There is no arguing that this is a personal preference question. But what type of canoe does everyone prefer using?

SR-17

6 nights or more - SR 18.5

4 nights or less - Swift Kipawa 16.5

Boppa

bell magic

The only one I have, a Spirit II

Bullet proof Alumacraft. No worries about scratches, hitting rocks, stepping in, winter storage ext ext... The light canoes are cute but a pain in the butt to constantly worry about.

wood... it'll always float :)

quote bear bait: "wood... it'll always float :)"

I will take the floating free kind....Past that just somthing on the light side where I don't blow out my o-ring picking it up.


Cheers,

A

It depends on where I am. For solo tripping on open water, the Prism. For solo tripping on rivers, the Mad River Independence. For most other solo river use other than whitewater, either the Indy or the Bell Wildfire. For mild solo whitewater, the Royalex Wildfire (now the Yellowstone Solo). For tandem tripping, the Sundowner. For tandem use on small rivers, the Bell MorningStar. And so on ....

Bell Magic for solo trips....
Bell Northwoods for tandem....

So far the SR 18.5

My next one -- Bell Magic

SR Quetico 18.5, don't honestly have experience with other kevlars, but I still "enjoy" portaging this 52 pound wonder that can hold so many people and gear! Paddling's pretty fun too... unless there's a wind and you've got no weight in the bow and no adult paddling partner. Then it's a bit tricky.

quote Chilly: "Bullet proof Alumacraft. No worries about scratches, hitting rocks, stepping in, winter storage ext ext... The light canoes are cute but a pain in the butt to constantly worry about. "

I've never paddled a kevlar boat, but this is my opinion right now.

I have a Wenonah Jensen 17 w. tractor seats. I have also paddled a Souris River 18.5 and an 18' aluminium tank in the BW. I have also paddle a Bell Magic and a Wenonah Prism.

Jensen 17 - Worked just fine for tandem tripping with my wife. Held the gear just fine and was more stable loaded than I expected. Travelled very fast and tracked very straight. Thought I'd hate the tractor seats, but they really haven't bothered me as much as I thought they would.

Souris 18.5 - Very large payload capacity, very stable. Not very fast and a bit bullish. Worked great though for my trip with my buddy. Combinded, we weigh about 470lbs. Easily would handle an additional person and more payload.

Bell Magic - Very tippy for me, but turned very easily. I am not an experience soloist, so it seemed a little too loose for me. I'm sure with experience and practice, I would grow to love it. I really wanted to, but it just didn't happen for me.

Wenonah Prism - Felt much more stable and tracked straighter. Was a bit slower and a fair amount harder to turn than the Magic. I felt more comfortable in the, and it seemed to have more room.

Aluminium POS - Yea, never again...... Single portage an 85lb canoe w. a 60lb pack is not my idea of a good time. Not to mention the tank was slow and hard to turn. Any time the sun was out, it got too hard to touch.

I have the Prisim and like it, but I think the Magic is the flat water solo boat to get.

quote Chilly: "Bullet proof Alumacraft. No worries about scratches, hitting rocks, stepping in, winter storage ext ext... The light canoes are cute but a pain in the butt to constantly worry about. "

My three Sons and I will be using Alumacraft canoes because of what Chilly stated and because they are all tough, young, and atheletic. When my Wife and I go, we may consider Kevlar if the trip involves a lot of portages.

My hats go off to you Alumacraft portagers. I have used one once in the BWCA, and was the sole person portaging it (along with pack). I'm such a spoiled wimp now, I cringed carrying an Old Town Discovery last week. I've got to find a way to fly my SR to Alaska for the next vacation... hmmmmm.

Mostly the wildfire

Cedarstrip

quote Chilly: "Bullet proof Alumacraft. No worries about scratches, hitting rocks, stepping in, winter storage ext ext... The light canoes are cute but a pain in the butt to constantly worry about. "

I do not constantly worry. Scratches? Kevlar is tough as nails and scratches are signs of good times. Winter storage? Mine stays under my deck all winter (4 winters and no problems). Stepping in? Not a problem either.

Yes they are cute, but they are also fast, easy to portage with a heavy pack on my back, and less weight on the top of my car.

I currently have 2 solo canoes and I like them both. My first is Wenonah Advantage in a gelcoat UL kevlar. It's a rocket on water and I've taken 2 BW trips and 70 mile Quetico trip in it. Some may think it's a tippy, hard to turn canoe, but I think not to either. Just gotta know to handle your canoe.

The second is a Bell Merlin (not a Merlin II). I just got it a few weeks ago and I think I'm really going to like this canoe. It's set up for kneeling, so when you sit on the seat it seems a bit high at first. My second outing in the canoe seemed to cure me of this strange feeling. I may have to take it on a short jaunt to the BW this fall....just to see how I like it in a trip situation. I may have to choose between the 2 solos, but I really don't want to. They are so different from each other and I like each of them for different reasons.

My tandem (MN II UL kevlar) hasn't been out of the rafters since I bought a solo canoe. It's a great canoe if you're in the stern. Bow is a bit tight, but I've never been up there. Someday my boy will be ready to go with me and I'll be taking it down. Until then, it's solo canoes for me.

champlain. good fishing boat

Bell Magic

SR 17 Le Tigre with plenty of scratches. Next spring she gets a recoat.I would do it now but I have another 25 days planned in the Bdub this yr.

JB

Solo - Bell Magic
Tandem - Bell NorthStar

Small tandem-Wenonah Escapade
Tripper-Wenonah MN II

For tandem tripping the Mighty Minn! Like Mr Barley, I never sit in the bow either.

For Solo tripping the Bell Magic. Fast and nimble besides being really pretty. Reminds me of the girl I married.

For rivers here in Michigan the Old Town Penobscot 16 in Royalex, solo or tandem.

For taking the grandchildren fishing the Michicraft Aluminum. Bulletproof, stable, heavy and grandchild proof too!

The Bell Magic has worked best for me as a solo tripper.

Bell Northstar!

C

Tandem - Wenonah Itasca
Solo - Bell Merlin II

I will second the Alumacraft or Grummin. I have a 1993 Alumacraft Quetico 17, at 63 pounds not too bad and I know it will last for a long long time. Kevlar has yet to prove that kind of life span, only time can tell. My last canoe was my dads 1963 Grumman 17ft aluminum. About 10 pounds heavier than mine, but after 47 years and no leaks, who can complain? I would like to own a kevlar, but the cost would make me paranoid about hitting something and not just enjoy the wilderness.

If I am not being picky: One that floats and glides true.

Being picky: Anything Kevlar. Though, I am partial to Wenonah's.