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I get it, Glenn, we're at the age (now in our 70's) where we have to be realistic about our plans for the next decade or so. Thus, my concern about the stability and seaworthiness of the Polaris. I want my lovely canoeing partner to be comfortable in the canoe, even in windblown chop. I did...

Both reasonable primary characteristics but not the only ones... Perhaps you're correct if "any reasonable" is within the range of characteristics I'm after. I've been fortunate to have paddled some great tandem canoes over the years so I'm guilty of wanting to be a bit more discerning of a...

So that's your Bell Northstar, Gumpus? I really like the color. ;) I believe the Northstar Polaris is basically a revamping of the Bell Northstar based on Northstar's web page: "The Polaris accelerates quickly and offers a lively paddling experience. Skilled paddlers raved about the performance...

As I replied to Gumpus previously, that Stealth build emphasizes the adage of "lowest weight = highest price". (And it's more fragile.) I'm looking at dropping weight from 55 lbs to 38 lbs. I can live with that, until I cannot, and then I have a 22 lb solo to fall back on. Or into. :)

That's what I thought I'd read or heard. I'll have to review the history Charlie Wilson has provided over the years. And cost. :)

Glenn, I took a quick look at the sides of the Northstar (hanging in the garage and bagged, so a very cursory look) and you may be correct about the bubble-sided Curtis and Swift canoes vs the shouldered Polaris. The Polaris side walls appear to share more in common with my Northstar Firebird...

It is, and a lot of fun to paddle on all sorts of water. I can still lift it onto and off the car without too much trouble but I'd rather swap it out now while we can still get many more years out of a lighter canoe. A Swift Keewaydin 16 or Savage River Harmony would both be enjoyable, I'm sure...

I'm thinking I should just commit and give the Northstar dealer a call. My hesitation is more about having to sell our Curtis Northstar. :confused:

Wenonah is often forgotten, I think mainly because they're known for sleek, fast canoes, not the turny boats often discussed here. But they do offer some nice all-around models.

Wenonah has been featuring skin coat resin finishes for decades. From what I see at Wenonah's web site, the only build option that uses gel coat is the Flex-Core layup.

The 1986 Curtis Northstar I have is the Kevlar layup with gel coat, weighs about 55 lbs. Specs are... 16' length; 35" max width, 32" gunnel, 31.5" @ 4" waterline; 21" bow, 14" mid, 21" stern; 2" symmetrical rocker. Curtis catalog can be found here...

Look like solid bindings and I like the way they attach to the webbing. I'd be concerned about the spikes rubbing into the webbing if the spacing isn't ideal for certain snowshoes.

That was an impressive drop with a loaded tandem, especially seeing in the other photos what was beside you and below you.

Howe style leather bindings work well except for the wear on the strap that holds the binding onto the snowshoe webbing. I'd also swap out the instep strap with a cam- or friction-lock type strap. The kind used on backpacks and tie-ins. I only found them for sale on Amazon or Etsy, though. I...

No need to apologize. I have plenty of canoes to keep me busy and having a Magic has been wishful thinking more than anything. Good deals on great canoes are an attractive nuisance nowadays.

I was just about to ask if it was still available. 😄

Cats in canoes...

No nukes. But maybe...

And as a canoeist, I think your article makes the case very well, Marc, and my comments were pedantic in that regard.

Gore-tex and it's variants aren't as dependable as a good neoprene fisherman's jacket/pants but it does work well for cold weather use when a downpour is unlikely. In cool, wet weather it can be OK as a wind shell but needs an insulating layer like wool. I've begun wearing NRS Hydroskin under...