Swift Keewaydin 18.6 vs H2O slingshot

Hey all, new member here but seasoned tripper.

I'd like to know if anyone has compared a Swift Keeewaydin 18.6 in carbon vs a carbon H2O slingshot 222.
Both fall in the Marathon Racing Stock class. We have a Slingshot and it's light and fairly quick, but the Keewaydin looks like a nicer tripping boat at the same weight. If it was a similar speed I might sell the H2O and get a Keewaydin.

Right now I'm using my Cedarstrip Redbird for tripping (Built it in 1988), but the Keewaydin is quite a bit lighter.

Thanks in advance!

I can offer no advice to your question, but welcome to the campfire.
Where are you located?
Jim

Thanks Jim, I'm in Caledon Ontario.

Richard E, I too would like to welcome you to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! Also, please consider adding your location to your profile, which will cause it to show under your avatar, as this is in many ways a geographic sport. We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.

I know lots of members here have Swift Keewaydins and some have H2O canoes, but not necessarily in those long lengths. You're asking for a very specific comparison. I haven't paddled or seen in person either canoe, but just from their pictures the plan view of the H2O 222 looks more like a marathon racing shape while the Swift 18.6 looks more like a tripping shape.

Thanks for the welcome Glenn. Added my location.

You are correct, the H2O is a marathon boat that can be used for tripping, and the Keewaydin is more like a fast tripping boat that could maybe be used for marathon stock racing. I'm intrigued whether the Keewaydin could do both better than the H2O.

I haven't paddled either one, but I'll venture a guess that the 222 is slightly faster but the Keewaydin would be faster than anybody else on the lake who didn't have a 222, a Jensen 18, an SR Susquehanna, etc. In racing boats you have to care about the last 1% of speed but it's diminishing returns. The Keewaydin 18.6 is on the C2 stock list, at least for New York State.

Richard E said:

Hey all, new member here but seasoned tripper.

I'd like to know if anyone has compared a Swift Keeewaydin 18.6 in carbon vs a carbon H2O slingshot 222.
Both fall in the Marathon Racing Stock class. We have a Slingshot and it's light and fairly quick, but the Keewaydin looks like a nicer tripping boat at the same weight. If it was a similar speed I might sell the H2O and get a Keewaydin.

Right now I'm using my Cedarstrip Redbird for tripping (Built it in 1988), but the Keewaydin is quite a bit lighter.

Thanks in advance!

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Hey Richard, I am thinking of a Slingshot 222 for marathon canoe racing stock. I am concerned about optimal displacement. My partner and I come in at about 285-290 lbs...and when we race the canoe is mostly empty. Is that too light for that canoe...? Would a Horizon be better or would we lose too much potential speed? Thanks!

Sorry TDG, but I really don't know the optimal displacement. It does seem big and wide for a race boat, and I suspect it can handle a lot of weight at speed.

FWIW, I decided to sell the Slingshot and buy a carbon-kevlar Keewaydin with carbon seats. It may be a touch slower but a much better tripping boat.

Richard E said:

Sorry TDG, but I really don't know the optimal displacement. It does seem big and wide for a race boat, and I suspect it can handle a lot of weight at speed.

FWIW, I decided to sell the Slingshot and buy a carbon-kevlar Keewaydin with carbon seats. It may be a touch slower but a much better tripping boat.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Which Keewaydin did you go with?

I went with a Keewaydin 17, carbon-kevlar with carbon seats and cherry yoke. 42 lbs.