I recently purchased a 133k that has seen little use. The first thing I did was install the oar locks that were supplied with the canoe from the factory. Then I took it to the lake. The wind was out of the north at about 15 knots. Paddling was easy, the boat moved out smartly. Being only 13 feet, It wanted to respond to every input, correct or otherwise. Very responsive. I then switched over to 7 foot oars. This boat came alive. It responds very well rowing, easily outrunning my 9.5 foot rowing dhingy. With an eight hundred pound capacity, this canoe would actually make a good tender for a yacht. However, I will be constructing my own crossmember to place the oarlock about 10 inches or so outside the gunnels. This will make the rowing even easier.
In it's original setup, even gentle rowing results in a pleasing turn of speed. I would say that if one is solo in this canoe, rowing is the way to go. Switch to paddles when the waterway gets narrow. All in all, a very versatile boat!
Just bought one of these for $300... I was impressed with the dimensions of it...the seller told me it weighed 52 lbs...so I paid him..when I went to load it on my truck it seemed heavier then the weight he told me.. When I got it home I researched it and found out it weighed in at 78 lbs.
Still, overall I love the canoe... I fish alone and it is a perfect stable canoe. The one I have does not have the middle rowing seat in? I had a Pack before and this Discovery exceeds it in stability and comfort... but the weight of the Pack is better... I will have to add more muscle with the Discovery to load it... but it is worth it.
Old Town's 133 has treated me well. I bought the boat as a work horse for bowhunting and fishing. With a wife, two year old daughter, and three dogs this boat has seen a lot of water.
Last May I went paddling with six other boats up nine miles of back country in NY, chasing trout the whole time. It was a slow boat. I was last into camp by a couple of hours. But I was also the only solo boat out there. I had plenty of room for the five days worth of gear and my 100lb dog. What he lacks in paddling skills he made up for in bear prevention.
As far as the front table that clips on there is no way you can use it if there is a second person in the bow of the boat.
This boat is a little heavy at the end of the day to throw up on top of my truck. Thinking about switching to a kayak this year for all the solo trips. But when its time to load treestands, backpacks, survival gear and a 300+ pound black bear you know I will never trade this boat in.