I am so excited! I just scored a used Bell North Wind ! Found that Seagull outfitters had a couple left at good prices , so I got the boat I have been looking for!

Mike

Awesome Mike! You will love it

Great! We love ours.

I have a northwind as well and love it. Nice score!!

I just picked up a 16.5 NorthWind last night too. Can't wait for the lakes to thaw!

quote PikePetersen: "I just picked up a 16.5 NorthWind last night too. Can't wait for the lakes to thaw!"

Is that the Royalex version?

quote mooseplums:
Is that the Royalex version?"

Nope, mine is the KevLight layup with wood trim.

quote PikePetersen: "

quote mooseplums:
Is that the Royalex version?"

Nope, mine is the KevLight layup with wood trim."

The Northwind was manufactured in Kevlight, BlackGold and Royalex. I thought only the Royalex was 16' 6", with the rest being 17' 6".

I have a BlackGold. It serves as a great freighter. It definitely behaves and is happiest with a full load. I think it is a rather squirrelly canoe paddling tandem with no load

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "

quote PikePetersen: "

quote mooseplums:
Is that the Royalex version?"

Nope, mine is the KevLight layup with wood trim."

The Northwind was manufactured in Kevlight, BlackGold and Royalex. I thought only the Royalex was 16' 6", with the rest being 17' 6".

I have a BlackGold. It serves as a great freighter. It definitely behaves and is happiest with a full load. I think it is a rather squirrelly canoe paddling tandem with no load"

That's what I thought too

I suppose I'll need to measure when I get home then. It may have been mislabeled in the ad?

The Bell Northstar was 16-6. Bell Northwinds were 17-6.(unless Royalex)
Some confusion may be that ALL the touring tandems are now Northwinds. Northwind 17 and Northwind 16 for example...

I checked and my new canoe is 17.5, not 16.5. I got an extra foot of canoe for free! I guess it didn't strike me to measure it yesterday, the pristine condition of it had my full attention. Not a scratch on it, bought new in 2006.

Northwind owners, how does this canoe handle as a solo without a full load?

There will be a 46lb dog in the front to help trim it out, but no packs. I'm thinking just out on the lake for the afternoon to do some fishing.

Thanks!

I don't own a Northwind, but I have a Northwoods which is a foot longer.

The Northwoods is bad as a solo, but I do take it out solo when on tandem trips in the morning when its VERY calm. One thing that helps immensely is replacing the stern thwart with a kneeling thwart or center seat. Its not great, but its manageable in calm conditions and weight is distributed better than just sitting in the stern. I suspect the Northwind will do a bit better solo than the Northwoods, but still won't be great as a solo in any circumstance. Still, you'll have a ton of fun with it and figure out what works.

quote PikePetersen: "Northwind owners, how does this canoe handle as a solo without a full load?


There will be a 46lb dog in the front to help trim it out, but no packs. I'm thinking just out on the lake for the afternoon to do some fishing.


Thanks!"

They are great with a load! I love mine - but empty, can blow around and be more unstable. Get a bigger dog!



Enjoy the new boat!

quote PikePetersen: "Northwind owners, how does this canoe handle as a solo without a full load?

There will be a 46lb dog in the front to help trim it out, but no packs. I'm thinking just out on the lake for the afternoon to do some fishing.

Thanks!"

I have a BlackGold. The canoe and the paddler are happiest with a full load. I do not like the canoe even when paddling tandem (with no packs). In my opinion a 46lb dog will not weigh the canoe down enough to give a feeling of stability.

But, the canoe has served me well as a tandem tripper and fully loaded. That is where the canoe shines. I have had a hell of a time cutting the bow back into the wind when fully loaded and tandem. Not sure if that is my problem or the canoe (a little rocker would help).

Controlling the bow of a solo paddled tandem is usually difficult due to minimal draft, and excessive sail area. Sitting solo on the stern seat is a very poor idea; the hull will be unstable because all paddler weight is balanced over the narrow stern and the bow uncontrolable because it is 14 feet away from the paddleblade.

Replacing the third thwart with a kneeling thwart places paddler weight in a much wider, more stable part of the hull, trims the boat better, and moves the paddler close to the bow, but bow control strokes are still applied aft of center which is not a good thing. The paddler needs be kneeling to increase reach and power. NorthWind's tumblehome improves reach when kneeling in the third thwart area.

The next step in control is kneeling amidships with both knees in on chine and under the carry yoke. This Canadian Style standing heel makes the boat carve offside and completely eliminates cross strokes, but the boat controls better with the exception of high winds and will respond to bow draws. The standing heel also reduces wetted area, which increases forward speed.

All of which brings us to solo canoes for solo paddlers!

quote PikePetersen: "Northwind owners, how does this canoe handle as a solo without a full load?"

I have a kneeling thwart in mine. Tried it once solo as a test. Will only do it again out of extreme necessity. In calm or little wind it's just ok. Any wind at all and it is not fun. The wind will take the bow whichever way it is going and you will struggle to bring it back.

On a side note, I like the way it handles with just 2 adults (approx 190 lbs each). But yes, better w/a load.

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "

quote PikePetersen: "Northwind owners, how does this canoe handle as a solo without a full load?

There will be a 46lb dog in the front to help trim it out, but no packs. I'm thinking just out on the lake for the afternoon to do some fishing.

Thanks!"

I have a BlackGold. The canoe and the paddler are happiest with a full load. I do not like the canoe even when paddling tandem (with no packs). In my opinion a 46lb dog will not weigh the canoe down enough to give a feeling of stability.

But, the canoe has served me well as a tandem tripper and fully loaded. That is where the canoe shines. I have had a hell of a time cutting the bow back into the wind when fully loaded and tandem. Not sure if that is my problem or the canoe (a little rocker would help)
"

The old Bell site lists the Norhtwind has having 2.5" Bow Rocker and 1.5" Stern Rocker. We find the weight distribution is what really helps us keep it "in-line" in strong wind.