Rosco Caninghi proves very capable

Rosco Caninghi review – RECENTLY I met with Ross Cook, founder of Rosco Canoes, to have a bit of a play in his Rosco Caninghi. At the moment the name Caninghi may not be that well known, but it has been designed and manufactured by a brand name that is well known and respected in the paddling arena. I enjoyed meeting Ross and chatting about his passion for paddling and the new Rosco Caninghi, a dedicated stand up fishing canoe. I have been aware of the name Rosco and its association with canoes for many years, so was interested to hear from Ross about his many adventures that cover all parts of the globe.

Before we got into the specifics of the Rosco Caninghi, Ross explained a little about his life and how his passion grew into a fulltime job and career. He initially started paddling at about the age of nine or 10 and had already built three canoes by the ripe old age of 16. As we sat down to discuss the details and features of the new Rosco Caninghi over a cuppa, Ross pointed out one of his old designs resting against a fence in the front yard of a nearby house and you could see how proud he is of this well used craft, which has obviously seen many years on the water. The conversation moved back to the new vessel, which I’m sure Ross is even more proud of.

Although a relatively new design, the formulation of the Caninghi has taken place over many years, and many hours spent on the water. In fact the design was initially hand carved from a 1.2m squared piece of foam, which is the dimension of the beam. Generally you need a healthy beam to give stability and since this was to be a stand up fishing canoe, it needed plenty of width. From there the rest of the design fell into place. Large tumblehomes, or the balloon type sides, aid in the stability and provide buoyancy. This unique design gives maximum stability yet still allows you to paddle, as the top of the tumblehomes curve in to a narrower cockpit width of 60cm.

So regardless of whether you are standing up, moving around or just getting in and out, this increased buoyancy keeps the Caninghi level. Combined with an overall length of 4.34m it makes this a relatively big craft. Another benefit of the large sides is the increased inside storage. In fact there is ample room to stow tackle boxes and even some camping gear or for that matter anything you need. The pockets are within easy reach and with the sliding and reversible chairs, nothing is too hard to access.
Towards the rear of these pockets there is room to store a battery on each side, ensuring enough power to get you to your favourite fishing spot and home again.

This boat had a bow mount electric fitted to the rear. Although this might seem like a contradiction, the setup worked, and after a bit of playing with the foot control (I have a Minn Kota, so slightly different in operation) it was a pleasure to drive. However you are not limited to just having the electric on the rear. There is a mount on the front of the Caninghi, so the battery can be easily put there. This adjustment is made even easier with the Anderson plug that has been wired through. Alternatively you can get a different mounting plate that will take a small outboard. Obviously your desired destinations and how you plan to use the Rosco Caninghi will determine what power source you opt for.

With two up, two batteries, a bit of fishing and safety gear, anchor and removable bait board, the performance of the 54lb electric was more than adequate.