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I use the large Action Packers for general gear storage. I write the category of contents on the lid with a sharpie. I keep a small one in the truck with emergency gear, and a large one with cold weather gear in winter. I wouldn't trust one to keep its lid on in a capsize, and it's definitely...

Oooh! Two...yes, two Monarchs! Nice fleet there. I'll bet she's gonna like that Yellowstone.

That's really the key. Beyond that, having valuable skills and tools to put them to use is always good currency. I like to think that being able to move a canoe both upstream and downstream can be a useful skill set. ;)

One of my favorite books in my youth was Earth Abides. In it, the protagonist actually comes out of the wilderness and back to civilization - only to find it completely fallen to deadly pandemic. I tend to think the story is a bit more realistic than the idea of escaping to wilderness. I guess...

A valid perspective. And I might add that rental canoes may be available in some cases (not nearly as many as Minnesota though), and if you play your cards right, you might find locals willing to lend a boat for the pleasure of your company. ;)

This is another reason why I like to replace the solo bench seat with a foam pedestal. I just carry the canoe upside down with the pedestal on one shoulder. On my Guide, I made the front of the saddle long enough to balance naturally. The Wildfire is light enough that I can hold up the front for...

Wow! That looked like it might have done some damage. I couldn't quite make out what the background noise was after it calved. Did it send a lot of birds into flight?

Can't help much with that, Chip. But as I have a plan to grab an Advantage if I ever get the chance, I'm going to follow this thread. ;) My longest solo I've paddled is the 15.5' Solitude. It has a pretty round bottom with little or no rocker. I stay pretty centered and level unless I'm...

That cleaned up nicely!

Holy Cow Canoes have been made with three keels like that. I think they're still in business. Only place I've seen them for sale new is Ebay.

Looks good from where I'm sitting. :)

Yes, thanks @GladMax for posting your repair process. I'm about to do one very similar (on more of a beater), and this helps me feel better about it. On texture... One of the things I like about my kevlar tandems is that the weave on the inside has not been filled in, so my feet don't slip easy...

My understanding is that the budget cuts weren't yet in effect. Also, the weather service is on record saying that they were not under staffed.

@PaddlingPika - your reasoning is part of why inflatable SUPs have become so popular. Pretty good idea, IMO - but I'm not quite there yet.

OTOH, I could easily put together a trip with all easy class 2 river stretches a shuttle options - but that takes a lot more planning, and possibly a strict schedule. In that case, I would take something like the Wildfire.

That's a tough one. I guess it would depend on how much I was planning to do in places I'm familiar with. The last time I took a trip like that which included places I wasn't familiar with, I took the Mohawk Solo 14. I thought I might find myself on some bony river. But as it turned out, I would...

I remember my first experience with the MR Outrage, and noticing that it would turn by just thinking about it. :D The Guide isn't that turny, but when we discuss where and when to turn, it never argues, and complies enthusiastically. Wildfire says, "Turn? Sure, why not?"

Is there no option of getting that layup without gelcoat? Maybe with glass outer layer? This is what attracts me to Clipper canoes. That's the layup of my Solitude, and it seems pretty robust. A lot of fine surface scratches, but no other damage. It's probably overkill for the usual...

Yep, that's the one. I started doing that way back when I was paddling a Prospector 16 solo with an ottertail. You can get that blade way under the boat - and what a difference that makes!

@ABT I can relate. I spent a lot of time in my Guide, and if it wasn't for the weight I would have never given it up. It's a shame that MR doesn't produce it still in a robust kevlar layup. I wonder if the mold even still exists. Based on my version of your search with the same parameters, I...