I just got back...

Previous trips were out of Ely and we used Souris River Canoes. I really liked the Quetico 17 (I also liked the 18.5 for tripping with my family).

This trip was out of Grand Marais. We rented a Bell Northwind. I figured that they would be about the same.

They were not the same. The Bell seemed much less stable and much more "tippy". In fact, my dad and I even got an unexpected swim one day. I don't recall ever coming close to tipping with the Quetico.

Was it just me? Do other folks find the Northwind less stable than the Quetico???

The Northwind is slimmer and faster and has a little less stability.

The biggest difference in my opinion (I own a SR Q 17 but covet a Bell Northwind) is speed and effect of the wind on the canoe.

The Souris River is a lot more stable but is slower with less glide, takes more work to turn but tracks straighter and is affected alot more by the wind (weathervaning)

The Bell is much faster with better glide, less affected by the wind and easier to turn on rivers.

Bog,

I tell you what. You sell me your SR and you'll be closer to buying your Northwind.

I trip with my dad who is getting older and my kids. Stability is my primary concern right now...

What I always liked about the Bell, in my case northwood, is how the beachball sized chines allow large waves to move through the boat without kicking it around. If a canoe can be stable on its corner, tilted, then when a large wave roles through from the side the canoe will still behave stable. If you think about it water tilted, canoe tilted it's all the same math. Flatter bottomed canoes do resist motion from within the canoe, while canoes with large chines resist motion, water and wind, from outside of the canoe.

I have not paddled a Northwind but have paddled several Wenonah's and Souris River canoes. My choice without a doubt is a Quetico 17 for a 2 person tripper. My recent trip was up the Gunflint and I found that Rockwood Outfitters had Quetico 17 rentals.

Mad-Angler-

I think the kids will inherit the SR if I ever find the money for a new Bell Northwind tandem. Currently I use my solo Prism more on my trips. I am taking my wife for the first this summer and I think she will appreciate the stability of the SR more than the speed of the Bell so we will use the SR for sure.

If I ever sell it I'll give you a call, but you will probably have one by then.

Just got back from the Gunflint Trail myself paddling an ultralight Bell Northwind. I OWN a royalex Northwind and the composite version we paddled was noticeably more tender to my wife than ours. I bet the royalex flattens out a bit more while the composite holds that arch shape better. Paddled it into headwinds, 2' waves, in troughs, and it handled all very well. LOADED (the canoe, not me) I was never uncomfortable, but my wife DID feel more movement than she was comfortable with, especially given the cold water temps. I fished from shore, and only paddled it loaded, so I'm certain it would have felt more "Tender" had we paddled it unloaded or fished from it that way. So, I guess that's my long-winded way of saying "No, it's not you, the Northwind probably IS more tender than the Souris." Never paddled a Quetico 17 myself, only the Quetico 16 and Wilderness 18. BTW, the one we rented was brand new, it HURT ME to put scratches on that boat, even if Bell's ultalight kevlar is "Butt ugly" colored. TW

BTW, as for "Stable" canoes, we paddled our friend's Wenonah Champlain and it's rock-solid even empty. Here's theirs loaded. TW

I haven't been in the Quetico (canoe). I went for a short trip last fall with my 78 yr old father in his Northwind. We both loved the canoe. I didn't notice any tippiness, and we fished for several hours out of it empty. With a load, it paddled easily and smoothly. I'm very impressed and looking forward to spending more time in it. Of course, 95% of my canoe tripping has been in We-no-nahs and Sawyers, so maybe it's just that I've tried a little tenderness. (sorry Otis, Sam, and Aretha)