You are right Phil, canoes are a greatboat. I have put a lot of time in them in the boundry waters of N.MN For here in Ia and messing around in the dark and going out on the riverI just like something more stable.I use mine for turkey, predator, and deer hunting andI am always out in the dark either coming or going and for me that's what I like. If I was going to only paddle my boat, I would go with a canoe. I run this little motor and don't paddle.HCH