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Glenn, the float tanks were optional from Swift and they are air chambers.

Here is a little video I made of installing lining loops in my Swift Dragonfly 15.

This is a more typical kneeling thwart in an original Dragonfly.

I like a high seat. It really helps my legs to be not quite so bent. I move around a lot for comfort and sometimes pull both legs out from under the seat and for me in that canoe, it is not problem. Like I said, it's the most comfortable I've been in a canoe. I also have a seat pad that...

I made a wide kneeling thwart for my DF15. I too need to kneel to take pressure off my back. It's the most comfortable seat I have for me. Glenn tried it and found it uncomfortable, so it's all individual.

Other than a day paddle, I've only paddled it on a class I/II river on a 9 day trip with about a 350 lb load. It did not feel overloaded (except when I had to carry everything). I usually load a little stern heavy and this is no exception. I kept a 2-1/2 gallon jug of filtered water behind my...

I should add, since you mentioned it, it's very easy to skid the stern on the DF15. On paper, it's only 1/2" less rocker in the stern.

That's about it. I don't find the DF15 to be too bad in the wind, but I haven't had it out in really bad conditions yet. I'm inserting some interesting pictures of the DF15 (blue) next to a Hemlock SRT (red) and Curtis Dragonfly (white). You can get some idea of how it compares looking at the...

I make it a practice to treat my clothes and tent at the beginning of the season with Permethrin. It is effective against ticks and helps with other biting insects. The small bottles of Sawyer Permethrin are quite expensive and the sprayer that comes with it is rather low volume. I started...

Maybe I can help as I have a Phoenix in the IXP layup as well. The two canoes paddle very differently. I like my Phoenix and plan to keep it. It's a very confidence inspiring boat. It's my pick to use in rocky rivers as I don't worry about scratching it. That also makes it a good loaner for...

I usually identify a good spot and drop my PFD, but I'm happy to move if it works out better for all. Silly little game, really. I'll check out the Seek Outside "Cimarron" shelter, but I'm pretty happy with what I have. I really like the fly first pitch of the Hillebergs and I like the pole...

I consider a 2 person tent to be a 1-1/2 person tent. When there are two of us, it's nothing smaller than 3 person. I have a Nemo DragonFly OSMO 1 person, but I only use it in severely space restricted places and I really don't care for it. Last summer on the Big Salmon River, we had to do a...

You are probably right. I wrote it and then tried to figure out which section in this forum I should post it. I also think of it as an installment. There are so many little things I learn on each trip that help me streamline the process. I think as we get older, we all become efficiency...

As an old person and charter member of the multiple back surgery club, I am vitally interested in the minutiae of details that make wilderness canoe camping trips workable - even comfortable - for me. Youngsters, keep scrolling. If you have no trouble getting out of your tent and standing up...

"I had hoped the Dragonfly 15 would have a similar balance, just more gentle with a slower leaning response..." I think you're on the right track. I have Expedition Kevlar, but I had a Swift in Kevlar Fusion that I used quite a bit and I think it is plenty strong enough. I took it far with no...

Bruce Kemp, who has paddled an original Dragonfly for years, tried out my DF15 and felt it was immediately familiar, albeit larger and more stable.

If I have a complaint about the DF15, it is that mine weighs 39 lbs., but it's Expedition Kevlar with a gel coat inner bottom, which all adds up. That's the same as an SRT. As far as stability, it is not as lively as the original Dragonfly, but livelier than the Rockstar. That roughly equates...

Wow! That is incredible.

I carry three shells. If I know it's going to be a rainy day, I wear an Arc'teryx Beta SL rain jacket under my PFD, which I normally keep packed away in my clothes pack. In my accessible grab bag, I have a Black Diamond Stormline rain shell in a size larger than I usually wear that fits over...

I use a handheld Thermacell that has no battery. When the bugs are thick, I warm it up and slip it in my tent for 15 minutes or so before I get in. It seems to prevent the bugs from entering the tent until I can get the mosquito netting zipped up. Works well for me.