4-inch Explorer with a Kevlar hull. It will hold up to 1,100 pounds of passengers and their gear, yet weighs only 54 pounds. Although they're made from the same basic material used in the body armor worn by lots of cops, Kevlar canoes are not bulletproof. In fact, they tend to be a little more prone to damage than plastics like Royalex. Repairs are relatively easy, however.
Wood is without question the coolest material for building a canoe.
For hundreds of years, of course, it was also the only material for building a canoe. And if price was not a consideration and all you were going to do was look at it, it would still be the most popular. Like a Chris-Craft or classic cars, they give the impression that they get polished more often than used. Wooden canoes also have a reputation for requiring high maintenance, and weighing more than is comfortable for portage purposes. They also are on the high end, price-wise.