If someone were going to open a canoe rental, where would you buy canoes and kayaks..

you might try contacting a manufacture like old town and eliminating the middle man. otherwise i would say dick's.

I agree that you'd be better off buying direct, but if not, Gander Mountain in Huntsville is a better choice than Dick's. I'd also check Craig's List for the areas around the Little River and the Ocoee. I don't know how you'd
reach people here, but I live in Tuscumbia, and, just driving my kid to school, I pass a dozen canoes and kayaks I bet haven't been used in three years. A few churches also own a trailer full.

Buy wholesale or refurbished by all means! There are a ton of sites that specialize in wholesale and resale at wholesale prices. I would never go to a retailer were I looking to stock a large number of anything. You might look at the vendors' models and then contact the manufacturers directly and see what deals they are offering. There are many sources, and therefore many choices -- I would presume.

Just going to other non-area rental agencies and asking how they got theirs is a good step, too. Don't' want them to think you will be direct local competition! So skip Huntsville and Iron City and Lawrenceburg areas!

thanks for the replies