Description

The Old Town Sportsman Discovery Solo 119 is a hybrid solo craft — essentially a solo canoe designed to give you both canoe-versatility and some of the handling feel more often associated with kayaks or “pack boats.” It is part of Old Town’s Discovery / Sportsman line, targeting anglers, hunters, and recreational paddlers who want a stable, durable craft with fishing & gear-friendly features, but also want something manageable and comfortable for solo paddling, possibly with a kayak paddle.

Key Features & Design Elements

Here are the standout design features:

• Hull Material: Three-layer polyethylene with closed-cell foam core surrounded by high density polyethylene (HDPE). This “Discovery series” hull is rugged, durable, and resistant to impact, abrasion, etc.

• Seat System: Contoured, adjustable “kayak-style” seat (Comfort Flex seat) with padding in seat base and backrest; backrest reclines, plenty of support. Armrests are padded.

• Foot Braces: Adjustable foot braces are included, which help give you leverage and better paddling posture, especially when using a double-bladed (kayak) paddle.

• Accessory / Storage Features:

  • A recessed track on the forward thwart for mounting accessories (e.g. camera mounts, rod holders).

  •  rod holders behind the seat. Handy for fishing / trolling.

  • Padded armrests with trays for tackle and shotgun shell storage (for hunting use) in some versions.

  • Custom tackle box included.

• Hull Shape & Profile:

  • Bottom shape: shallow arch. This gives a balance between stability and reasonable tracking, allowing easier paddling in calm to mildly moving water.

  • Sides: fairly straight, which improves initial stability and interior width / space.

  • Rocker: moderate. Not super flat, not extremely rockered; allows a bit of maneuverability.

• Other Useful Features:

  • Built-in carry handles (bow / stern) for transport.

  • Spacious hull for gear — good room for fishing crates, camping gear, decoys, dog, etc.

  • Seat channels to direct water to drain holes, plus ventilation. Helps during wet use.

Performance & Use Cases

Here’s how the Solo Sportsman 119 tends to perform in real-life use, and what it’s well suited for:

What it does well:

• Fishing / Hunting: The rod holders, accessory track, tackle box, and ability to store gear make it well adapted for folks who want to fish, hunt, or take gear-heavy trips. The seat and armrest trays are convenient for handling gear.

• Versatile Paddling: While it’s a canoe, many owners paddle it with a kayak-paddle because the seat, foot braces, and shape allow that. This can make paddling more comfortable with less fatigue over time, especially solo.

• Portability: At 56 lbs, this boat is “grab-and-go”—you can lift it onto a roof rack or haul it to lakes / calm rivers without as much hassle as a much longer or heavier tandem canoe.

• Durability: The three-layer hull is rugged and handles bangs, rocks, etc., well. Good for abuse and for rough environments.

• Comfort Features: The seat and adjustability make long sessions more tolerable. Ventilation / drainage channels help with wet conditions.

What it’s less good at / limitations:

• Tracking & Efficiency in Flat or Windy Water: Because it’s relatively wide (32.5 in) and has a shallow arch hull with moderate rocker, it tends not to track (go straight) as well as narrower, more streamlined canoes or boats built for speed. Wind can push it more. Users frequently mention this.

• Standing Stability: If you try to stand or move around (for casting while fishing, etc.), it’s less stable than boats with flatter bottoms or wider beams; movement can make it feel tippy. Some users mention dogs or larger gear make it less stable.

• Gear/Gross Load Matching: If you load it heavily (gear + dog + paddler) near the upper usable capacity, performance suffers in terms of responsiveness and paddling ease. Overloading will reduce freeboard, tracking, and make handling sluggish.

• Not a High-End Touring / Multi-Day Craft: For long flatwater distances or multi-day paddling, boats optimized for speed, lighter weight, and narrower beam may be more comfortable or efficient.