Which Canoe For Summer Solo?

[Steve in Idaho]

Just completed the 116km Bowron Lake circuit in my Clipper Packer 14' canoe. Did great but wasn't as fast as my old Clipper Solitude which I needed to replace for something lighter for my old body to heft. Can't find any faults at all with the new boat and love the tractor seat with the gel pad.

You must be the guy to ask - would the Solitude have been a good choice for that trip if it was lighter? Or would a Wildfire be better?

 

[NikonF5user]

But I also take into account my style of river running in most cl2 uses more sideslips and backferries than quick turns. (BTW, part of my test was paddling in reverse, which it did perfectly) I wouldn't hesitate to take it down any cl2 I've ran with a weeks worth of lightweight tripping gear and food. Its depth might even make it a drier ride than the Wildfire sometimes.

I have been kicking myself endlessly over the past two months about not trying to backferry or even spin around and ferry away from that log pile - not sure I would have had time from the point I realized what I was facing, but in the panic of the moment I didn't attempt reversing or ferrying, which in retrospect I suspect would have resulted in a different outcome. I have so much yet to learn about canoeing...

 

[gumpus]

Yeah, it's not going to turn like a canoe with more rocker. And we all know there are varying degrees of class 2.

But I also take into account my style of river running in most cl2 uses more sideslips and backferries than quick turns. (BTW, part of my test was paddling in reverse, which it did perfectly) I wouldn't hesitate to take it down any cl2 I've ran with a weeks worth of lightweight tripping gear and food. Its depth might even make it a drier ride than the Wildfire sometimes.

I'm not sure it's fair to compare it negatively to a 16' Prospector paddled solo with a load in technical cl2 rapids. BTDT, and frankly, it's easier standing with a pole. Leverage advantage makes up for a lot, and taking a foot off of each end of the boat does make a difference in turning. I've been pleasantly surprised by what I can get away with in that regard when paddling the zero rocker Solo 14 in cl2.

Everything is a compromise, and I think that Prospector 14 is a great all-around for anyone willing to compromise on what rapids might be run and what might be avoided. I admit though that if I could have a modern composite version of my old MR Guide, I'd probably choose that for rivers over just about anything. What a fun boat! (I probably should be looking for a Blue Steel Supernova - specs look so similar.)

The P14 reminds me of the Old Town Camper...like surprisingly efficient and surprising maneuverable...both have pretty flat bottoms and just a little rocker. Camper is one of my all time favorite Royalex tandems, it's just fun. And like the Camper you can probably take the P14 just about anywhere. Easy to see why it's popular, it's just not my top pick for the paddling I currently do. Totally agree it depends on the paddler and the details of the water too. I'm just a little sensitive having had some memorable experiences crashing and bouncing through choked sections with current.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

choked sections with current.

Yeah, those are the places I'd want to avoid in anything without more rocker.