Esquif - Miramichi 20

When the trip is long, the load is heavy, and the river demands respect, twenty feet of T-Formex is a reassuring thing to be sitting in. The Miramichi 20 is Esquif's flagship expedition canoe, built for paddlers who measure their trips in weeks and portages rather than hours.

The shallow arch hull and 3.5 inches of rocker give this canoe a balance that's hard to achieve at this length -- efficient and fast on open water, composed and predictable when the current takes over. The 40-inch beam and generous depth translate into a carrying capacity that handles full expedition loads for two paddlers without compromise. Named after one of Canada's legendary salmon rivers, it carries that association honestly.

At 105 lbs, it's impressively light for a 20-foot canoe, and T-Formex keeps maintenance minimal across years of demanding wilderness use. A contoured yoke and thwart come standard, and the option to add a third or fourth seat makes this a canoe that clubs and outfitters will find genuinely versatile. Kevlar skid plates and wood gunwales round out the available upgrades for paddlers who want to configure it for the long haul.

• Construction: T-Formex
• Hull shape: Shallow arch
• Length: 20' (6.1 m)
• Width: 40" (101.6 cm)
• Depth: 16" (40.6 cm)
• Rocker: 3.5" (8.9 cm) bow and stern
• Weight: 105 lbs (47.62 kg)
• Gunwales: Vinyl (wood trim optional)
• Colours: Red, Green
• Seats: Webbed
• Standard equipment: Contoured yoke and thwart
• Options: Third and fourth seat, kevlar skid plates, wood gunwales