Recent content by RPATCH

The Dragonfly 15 is really for remote river trips, but I enjoy it as a day paddler too. It is efficient enough for flat water as well. I take the Phoenix when I'm concerned about rocky rapids and I loan it to people. I just got the Wildfire and the plan is to use it for playing around on the...

I just got the Wildfire and it sort of fell in my lap, so I'm really comparing to the DF15. And the original Dragonfly which is even livelier.

Nothing like them to me. Much duller handling, but very predictable and capable. I love the Phoenix for what I use it for (IXP).

Curtis Dragonfly, Hemlock Peregrine, Swift Dragonfly 15, Northstar Trillium, Northstar Phoenix, Bell Wildfire. I am pretty comfortable in the Dragonfly 15. The Wildfire and Trillium are new to me and my opinion is pending.

I'll be there with the Hemlock SRT I have for sale.

Wow! That's a beauty, Glenn. I look forward to seeing it in person. This is why I don't try some canoes.

As another data point, I just purchased a Northstar Trillium in Blacklite with carbon gunwales and it weighs 25 lbs flat including a foot rest bar, which just happened to be installed.

As it turns out, I bought that Wildfire, which was in Florida 15 minutes from a friend's house. He's delivering it to me in New Jersey in a few weeks. I also have a Phoenix, so it will be interesting to compare.

In addition to nuts, dried fruit, salmon jerky and cheese and crackers (Crunchmaster crackers hold up and don't get stale), I make in advance of the trip peanut butter and jelly tortillas folded into snack size baggies. I have gone out almost four weeks with them and they have kept fine...

Glenn, the float tanks were optional from Swift and they are air chambers.

Here is a little video I made of installing lining loops in my Swift Dragonfly 15.

This is a more typical kneeling thwart in an original Dragonfly.

I like a high seat. It really helps my legs to be not quite so bent. I move around a lot for comfort and sometimes pull both legs out from under the seat and for me in that canoe, it is not problem. Like I said, it's the most comfortable I've been in a canoe. I also have a seat pad that...

I made a wide kneeling thwart for my DF15. I too need to kneel to take pressure off my back. It's the most comfortable seat I have for me. Glenn tried it and found it uncomfortable, so it's all individual.

Other than a day paddle, I've only paddled it on a class I/II river on a 9 day trip with about a 350 lb load. It did not feel overloaded (except when I had to carry everything). I usually load a little stern heavy and this is no exception. I kept a 2-1/2 gallon jug of filtered water behind my...