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Kawishiwi Lodge
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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Bell Kevlar Light Layup Reply
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View BWCA Photo and Trip Report Contest Page
| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| ozarkpaddler |
04/05/2012 04:28PMquote LCA: "I hated selling the StarFire but Terry promised her a good home. (Alas, but I still can paddle my Bell FlashFire in black gold.) Here's a stern quarter photo from just before she was loaded up (after a seasonal spa treatment including marine wax and Watco oil on wood). Note - when the StarFire left TG's in San Marcos, she was properly tied down. Yup, aint she purty? I intend to "Paddle her good" on Easter Sunday after an early Easter service after she arrives here in MO on Saturday. Thought you'all might be interested in this little story (non-fiction) of this and my friend's boat that I picked up yesterday. I just e-mailed my "Paddling" friends and it hit me just how "Rabid" some of us paddlers are about our boats, aren't we Dave (LOL)! We will sometimes go to incredible lengths to get that "Special" boat! So here's my e-mail, I hope it gives you a smile, a chuckle, or maybe the kayakers will just shake their heads and think "Those canoeheads are nuts!" Rob , a friend of mine, lives in San Antonio, TX. Met him years ago at the TX Rendezvous. A few weeks ago, a nice lady contacted me about my "Dream boat," a Bell Starfire for sale. She found my e-mail in a thread on P.net about the boat. I was thinking Rob lived in Austin or close by so I asked him if he could look at it. He drove down to Austin from San Antonio and we talked about it over by phone. Talked to him, the seller, and he agreed to pick it up and I'd send him a check. He picked up my Starfire in Austin and paid the lady cash for it before my check ever left MO! What a guy! Rob mentioned he was in the market for either a Mad River Malecite or Mad River Independence, a couple classic Mad River models. So, NOW, my better half and I had to plan a trip to TX. We would love to go, but this would have to be scheduled around work and with the Spring Ozark Rendezvous coming and a MN Boundary Waters trip coming in June. While trying to figure the logistics of squeezing another trip in, Rob found a "Primo" Mad River Independence in Louisville, KY. So, Rob is taking a few days off to come up here and get his Mad River Independence AND bring my Starfire. He PLANNED to drive to Louisville and pick it up and drop off the Starfire on the way to Louisville. But, I offered to go get the boat for him so his trip would be a bit more leisurely and he will get to spend the nights here at the farm Saturday and Sunday. All we needed was to find out if the seller was willing to wait and/or the boat didn't sell to the potential buyers coming to look at it. So, on Tuesday evening, I got the "Call." The canoe was awaiting Rob, and the seller of the Indy's best day to be available on Wednesday afternoon. A 795 mile expedition to Louisville on a quest for a pristine Mad River Independence was in order! A quick phone call to my faithfull friend, Wally, and I had a navigator. I hit the road for Louisville a bit before 8:00 am yesterday morning and got back about 16 and a half hours later. SO, that's the story. When I first picked up a canoe paddle in the '70's, I never knew it would turn into such an affliction! Seems I recall someone's moniker here on P.net is "Canoenut." It seems, there are a number of us in the canoeing fraternity (LOL)! Oh, here's the boats, the Indy 
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| amhacker22 |
04/05/2012 01:53PMquote CharlieWilson: "And, we may get Bell back soon," Fingers crossed. |
| BWPaddler |
04/05/2012 01:19PM Wow, that boat looks new! Charlie - thanks for the info! |
| LCA |
04/05/2012 09:26AM I hated selling the StarFire but Terry promised her a good home. (Alas, but I still can paddle my Bell FlashFire in black gold.) Here's a stern quarter photo from just before she was loaded up (after a seasonal spa treatment including marine wax and Watco oil on wood). Note - when the StarFire left TG's in San Marcos, she was properly tied down. 
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| CharlieWilson |
03/27/2012 08:37AM Bell's KL laminate is a nice one, designed to make a light hull at an affordable price. The Black/Gold was a no expense spared, very rugged very light, laminate. Both proving the adage that when you want to make something lightweight, it gets fragile or expensive. Boats are like kitchen knives, get the best you want and can afford. We can pick up a chef's knife at WalMart for under $20, Bob Kramer offers Damascus bladed works of art at over $6,000. And, we may get Bell back soon, but this iteration won't have Star. StarFire comes from Colden Canoe in an infused variation of the original B/G laminate; stronger, lighter, custom rather than factory finished, and, of course, more expensive. |
| amhacker22 |
03/26/2012 10:22PMquote Cedarboy: "Look closer there is a bow line. NO need for a stern unless you drive 70mph backwards. ...or stop REALLY abruptly! |
| Cedarboy |
03/26/2012 09:44PM Look closer there is a bow line. NO need for a stern unless you drive 70mph backwards. CB |
| Drab |
03/26/2012 05:29PM Very nice. I have never seen one of those, take more pictures when you get it in the water... I think I would be nervous without a strap holding the bow and stern to the car... |
| yellowcanoe |
03/26/2012 04:31PMquote ozarkpaddler: "Well, after posting this, the stars aligned and I'm now owner of a Bell Starfire in Black Gold! My "Dream boat," FINALLY! A buddy in Texas picked it up and now it's awaiting me making a road trip to TX. What a nice new baby! Now if you sell it.. because you hate it (unlikely) remember me....LOL |
| BWPaddler |
03/26/2012 12:43PM Glad to "see" you smiling! enjoy your new toy... |
| ozarkpaddler |
03/26/2012 11:44AM Thanks! Well, headed to the river to whet the canoe and play with some trout! |
| SunCatcher |
03/26/2012 09:11AM Nice canoe, that blackgold will hold up, and it is a very nice layup. I have one in the NorthStar, and should have bought my RockStar in BG. But it suffices nice for tripping in the Kev Lite. SunCatcher |
| PortageKeeper |
03/26/2012 08:17AMquote mwd1976: "Congrat! she's a beauty, and a rare boat indeed. " And by the looks of things, it won't get any less rare any time soon. |
| mwd1976 |
03/26/2012 07:51AM Congrat! she's a beauty, and a rare boat indeed. |
| ozarkpaddler |
03/25/2012 11:30PM Well, after posting this, the stars aligned and I'm now owner of a Bell Starfire in Black Gold! My "Dream boat," FINALLY! A buddy in Texas picked it up and now it's awaiting me making a road trip to TX. 
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| yellowcanoe |
03/25/2012 09:26PM I am laughing out loud. Kev Light and me do not mix on canoe trips. I wrapped my Merlin II KevLite in a little current on basalt sticking up from the river in Temagami. Basalt is a sharp little snagger. It bent the entire stern folding it up like a prune and bent the rails. Somehow I had a half roll of duct tape and patched it up (nothing went to the inside but as I was 100 km in the bush, I wanted to be sure not to sink) Charlie Wilson is the guy to ask. He patched my Merlin II for way too little money but not without a few comments about wilderness rocks and the durability of KevLite. I wont buy another again. |
| PortageKeeper |
03/23/2012 06:12PM Probably wouldn't hold up to that, though the MR is a little heavier per foot of boat, so it's bound to be tougher. With normal BW use,and a little extra care, I've been fine with the four that I've had. The skid area doesn't take much abuse. Even when careful, I have to touch up after a couple seasons. The normal 'hidden rocks' scrape just like most other boats. |
| ozarkpaddler |
03/23/2012 11:13AMquote PortageKeeper: "My question... will it hold up to what? Well, would it hold up to this? Last year we were racing a storm. Nice, strong tailwind and I'm paddling my Mad River Courier the fastest I've paddled it. All at once, "Crunch." I stopped dead, hit my arm HARD on the thwart which somehow kept me in the boat. My buddy, Trailrat, hollers "Whiplash" (LOL)! Only damage was small, cosmetic "Blemish." Would such a collision puncture the KL? Cause it to delaminate? Or just a scratch? I can work on boats, I just re-gunneled, re-decked, and patched up my wife's Bell Flashfire this week. That said, minor repair, buffing and resin work, outfitting is no problem. But "Patching" is not my strong suit, especially when dealing with kevlar. Royalex, no big deal. So, under normal use, will it probably hold up? Thanks again! Terry |
| PortageKeeper |
03/23/2012 10:55AM My question... will it hold up to what? Normal BW tripping... yes, though you do need to re-coat as needed. Some use resin, but if it's just cosmetic, I use spar varnish. I don't usually re-coat for cosmetic reasons unless I'm about to sell. If it needs uv protection then I will. SR's have the toughest hull that I've seen. When working on them, new sand paper hardly phases the finish. I've always felt that if SR made a canoe with a Northwind hull, it would be the last canoe that I'd ever have to buy. |
| ozarkpaddler |
03/23/2012 10:20AM Well, just how tough is it? Any problems or issues? I had thought I might have found my "Dream Boat," a Bell Starfire in Black Gold, however; price too steep with the associated long distance drive. The other boat I was strongly considering is a Bell Rockstar. None at the "Bell sale" left in Black Gold," but there ARE some KL layup Rockstars available. I've paddled one KL Northwind on a trip, but that's it. Jury was still out. What do you'all who have paddled them or rented Kevlar Light Bells (Lynn?) think? Will it hold up? Thanks! Terry |
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