After spending lots of time researching, testing canoes and talking to people I decided on a new canoe. I took delivery through a friend yesterday and we went for a paddle down near Rochester. I bought a Wenonah Prism in Kevlar ultralight layup with wood gunwales and thwarts. She paddles great, glides nice and looks like she will be a great traveling companion for many years to come. Anyone wanting information of the Prism can ask. It is one sweet solo for a big guy (6'4" 230 lbs)

Congratulations on the new canoe!! Read your post on the CCBB glad you got to have a good paddle this weekend... Did you feel a little over protective? I remember last year when I took my new Souris River Quetico 18.5 out and the first time it grated on bottom or across a rock... I cringed!!! but what the heck... we buy them to use and to get us where we want to go. Have many great trips in that Solo Bogs, and enjoy every one to the fullest.

Bruce

Nice canoe bog. Where did you paddle at near Rochester? Thats my home town.

We paddled out at Chester Woods east of the city. It was a great day-even though it was little on the windy side. Have you paddled there before?

Congrats Bogs! Wish I could have been there for her maden voyage. I hope she serves you well in the BW soon!

TB

Nice ride! Congratulations! I took a Prism on a solo trip a few years back. It treated me well, and I treated it well. Unfortunetly, the outfitter wanted it back :(

Ditto on the congrats. A new solo, how good a weekend is that. How do you like that tractor seat? I paddle an Encounter and never got to like the seat. Swapped out for a wood and web. Still not quite right. Perhaps cane is next. At any rate may yours serve you well for many a trip.

I am also not sure about the tractor seat and seeing I only have a couple of hours in it. So far I like the sliding feature to trim the canoe and change leg position. It does keep me centered which I am not sure is a good long term advantage. This is my first tractor seat. I am working with someone on a back belt which we may install and I have heard some who put gel into the seat for comfort-I am not sure about that need for me. I will let you know after a few more hours in the canoe.

Another point. I went and got my new canoe license and feel a need to send a note to Minnesota DNR or licensing. Why do they have to make the new stickers in such ugly colors? My current license on my tandem canoe was kind of Pink. Now they are a bright orange. Not all that attractive on kevlar skin canoe or anything else for that matter. Wish I could mount it to the inside of the canoe so it was displayed but not detract from the canoe. I feel bad for all you cedar stripper and classic wood/canvas guys. Nothing like ruining a work of art!

You might look around. I have a seat cover from Wenonah that velcro's onto the tractor seat. It's not gel but it's padded. It also has little bit of a back on it. I like it because of the back specifically because when you brace your legs in the boat you can really brace against the back.

I hurt my lower back a few years ago and it really seemed to help keep the pain to a minimum.

IMO though, any seat that you use is going to cause discomfort after several days of sitting on.

Hey Bog, another thought is that if you like a seat with a back on it, Crazy Creek makes a chair, the Crazy Creek Canoe Chair III that is made for molded seats... 2 inch thick cushion might set you a little higher than you like, I got one and use it on the web seats, and around camp... big guy like me likes a little extra cushion other than what I have naturally... ha ha and the ability to have something to lean against to me is hard to beat. Good luck with what ever you find or use...
Bruce