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Does anyone have experience with the Esquif Avalon? It seems perhaps comparable to an Old Town Penobscot 16, and according to the Esquif website comes with a kneeling thwart, but it seems a bit rare. Mainly just curious, also wondering if anyone has photos of inside...

I get a kick out of the fact that in the Adirondacks they're Lean-tos, but down here in Maryland we call them Adirondacks!

I wish I had the facilities to do so! Unless I build something outside, that wouldn't be realistic where I live...

Oops - I mixed up the Heron for the Shearwater that's on FBM, the Shearwater is the one I took to be a larger high-capacity solo...

I really like the idea of the Trillium, and I wish I could find a way to test paddle one. But I weigh 220 lb, and while I definitely do trip light, I still imagine I'm going to be over 250, probably more like 260 when tripping. I'm also 6'1" with longer legs than torso, so I just wonder if I...

I have been looking at that ad on Facebook Marketplace, it has me intrigued - it does look like a stunning boat. I am unfamiliar with the Heron, but everything I keep reading suggests that it is substantially larger than a NW Solo or Kee 15. Definitely would love to know more about the boat from...

Still looking - please keep me in mind if selling something of the sort!

Sadly the person with the Merlin withdrew the sale. Ugh.

What model Old Town are you using for your poling adventures?

I am looking at a Merlin 2 that has Kevlar skid plates installed. I've always been against them on principle as I cannot help but feel they detract from the water flow over the hull. It's an otherwise awesome boat. Ugh!

Curious how everyone feels about Kevlar skid plates, and their impact on the paddling performance of the boat? Is the weight and paddling impact of the plates worth the abrasion benefits?

I realized that after I replied! 😂🤣 I love the idea of a Firebird (and also the Trillium - which to me sounds more like the Merlin 2 than a smaller NW Solo), but Northstar keeps telling me I'm too big for both (I'm about 6'1" and 215). What I really want to is to test paddle both (something I...

Sadly I doubt I will be able to afford anything that Swift makes as a new boat, but I have paddled their Cruisers and Keewaydins and am quite a fan. Guessing the Wildfire will be more of a symmetrical boat like the Phoenix?

Just out of curiosity, how do you feel about longer-term (3-5 or more days) tripping in your Firebird? I'm hemming and hawing about what to buy (and I have leads on both an ADC Boreas and a Bell Merlin 2), but there is also a Phoenix nearby that looks great (and is essentially a larger Firebird...

This is awesome! I sent you a private message. Mainly I am unfamiliar with the boat, and wonder about size - but at a glance it is very alluring!

I was looking at that site a few days ago - I would LOVE that red LiteTech boat, but sadly it's a bit out of my price range. Ugh!

Looking for a solo boat along the lines of a Northwind Solo / Merlin II / Hemlock Peregrine / Keewaydin 15 or similar. I am in Maryland, but am willing to travel basically anywhere in the eastern US for the right boat. Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome and the suggestion! Done :-)

I use my Osprey Atmos 50 with drybags inside as you suggest when tripping, it's just so darn comfortable to carry. The Atmos is on the small side, so it requires some maneuvering for longer trips (I bring my ancient Camp Trails Catskill, which I believe is 70 liters, for longer solo trips). The...