Solo Composite Canoe that can do it all 😉

[Alan Gage]

Great perspective, Steve!

 

[gumpus]

@TheIndian - did you ever decide on that canoe?

I've been giving some thought to that "do it all canoe" lately, and haven't come to a conclusion. But I have had this notion that maybe it's less important to have a do it all canoe, than to do all you can with the canoe one has. It started to hit me when I was paddling that fellow's nice new Swift Prospector 14.

That thought keeps creeping in as I look at my collection and realize that there are a few that I don't use much and one that is so heavy I'm considering selling it come spring (the Vertige). I'm probably done with big whitewater at this stage anyway.

It's fun to have various canoes to compare and use in different settings, but when it comes right down to it, I think I could be happy with just my lightest solo and my lightest tandem - those being the Wildfire and the Coho. I could just as easily get by with one of any number of modern lightweight composite ~15' solos from the better makers that have been discussed here with favor.

Not that I'm that awesome of a paddler. But there are so many amazing experiences to be had with what I could do with one canoe - however much it limits me - that I seriously doubt that I'd feel limited if I put any effort into it.

I know - that's crazy talk. But something to consider, I think. Anyway, there's something called analysis to paralysis. Don't let that keep you from enjoying a nice lightweight composite solo sooner than later.

Not crazy at all and you're not the only forum member that has pondered whether the Wildfire.isn't the only solo they really need. For me it's the similar Swift Osprey. I sold 2 "special occasion" boats this past summer due to limited use. I also think it takes a lot of time to get to know a boat really well so maybe there are good reasons not to have too many boats or maybe to have just one that's still new and different enough to stimulate your interest (for me that's the Advantage I bought a while back).

 

[Gamma1214]

...so maybe there are good reasons not to have too many boats...

(GASP) sacrilege!! Glenn, make him stop!!

 

[Idiot Savant]

I probably already put in my two cents, or I wouldn't have gotten a notice in my mail, but I think the Wenonah Encounter sounds like it would be good choice for you. I owned one and wish I still had it. Fast, very stable, will carry a lot. Great boat.
By weird coincidence, I was watching a couple videos on Greenland paddles just yesterday.
I'm still not sold on them. One of the videos talked about how hard it was to get used to.
As an alternative, I bought a Werner Little Dipper. It is the Camano's little brother. If I were going to do a really long day in the Boundary Waters, I think I might go with it.