjoyed by many families. Thinking about a family canoe for most people would conjure up thoughts of aluminum behemoths that on a summers afternoon would get hot enough to make you feel like a egg on a griddle. There is an alternative to the metal monsters and I’m not talking about some thousand-dollar Kevlar boat either. KL Industries of Muskegon, MI offers a family oriented canoe called the Mackinaw 156.

The initial stability of the Mackinaw 156 is outstanding. While at rest on flat water, you can fish, eat lunch or fidget around and not get that “tippy” feeling. The secondary stability was also excellent. We took the mackinaw 156 out into the lake and tried to roll it over onto the side. This proved to be as difficult to do as possible in a canoe. We had the side all the way over till it broke the surface of the water before it felt “out of control”. Most of the time when you have a canoe with this kind of stability, it lacks in maneuverability department. When I first put this canoe into the water I figured it would move like a tanker, but I was very surprised to find that it was very easy to get this boat under way. This is no Kevlar racing canoe by any means, but that’s not what we were looking for. We wanted a good lazy trip down the river, go fishing with the kids, enjoy a day on the lake kind of family canoe. Read on and I’ll explain what else makes the Mackinaw 156 that kind of boat.

The Mackinaw 156 comes with a lot of features that most families will find useful. A drink cooler that is molded right into the center seat is a feature that I think anyone using this canoe on a hot summers day will appreciate. Drink holder molded into each of the three seats is another creature comfort that you can get used to real quick. A dry storage compartment located next to the cooler allows a safe storage area for car keys, wallets, cell phones and jewelry. I don’t know how many times I have heard of people who have gone canoeing and lost valuables when they have gone for a swim…sometimes accidentally.

The hull of the Mackinaw 156 is made of a high-density polyethylene, which makes the boat very rugged. The Mackinaw 156 hull resisted normal abrasion very well and has been UV-stabilized so you will not have to worry about sun fading and damaging your boat. The hunter green/cream color of the Mackinaw has a very outdoorsy feel to it and further compliments this canoe

The Mackinaw 156 is designed to be a very stable rugged canoe that will stay in the family for many years to come. With a working capacity of 800 pounds, the Mackinaw 156 is large enough to carry three adults and their equipment on an extended trip. The Mackinaw 156 is 15 feet 6 inches long, allowing it to maneuver into spots that a longer canoe would find troublesome. With a width of 40 inches, the Mackinaw is a very forgiving family canoe when it comes to stability.

For more information on the Mackinaw 156 by KL industries please visit their web site at

www.klindustries.com

 By: Tom Rudick