Recent content by NikonF5user

My 16' Kevlar Lincoln did this trip in the '80s with its previous owner! But with the selection of boats you have, I would go with the 15' Dagger without batting an eye. There is not much need for a big load as you're paddling past many towns with resupply options, but you'll need to do several...

My projected "set sail" date would be something like July 6th depending on how many days I suspect the loop will require. I feverishly want to attend the Adirondack FreeStyle Canoe Symposium the weekend of July 16-19, so I would like to be off the water on the 13th to give enough time to...

Yellowstone Solo in Royalex has not been built since I believe 2014 when then Bell Canoe (owned by ORC) stopped all canoe production (the company has since started again under the Redfeather brand, but Royalex is no longer available and all of their canoes, including the Yellowstone Solo, are...

Is this a crease, or just a shadow/reflection?

Inquiring minds want to know - in what situations do you choose one over the other? I am a WildFIRE fanatic but have never paddled an OG Dragonfly. That being said, I certainly know what I like in canoes, and I know the reputation of the Dragonfly - and it's certainly an alluring boat. Having...

I have all three of those things in my kit! Since I posted this, I have been debating doing a reverse loop of sorts, heading south after climbing Maple mountain and going through all of the waterfalls. Although I have been watching several videos, and those portages look ROUGH. I think I will do...

Certainly in terms of weight. Not sure the Echo 2.0 has the capacity or the big water abilities of the Guide. Would be a fun pair to match off in a YouTube comparison video!

No, but I doubt that's Esquif's intent - rather I think it will compete with the Phoenix in IXP or perhaps Nova Craft P14 in TSE (plus of course many out-of-production smaller Royalex solos) - something that will get slammed into rocks without as much concern...

It would be nice if they made it in T-Formex Lite; this would allow the Echo to be competitive with the Bell YS Solo / Royalex WildFIRE in both weight and capabilities (and the Echo may even be a bit more playful with its symmetrical rocker).

I think it is difficult for kneeling to ever raise the CG over sitting on the same seat (if nothing else but because the lower legs are flat on the bottom of the boat), but I bet it does move the CG forward. I also suspect that moving the CG forward and placing a lone weight near the stern to...

Fortunately for us, this is no longer the case - the mold is in active use and this new Aero layup is intriguing! The only issue is the weight - I am hoping Redfeather develops a carbon gunwale system to bring the weight down into the upper 30 range... Redfeather Ursa Minor

@RPATCH has far more experience with this than me (I have none), but I wonder to what extent the covered deck cuts wind impact? No question the lower - slung hull of the kayak has the most in influence on limiting wind resistance, but I suspect the covered top is also a major factor, and I know...

ain't no boat that fills in for a WildFIRE!!!!

My Boy Scouts canoe instructor used to say "weight towards the wind" - wind from the front, weight in the front - wind from the rear, weight in the rear...

Do not forget that the Polaris can be had with carbon gunwales (although I do not believe they are integrated as they are with a Swift) which both stiffen the Starlite boat and drop the weight by a pound. You can also get all carbon components to shave 3 pounds, but it's quite a bit more...