Thanks again,

A big YES on the life jackets. When our kids were just little shavers they'd go fishing with me in our old 18 ft. Grumman that weighed very close to 100 pounds. That's when I developed the habit of NEVER getting into a canoe without a life jacket. "And you two kids are gonna dress just like Dad - with a life-jacket" And they pretty much still do, even with their own kids.
Wife and I definitely will wear 'em.
Thanks a bunch.
Still haven't had the canoe in the water. Picked it up and got it registered and licensed but still need the proper letter and number decals on it's bow. That'll be tomorrow. Then we go for a ride. Yes!

Bill