This is a good, purposeful canoe that will last a long time and can take real use. I'm in Wisconsin and got it specifically for fly fishing, mostly smaller, flat water, but it's good for boney rivers as well given the hull material. Pros are: durable, stable, quiet, warm in spring and fall and cool in summer. Cons are: heavy and sluggish to paddle. Best for utility - like fishing , hunting, photography, using it as a tool - or family recreation. You can drag it or beach it over gravel and load it up on a trailer or car top without worrying you are going to damage it. That is not to say this is some dumb, cheap, clunky canoe. It is not. Is is a very well designed and constructed canoe. It's just not for portaging and paddling distances. Could it do so if called upon? Yes, of course, but if 80/20 you are going to do that, get a kevlar. I use it 50/50 solo and with a second. Works fine for both - just throw 50 lbs of dumbbells in the bow when solo to help tracking and to keep the wind from blowing you around too much (I use both bow and stern anchors). I've not yet put motor on the back but, given its weigh and build, believe it should handle it well. The best thing about it to me is the insulated hull. Unlike kevlar, it is quiet and actually feel good to the touch. The light khaki interior stays cool to the touch in summer and keeps the hull warm in spring and fall. Unlike kevlar, it does not seem brittle or like delicate glass. It has flex and a softness to it. You just feel safe and solid and not worried about scraping a rock or dropping your pliers in it. It's plenty stable for gear or fly casting. Perfect for a serious fishing or good recreational/family canoe.