Curtis Dragonfly, Hemlock Peregrine, Swift Dragonfly 15, Northstar Trillium, Northstar Phoenix, Bell Wildfire. I am pretty comfortable in the Dragonfly 15. The Wildfire and Trillium are new to me and my opinion is pending.
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What are your current solo canoes and how do you like them?
- Thread starter Glenn MacGrady
- Start date
How do you think the Phoenix stacks up against the Dragonflies and Wildfire?
Nothing like them to me. Much duller handling, but very predictable and capable. I love the Phoenix for what I use it for (IXP).
What are your respective uses for those 3? Down-river runs vs freestyle? And/or?
I'm curious as a Phoenix owner with very little experience in the others.
You have almost all the solos I am currently considering. We have only the Wildfire in common. I'll be watching you.
Are you implying that the Wildfire is noticeably sportier than the Phoenix?
I just got the Wildfire and it sort of fell in my lap, so I'm really comparing to the DF15. And the original Dragonfly which is even livelier.
The Dragonfly 15 is really for remote river trips, but I enjoy it as a day paddler too. It is efficient enough for flat water as well. I take the Phoenix when I'm concerned about rocky rapids and I loan it to people. I just got the Wildfire and the plan is to use it for playing around on the river until I get to know it. I didn't really have it in my mind to get a Wildfire, but it showed up.
I do wish the Phoenix was a little more efficient on the flats....
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- Jun 27, 2021
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Swift cruiser 14.8
Nova Craft Prospector 15, set up with single solo seat from the factory
Nova Craft Prospector 15, set up with single solo seat from the factory
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Currently boatless, due to a blowdown totally destroying my beloved Trillium. Ordered an identical replacement, blacklite with wood trim. The wait begins.
So, these are my two current solo canoes plus my first solo which I built, but did not own. That first solo I paddled a lot anyway including a 10 day Quetico tour.
Rushton Canadian Ugo/ vayu. This was my first solo and still my favorite. I built it for a customer when I was trying to make Currahee Boatworks a full-time business back in the 1980s. Fifteen feet X 30 inches. The plans were from “Rushton and His Times in American Canoeing”. I changed the stem and sheer shape a bit, but it stays true-to-plans below that. Serious v-bottom, but deep and quite seaworthy. I saw people get in this boat and get tipped out with out the hull shipping a drop of water. I was comfortable in the boat in a wild afternoon on Basswood Lake and an early morning blow on Saganaga.
I borrowed the boat for a Quetico Trip in 2002, refinished it in exchange for the use. Then it disappeared. I still have the molds if anyone is interested in building one.
Mad River Independence. I love this boat more and more the older I get. 30 pounds. I can still portage it at 74yo. I bought it for $700. It had been upside down on the ground. Hull was pristine, woodwork was rotten. Easy fix. I replaced the ash gunwales with clear cedar glued on- no screws and capped with 1/8 inch thick quarter sawn shortleaf pine. I put in two thwarts 2.5 feet from center and hung parallel rails to support adjustable seat and portage yoke. I can move the seat way back when packing a 10 day outfit forward. Always a nice place to park the portage yoke while paddling
The Indy is the closest shape to the Rushton I love so much. It has that v-bottom, but also a little bit of rocker which I like a lot.
I used to reserve this boat for BWCA trips and paddle my Dagger Sojourn for a knockabout on day trips, but as I age I go to the Indy more often.
Dagger Sojourn. I love the flared hull topped by the shoulder at the sheer. I have great respect for Mr. Scarborough’s canoe designs. This is a R-84 Royalite hull. 48 pounds with the changes I made. Bought it used for $650. The bottom was a bit flexy so I glued in a 3 inch wide 1/8 inch thick rib in the middle. Worked just fine. Same set up with seat and portage yoke on rails. It is my day tour boat. It is about the heaviest boat I can still lift and load on the vehicle solo.
Two very different hulls. I enjoy them both very much.
Rushton Canadian Ugo/ vayu. This was my first solo and still my favorite. I built it for a customer when I was trying to make Currahee Boatworks a full-time business back in the 1980s. Fifteen feet X 30 inches. The plans were from “Rushton and His Times in American Canoeing”. I changed the stem and sheer shape a bit, but it stays true-to-plans below that. Serious v-bottom, but deep and quite seaworthy. I saw people get in this boat and get tipped out with out the hull shipping a drop of water. I was comfortable in the boat in a wild afternoon on Basswood Lake and an early morning blow on Saganaga.
I borrowed the boat for a Quetico Trip in 2002, refinished it in exchange for the use. Then it disappeared. I still have the molds if anyone is interested in building one.
Mad River Independence. I love this boat more and more the older I get. 30 pounds. I can still portage it at 74yo. I bought it for $700. It had been upside down on the ground. Hull was pristine, woodwork was rotten. Easy fix. I replaced the ash gunwales with clear cedar glued on- no screws and capped with 1/8 inch thick quarter sawn shortleaf pine. I put in two thwarts 2.5 feet from center and hung parallel rails to support adjustable seat and portage yoke. I can move the seat way back when packing a 10 day outfit forward. Always a nice place to park the portage yoke while paddling
The Indy is the closest shape to the Rushton I love so much. It has that v-bottom, but also a little bit of rocker which I like a lot.
I used to reserve this boat for BWCA trips and paddle my Dagger Sojourn for a knockabout on day trips, but as I age I go to the Indy more often.
Dagger Sojourn. I love the flared hull topped by the shoulder at the sheer. I have great respect for Mr. Scarborough’s canoe designs. This is a R-84 Royalite hull. 48 pounds with the changes I made. Bought it used for $650. The bottom was a bit flexy so I glued in a 3 inch wide 1/8 inch thick rib in the middle. Worked just fine. Same set up with seat and portage yoke on rails. It is my day tour boat. It is about the heaviest boat I can still lift and load on the vehicle solo.
Two very different hulls. I enjoy them both very much.
