Well, I did it! Was supposed to be 45 degrees. Ended up being 29 degrees and COLD. I went to a local lake and put him to the test.
His name is "John" after Nola's husband John who picked it up for me. :) Anyway, I put five gallon of water in a collapsable water bag for ballast in the front. I used a bent shaft Wenonah Carbon Paddle and the ottertail, and for about 4 strokes a Yak Paddle.
(I again learned I hate Yak paddles).
It seemed a little unstable the first couple minutes.
Initial stability seemed a little shakey...not for long. "John" paddled like a dream. Turns on a dime, very reactive to any stroke forward or back. I mean this is a real responsive canoe to the stroke. I didn't kneel, I will when it's warm out, but all I wanted was a test drive before it REALLY is cold and the lake is frozen.
I can't wait to try it loaded. Doesn't matter, It has lot's of Room, and I like room. I weigh 220 and am 5' 9" and I like a canoe with room. This little 15.5' canoe is a gem. The seat seemed just right for me, lots of room before the first Thwart in of you for leg room, and secondary stability is peachy!!!! I mean it handles like a dream.
The Big plus for me is the room and the weight...32 pounds. Awesome!!
SunCatcher

did you scratch it? if not i would have keyed the bottom....just to get it over with. :)

congrats! sounds like a good match.

AWESOME! Glad you like it!

umm.... about that Yak paddle .... since you hate it so much .... it wouldn't happen to be 260cm, would it? I need a longer one.

Amok...240 It's a honey, carbon, just not for me.
SunCatcher

Glad to hear the maiden voyage went well.

Nice boat eh? I love mine. Great boats and they do actually turn. Hope you like it!

Good report,and Happy Paddling!
Solo's are the sports cars of the canoe world.

butthead

Sounds like a great boat, Paul. I have a question about secondary stability. How far did you get the rail to the water, and what did it feel like as you were leaning it? Did it firm up gradually the more you leaned it, or did it suddenly find a sweet spot, or something else?

I'm interested in this because there may be a day (I have to whisper this - boats have ears) I might want to replace the Mad River Independence. I'll be very interested to hear how it tracks in open water and handles in small spaces.

Thanks for the review.

Sounds like a great boat. Glad you have it.
I don't care for yak paddles either, but have you tried a longer one?

quote Koda: "Sounds like a great boat, Paul. I have a question about secondary stability. How far did you get the rail to the water, and what did it feel like as you were leaning it? Did it firm up gradually the more you leaned it, or did it suddenly find a sweet spot, or something else?


I'm interested in this because there may be a day (I have to whisper this - boats have ears) I might want to replace the Mad River Independence. I'll be very interested to hear how it tracks in open water and handles in small spaces.


Thanks for the review."

I did not take rail to water as it was ICE COLD out, but did turn it and lean into it. It firms up gradually, not real sudden. So I liked that a lot. I took it up in a small cove to get a pic of the coots, and it handles small places very well. I took it into a spot about as wide as the canoe is long and turned it on a dime to get out.
SunCatcher

quote oldgentleman: "Sounds like a great boat. Glad you have it.
I don't care for yak paddles either, but have you tried a longer one?"

Mine is a 240cm, and it brings a lot of water into the boat. I know a longer one would be better for sure, I am just so darn used to paddles now, and like them, that I will more than likely give up on even gettin a longer Yak Paddle.
SunCatcher

awesome! thanks for the report. congrats on the new ride.

quote SunCatcher: "

quote oldgentleman: "Sounds like a great boat. Glad you have it.
I don't care for yak paddles either, but have you tried a longer one?"

Mine is a 240cm, and it brings a lot of water into the boat. I know a longer one would be better for sure, I am just so darn used to paddles now, and like them, that I will more than likely give up on even gettin a longer Yak Paddle.
SunCatcher"

Ty SunCatcher. I'm lookin' for a longer one. Like you, I dislike bringing water into the boat. I'd probably end up using it as a spare, or for when I had to be someplace in a bit of a hurry. I also prefer to just paddle :)

Great looking canoe, SC...I'm envious...

Congrats! Your enthusiasm is contagious and I'm smiling just reading your posts.

New canoes are always exciting. I'm kind of glad I don't have a big shed otherwise I might go broke.

quote mr.barley: "New canoes are always exciting. I'm kind of glad I don't have a big shed otherwise I might go broke."

I've got the reverse problem. I've got a two car garage with attached patio... plenty of room (if I clear it out a bit) but no $$$ for the toys. And that's a good thing, because I do not need more canoes yet!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinking about the same boat, I really like the looks of this one. However John boat??
Boats are always named after women, because if you curse them I guarantee they won't respond. Yet treat them right and gently coax and coerce you have a lifelong partner.

quote Old1: "I'm thinking about the same boat, I really like the looks of this one. However John boat??
Boats are always named after women, because if you curse them I guarantee they won't respond. Yet treat them right and gently coax and coerce you have a lifelong partner."

Old1, Welcome aboard...looks like your new to the site.
Yes John is a guys name and the canoe's name is John.
"John Boat" but only because a fella named John did me a big favor in order for me to get this boat from Where I bought it in Madison, WI
To Where I live in Nebraska. So I named the ship in his honor.
SunCatcher

I hope I didn't offend. I was just teasing about the name. Alas my written word skills usually don't translate well! Congrats on the boat and I would love to hear more details.

quote Old1: "I hope I didn't offend. I was just teasing about the name. Alas my written word skills usually don't translate well! Congrats on the boat and I would love to hear more details."

No didn't offend at all...I was just explaining why I named it John Boat. haha

Looking forward to tripping with it and gettin it fully loaded and figure out how "He" handles then. Haha.

SunCatcher

Took RockStar out yesterday on local lake March 18, 2011.
60 degrees out and wind 7-10 mph.
I learned that I like the webbed seat a lot. My NorthStar has cane seats and the RockStar has Webbed Seats and I really like that Webbed seat a lot. I use a Crazy Creek Chair Always for back support, and extra padding but could really tell the difference after paddling about and 1.5 hours.
SunCatcher

Sure, rub it in SunCatcher :) We have another month most likely until ice out here. Lakes are still solid... but the food for my first trips is getting packaged and ready so I can be paddling when the ice IS out... And oh, one of my biggest regrets is not meeting you at 'copia.

quote nctry: "Sure, rub it in SunCatcher :) We have another month most likely until ice out here. Lakes are still solid... but the food for my first trips is getting packaged and ready so I can be paddling when the ice IS out... And oh, one of my biggest regrets is not meeting you at 'copia."

Ben...consider yourself lucky :)

You named it John! LOL!!

I can't wait to tell him. ;-)

quote SunCatcher: "

quote nctry: "Sure, rub it in SunCatcher :) We have another month most likely until ice out here. Lakes are still solid... but the food for my first trips is getting packaged and ready so I can be paddling when the ice IS out... And oh, one of my biggest regrets is not meeting you at 'copia."

Ben...consider yourself lucky :)"

I do consider myself lucky when I can, on a whim, go to the BW and paddle a couple days or more... An hour and a half and I'm getting my permit. There is always somewhere you can go. And eight hours I can be in Red Lake for a WCPP trip. Usually solo!