Recent content by Tryin'

Yes, I don't think the integrated gunwales would support much weight hung. The tumblehome is another consideration. For instance, the Encounter cannot be shipped with a hung seat because of the extreme "bubble" on the sides of the hull. I have one, and even in the beefy Flex-Core layup, it has...

Not to beat the dead horse, but I got a partial reply back from Swift. Question: Second, what seating options might be available beyond the sidewall pods and pack-style model that was at the show? The pods are much too low to be suitable for large or large-footed paddlers to kneel, and...

Yes, so far, the Polaris is the closest to ideal I have used. I would like it a bit narrower in the paddle station, as I do not find heeled-over paddling to be my strong suit. I will look at the Ursa Minor, great suggestion.

Hey, thats a great idea. I will have to see if I can get the schedules lined up.

Great suggestion! Buttttt, 😄😄 That was LAST year's disappointment... I was set to buy a copy of Jeremy Vore's at canoecopia and Bill told me that it would be great empty, but it wouldnt be right for a tripping load. Thats when he first hinted at the upcoming P15 Solo. He also asked if I had...

Bummer. I was pulling for Josh to keep things going.

Maybe I'm crazy (and definitely ignorant) but what needs to happen to get the weight specs up? Are my wish-list specs too optimistic? Where are these optimum weight rating coming from? Yes, the answer is displacement. But how can we optimize that displacement to produce a good hull? (Uh-oh, I...

The Shearwater is a delight to paddle! My son uses it as his primary canoe with 210# man weight plus 65-85# gear weight. Empty, it works well for me at 270#, but throw another 80# of gear in it and there is not much freeboard left for moving water.

The Polaris IS very close, and maybe that should be good enough. I just wish it were *teeny* bit smaller. I know, wish in one hand.... 😁 I have not paddled a Starfire. I dont kneel all the time, I flip back and forth as my knees and back prefer. Rivers are great for that: sit on the flats...

Ha! I couldn't figure out why we were recommending whitewater playboats, but Gamma set me straight with the stripper comment. I remember the build thread. Raven I thought we were talking about: https://www.esquif.com/en/canoe/raven/ I dont have the time or space for a build right now, but...

I am hoping to stop by their place on our big American road trip this September. I spent some time with them on the phone last year, but its another one I have yet to find in the wild. Great reminder though, because their specs are almost bang on what I think would be perfect, other than the weight.

The Starfire is a bit short/wide, definitely a tandem-turned-solo feel to it. Not a bad compromise, but very clearly a compromise. The Eaglet is the closest, if a bit shallow, looking at the specs. Unfortunately, I've never seen one in person.

Well, for me, this boat was the biggest disappointment of the show. Its NOT a big man's solo, unless that man is a dedicated sitter, and a pack boat sitter at that. The bench seat is about 6-7" off the floor, making it impossible to get my feet underneath, even in sneakers. Swift had a packseat...

Esquif brought one to 'Copia. The two extra inches in depth is more visually striking than I would have imagined. It looks like a very different hull.

I'm at Canoecopia looking at it. Seems like a good fit for a rivers and lakes boat, probably overkill for a lakes and rivers boat. Thats quite the spectrum of hulls you are looking at.