The benefits of an aluminum canoe are many. Strength, stability and resale price are just a few reasons that prompt many buyers to choose an aluminum canoe over that of a plastic or fiberglass version. When compared to wooden and other type of canoes, the lightweight properties of the aluminum canoe make it a good choice for long trips where portaging the vessel often could be a part of the trip. Superior construction methods are often found in the aluminum version of the canoe that fail to exist in lesser-quality plastic models. The ability to resist breaking and cracking when encountering an underwater object makes the aluminum vessel the choice of many professional canoeists.
Advanced construction methods used in the creation of an aluminum canoe provide a sturdy and strong vessel capable of lasting for several generations with general care and maintenance. When compared to a plastic version, the aluminum canoe is often more stable and less prone to tipping even when occupied by amateur canoeists. Most aluminum versions also incorporate an extra strip of reinforcing aluminum down the front and rear centers to protect against damage from beaching the craft. With an alternative type of canoe, this reinforcement often does not exist and damage and scratches from shallow water, rocks and sand can take a toll on the bottom of the boat.
Fiberglass models do not possess the flexibility of the aluminum canoe and often crack if crashed into a large rock or underwater structure. The aluminum boat will often simply glance away from the obstruction; however, if it should make solid contact, commonly only a dent will arise and the dent can commonly be pounded out smooth again. The rivet construction of an aluminum canoe usually outlasts the nut and bolt construction of lesser models and types of canoe. Even molded fiberglass is prone to cracking under stress and repeated use.
The majority of aluminum canoe models have enclosed sections in both the front and rear of the boat that are commonly filled with Styrofoam®. This foam helps to right a capsized canoe and aids in floating the vessel until it can be brought into shallower water or emptied and reentered. The lightweight characteristic of the aluminum canoe makes it easier to carry to and from the water as well as to load and unload from most vehicles than many of the other types of canoes. If there ever comes a day that the canoe must be sold, the aluminum versions commonly retain much more of their value for re-sale than other styles of canoe.