Some recent thoughts on solo canoe vs. touring kayak.

[Idiot Savant]

At the time of my last trip, in late September, I had two solo canoes, two rec kayaks, two touring kayaks, and a sea kayak.
I wasn't sure either of my two solo canoes was appropriate for this trip and I've been wanting to do a river trip in one of my touring kayaks, so I went with my Old Town Castine 140. Here are my thoughts, post trip.
On the positive side, not having to worry about rain or splashing getting in the boat was a plus. Not having to worry about strapping everything down was also a plus.
On the negative side were, not being able to keep my full size camera in the cockpit with me, not being able to bring anything that wouldn't fit through a hatch, harder to get in and out, being too close to the water (short torso, long arms) and, lastly, just not being able to carry as much. A larger kayak might have been a better choice.
I ended the trip wanting another solo canoe but ended up deciding I just needed to make the ones I have work. I was concerned my Echo didn't have enough freeboard, but I think it would have been just fine and I was worried about banging up my Blacklite Northwind solo, but there were two other Blacklite boats on the trip.

 

[dutchlennart]

Blacklite is a tuff layup but these battlescars are for many not something to look at. It depends on many factors if one boatis really more suitable then an other. On many occasion in this never ending debate i think about all the different craft that have succssfully run the grand canyon.
If you have choices the thinking is good. If not then you have to cope with that craft.

 

[adkjoe]

At the time of my last trip, in late September, I had two solo canoes, two rec kayaks, two touring kayaks, and a sea kayak.
I wasn't sure either of my two solo canoes was appropriate for this trip and I've been wanting to do a river trip in one of my touring kayaks, so I went with my Old Town Castine 140. Here are my thoughts, post trip.
On the positive side, not having to worry about rain or splashing getting in the boat was a plus. Not having to worry about strapping everything down was also a plus.
On the negative side were, not being able to keep my full size camera in the cockpit with me, not being able to bring anything that wouldn't fit through a hatch, harder to get in and out, being too close to the water (short torso, long arms) and, lastly, just not being able to carry as much. A larger kayak might have been a better choice.
I ended the trip wanting another solo canoe but ended up deciding I just needed to make the ones I have work. I was concerned my Echo didn't have enough freeboard, but I think it would have been just fine and I was worried about banging up my Blacklite Northwind solo, but there were two other Blacklite boats on the trip.

I just picked up an Eddyline Sitka XT kayak as I feel there is a time and place for one. Both canoes and kayaks have limitations depending on what you are doing. I primarily purchased the kayak for "Coastal Paddling". As for your Echo I heard rumors Esquif is making a new version which is deeper. https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/new-esquif-solo-for-2026-echo-2-0.130477/

 

[Punkinhead]

I own both canoes and kayaks and a solo canoe is nearly always my preference. The biggies for me are ease of getting in & out and comfort. Being able to switch between kneeling and sitting saves my knees and butt. But like @adkjoe I use a kayak for coastal paddling because of wind and surf. I also prefer a kayak for whitewater even though when I was younger I preferred an open canoe for up to class IV. These days I hate to swim so I want to be in something I can roll. I know people are rolling open canoes these days but I'm not sure I could pick up that skill without dislocating my shoulder.

 

[gumpus]

I was worried about banging up my Blacklite Northwind solo, but there were two other Blacklite boats on the trip.

I think it's hard not to worry about banging up a Blacklite boat. Soooo light. No gelcoat. I have a BL Polaris. I think my worries are from lack of experience with skincoat boats where the maintenance is just different than with gelcoat. Then I remind myself that outfitters rent the weaker Starlight boats. Maybe I should go hit my Polaris with a hammer.

 

[Stillwater's]

"I think it's hard not to worry about banging up a Blacklite boat."

I feel the same, but much less worried about my Blacklite Trillium now, after five years, than when new. I was taken aback by how easily it scratched early on; later had a conversation with a woman who had paddled the NFCT in a blacklite something, and told me not to worry… about scraping rocks, dragging over beaver dams, etc. That helped, but I’d still fret that if it so much as toueched a rock it would scratch. Just cosmetic, but still.
The definitive answer was had when it slid off my roof rack, untethered (don’t ask me to explain) doing maybe 25 around a curve in the village. Didn’t know I’d lost it until a kind woman flagged me down. I think I had a genuine anxiety attack when I went to look at it on the side of the road. Result: a set of scrathes, a couple of small spots where the clear coat and carbon chipped off and I could see the kevlar ( but it didn’t damage the cloth), and a little chip out of the wood trim at the stem. Repairs consisted of a bit of regular two part epoxy to seal things up.

I still cringe a little when I skim over a rock, or scrape some in a rocky landing, but I have a good deal of faith in the lay up these days.

 

[SouthernKevlar]

BlackLite formula: >S x T= <W

(S =number of Scratches on canoe, T =Time canoe has been owned, W =amount of Worry about canoe getting new scratches)

 

[Neophyte]

I have a Northstar Trillium in BlackLite. I've been impressed with how well it keeps the water out in rough conditions and light rapids. (Class 1+? I'm not good at rating this sort of thing but the waves I was going through looked big.) The only time I got water in the Trillium was when I messed up a paddle stroke. I would think the Northwind Solo would be similar in that regard.

I do share Stillwater's opinion on the durability of BlackLite. While I haven't thrown it off a moving vehicle, it has held up to standard use and abuse. I try to be careful, but rocks are pretty stealthy sometimes. Logically I know it's more than durable enough for what I'm doing...but like Still I cringe with every new scratch.

 

[gumpus]

I have a Northstar Trillium in BlackLite. I've been impressed with how well it keeps the water out in rough conditions and light rapids. (Class 1+? I'm not good at rating this sort of thing but the waves I was going through looked big.) The only time I got water in the Trillium was when I messed up a paddle stroke. I would think the Northwind Solo would be similar in that regard.

I do share Stillwater's opinion on the durability of BlackLite. While I haven't thrown it off a moving vehicle, it has held up to standard use and abuse. I try to be careful, but rocks are pretty stealthy sometimes. Logically I know it's more than durable enough for what I'm doing...but like Still I cringe with every new scratch.

Kinda like SouthernKevlar I was not trying to point out any real concern with the lay-up....just the psychological "hurdle" in using it hard. The only thing to fear is fear itself!

Great boat! I'd love to have a Trillium in BlackLite.

 

[Neophyte]

Ha, I know what you mean Grumpus that psychological hurdle is daunting. When I read your post I was imaging hitting my Trillium with a hammer and saying "Yep, it'll stand up to anything." But there's not a chance I'll ever do that.

I've been very happy with the Trillium. I really should have spent much more time trying out canoes before I bought one, but I seemed to have made the right despite myself.