Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Kevlar stability
|
Author | Message Text | ||
andym |
For the BW, we have SR Queticos. But I keep my eye out for stable day tripping canoes out here in California. I've heard that the Wenonah Boundary Waters has a similar hull shape and I've also been intrigued by the Champlain and the Spirit II. But Kevlar canoes are pretty rare in these parts and these days they are also quite pricey. |
||
Wispaddler |
|
||
rick00001967 |
IrishPaddler13: Does anyone know of an outfitter that sells them in the fall? you could plan a trip into quetico and get one up here. great exchange rate on the usd. i assume all the outfitters in the area use the SR canoes and typically sell off used ones each fall. that schedule was messed up due to covid etc but this fall there should be some avail. you could also contact wayne directly at SR in atikokan. very nice fella. easy to deal with. they often get trade ins that they sell off. sometimes they may even have new ones with small defects that they discount. you could even see the shop where they make those canoes. he loves to show people how it's done. |
||
PabloKabo |
|
||
Blatz |
My J200 racing canoe had poor initial and final stability, but it was very fast. What is your focus for paddling? I find the Wenonah website gives a good reference to this. |
||
IrishPaddler13 |
As I get closer to 40 than I do 30, I'm starting to dip my toes into the Kevlar canoe world. I've tripped with heavy royalex canoes for too long. However, most of my experiences with kevlars included my dad's old Blue Water...and that thing was scary tippy. As I search the classifieds, what brand/model sacrifices speed for stability? As always, much appreciated. |
||
IrishPaddler13 |
I have looked at the Wenonah website. Definitely a great resource. We basecamp, so most of our paddling is done without a load and for the purposes of fishing. Sometimes moving, sometimes sitting still. I don't see a lot of Wenonah Boundary Waters come for sale very often... So I was just wondering about the experiences people had with other brands. |
||
plmn |
We rented a Northstar Northwind 18 last year and felt secure in somewhat choppy water with me and two young inexperienced paddlers, both loaded and empty. We didn't fish out of it though. If you want the most stability the Wenonah Boundary Waters, Basswood or Champlain are good places to start. The Spirit II will be more well rounded. Also a Souris River Quetico 17 would probably fit the bill. |
||
bobbernumber3 |
|
||
bhouse46 |
|
||
woodsandwater |
|
||
rick00001967 |
actually i keep meaning to take it out in late summer (when the water is fairly warm) and see exactly how hard it is to tip over in the water and then practice how to get back in it. lol will do it this year for sure. |
||
AdamXChicago |
AdamX |
||
Jackfish |
Regarding the SR Quetico 17, on two different trips, I've spent a week paddling and fishing from the bow of one. I'm 6'3" and 250# and was quite comfortable with the leg room and overall stability. |
||
Banksiana |
|
||
LarryS48 |
|
||
billconner |
Banksiana: "mgraber: "Love my Souris River Quetico 17. It isn't the fastest boat out there, for sure, but is extremely stable, one of the best in rough seas,and has enough rocker to be fun to fish out of but still enough to not need excessive correcting strokes. They are also a bit tougher than the other brands in my opinion, except for those few years they used a different epoxy and had rib crack issues. They look good in My opinion. The best coloring process for sure, and I like the LeTigre option. All that said, If I were buying today I would probably go with a Northstar Northwind 17. Slightly lighter, a bit faster, slightly less stable, less durable, for sure. But Ted Bell builds a really nice boat." I based my feelings about durability more on the flex rib design than the epoxy. You can practically fold the SR in half and it will be fine when unfolded. Mine saw that when my partner decided we could "float" over the dam out of Little Gabbro. Maybe not as efficient because not as stiff but very durable. |
||
Walleye6 |
|
||
ryjanssen |
|
||
mgraber |
|
||
Banksiana |
mgraber: "Love my Souris River Quetico 17. It isn't the fastest boat out there, for sure, but is extremely stable, one of the best in rough seas,and has enough rocker to be fun to fish out of but still enough to not need excessive correcting strokes. They are also a bit tougher than the other brands in my opinion, except for those few years they used a different epoxy and had rib crack issues. They look good in My opinion. The best coloring process for sure, and I like the LeTigre option. All that said, If I were buying today I would probably go with a Northstar Northwind 17. Slightly lighter, a bit faster, slightly less stable, less durable, for sure. But Ted Bell builds a really nice boat." Epoxy is a harder resin, but the hardness is insignificant compared to the shield country rock. The epoxy advantage is simply sales hype. As someone that has repaired many canoes from a wide variety of builders I have noted no difference in wear and tear between epoxy and vinyl ester, if anything the epoxy seems to be more prone to uv degradation- unless there is a correlation between SR ownership and lack of canoe storage shelters. |
||
plmn |
Choosing the Best Canoe for your BWCA Adventure |
||
billconner |
|
||
IrishPaddler13 |
I have never tripped with a Souris River before, but from reviews I read on other websites, that was on my radar. Does anyone know of an outfitter that sells them in the fall? I've done a couple trips with a rented Northstar. It wasn't bad...definitely better than my dad's old canoe. Like the old joke, it was the type of canoe that you had to move your gum to the middle of your mouth to stabilize it! |
||
Pinetree |
|
||
wyopaddler |
Wow! Wenonah Sale. |
||
PabloKabo |
If you like stability, take a look at a Souris River Quetico 16, 17, or 18. They are fairly light canoes, but they're rock steady stable. I remember when my son stood up in ours while fishing years ago. At first I thought he was crazy or just showing off. Then I realized that the canoe was really that stable that he was able to stand, cast, and retrieve his line without any fear of tipping us over. You will sacrifice some speed as a tradeoff for stability often times. So, it boils down to determining how you'd like to feel and how much you can adapt to something a little "tippier". Try various models out and see what you like. The weight savings is a real bonus with kevlar and other composite canoes. All the best. |
||
bobbernumber3 |
bhouse46: ",,,There is a learning curve but one well worth the investment. " Similar to learning how to ride a bike, IMO. |