I picked up this beauty today from Northstar in Princeton. Now if only the water weren't solid.

Nice

Very nice.

I suspect you're in for a loooong winter. :)

The Kinny is open enough for paddling. The Mississippi by Monticello stays open. nice new ride, even if you have to wait.

Awesome!

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TominMpls: "I picked up this beauty today from Northstar in Princeton. Now if only the water weren't solid. "

You can always head South to Southern Missouri and paddle some of our Ozark streams and rivers. They are open all year long. This weekend the temps will be in the mid 60's. Fantastic paddling weather.

LuvMyBell: "You can always head South to Southern Missouri and paddle some of our Ozark streams and rivers. They are open all year long. This weekend the temps will be in the mid 60's. Fantastic paddling weather."

So we'll be in the STL area around New Year, which means this isn't necessarily a crazy idea. It's a big commitment to haul the canoe along though, so tell me more.

TominMpls: "

LuvMyBell: "You can always head South to Southern Missouri and paddle some of our Ozark streams and rivers. They are open all year long. This weekend the temps will be in the mid 60's. Fantastic paddling weather."

So we'll be in the STL area around New Year, which means this isn't necessarily a crazy idea. It's a big commitment to haul the canoe along though, so tell me more. "

I'd recommend the upper Current River. Google Montauk State Park for directions. The paddling starts just outside the park boundaries at Tan Vat Access or 1 1/2 miles downstream at Baptist Camp Access. Trout fishing for browns and rainbows is excellent. You can paddle for over 100 miles through limestone bluffs, caves and wildlife on crystal clear spring-fed water.

It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis. You can camp anywhere along the river or at one of the numerous campgrounds along the way. Lots of take-outs and put-ins. There are no houses or private property. Outfitters , such as Jadwin Canoe Rental or Akers Ferry Canoe Rental service the upper Current River and will rent you a canoe or will shuttle your canoe. Personally I'd be careful with a Kevlar canoe. The are shallow spots.

Current River map and info

I got my Bell in January. I was in the BWCA April 14th that year :)

Sweeeet!!!

'Beauty' is the word.

LuvMyBell: "

TominMpls: "

LuvMyBell: "You can always head South to Southern Missouri and paddle some of our Ozark streams and rivers. They are open all year long. This weekend the temps will be in the mid 60's. Fantastic paddling weather."

So we'll be in the STL area around New Year, which means this isn't necessarily a crazy idea. It's a big commitment to haul the canoe along though, so tell me more. "

I'd recommend the upper Current River. Google Montauk State Park for directions. The paddling starts just outside the park boundaries at Tan Vat Access or 1 1/2 miles downstream at Baptist Camp Access. Trout fishing for browns and rainbows is excellent. You can paddle for over 100 miles through limestone bluffs, caves and wildlife on crystal clear spring-fed water.


It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis. You can camp anywhere along the river or at one of the numerous campgrounds along the way. Lots of take-outs and put-ins. There are no houses or private property. Outfitters , such as Jadwin Canoe Rental or Akers Ferry Canoe Rental service the upper Current River and will rent you a canoe or will shuttle your canoe. Personally I'd be careful with a Kevlar canoe. The are shallow spots.

Current River map and info "

Yep...you would pick up a few scratches there... maybe the lower sections of the Current.

dr bob

DrBobDerrig: "

LuvMyBell: "

TominMpls: "

LuvMyBell: "You can always head South to Southern Missouri and paddle some of our Ozark streams and rivers. They are open all year long. This weekend the temps will be in the mid 60's. Fantastic paddling weather."

So we'll be in the STL area around New Year, which means this isn't necessarily a crazy idea. It's a big commitment to haul the canoe along though, so tell me more. "

I'd recommend the upper Current River. Google Montauk State Park for directions. The paddling starts just outside the park boundaries at Tan Vat Access or 1 1/2 miles downstream at Baptist Camp Access. Trout fishing for browns and rainbows is excellent. You can paddle for over 100 miles through limestone bluffs, caves and wildlife on crystal clear spring-fed water.



It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis. You can camp anywhere along the river or at one of the numerous campgrounds along the way. Lots of take-outs and put-ins. There are no houses or private property. Outfitters , such as Jadwin Canoe Rental or Akers Ferry Canoe Rental service the upper Current River and will rent you a canoe or will shuttle your canoe. Personally I'd be careful with a Kevlar canoe. The are shallow spots.


Current River map and info "

Yep...you would pick up a few scratches there... maybe the lower sections of the Current.


dr bob"

Personally I don't find the lower Current as scenic as the upper Current. Too wide, too many people, no good trout fishing and motorized Jon boats.

I take my Kevlar on the upper stretches and carry it or walk it over the few short shallow stretches. If you know how to read the river channel, it's rare you drag anywhere downstream of Cedar Grove.

I agree.... anyway the first scratch hurts the worst...after that you sort of ignore them.
dr bob

DrBobDerrig: "I agree.... anyway the first scratch hurts the worst...after that you sort of ignore them.
dr bob"

So true! I took my Northstar Magic out last August for the first real trip and did my darndest not to scratch it. I look now at it and wonder where all those scratches came from!

DrBobDerrig: "I agree.... anyway the first scratch hurts the worst...after that you sort of ignore them.
dr bob"

Kinda. "ouch" factor seems to stay with me. I'm gonna redo the finish on Prism this Spring and start over. ;-)

DrBobDerrig: "I agree.... anyway the first scratch hurts the worst...after that you sort of ignore them.
dr bob"

The upside of going with carbon is that the scratches don't matter much functionally. The down side is that they'll really show. I'm hoping not to freak out about the first one, but I'm sure I will. Bear told me people inspect these way closer than a car that costs five times as much, but I told him that I'd be the same way with a Ferrari, and while I can't afford a Ferrari I can afford the canoe equivalent, which is this.

Respectfully I must disagree. It's never a bad time to buy a beautiful Northstar canoe. Enjoy your new ride!

I registered it today and they asked me the hull material. Since neither kevlar nor carbon was a choice, I selected "other". Both plastic and fiberglass were choices. It probably doesn't matter, but given the large percentage of boats in the BWCA that are kevlar and/or carbon, I wonder if they'd consider adding them as choices. What do the rest of you select? Fiberglass is probably close enough, depending on why they want to know, and more useful than "other".

Does it fit under the tree?

Canoearoo: "Does it fit under the tree?"

I'm guessing not, but I bet a couple new ZRE paddles would.

NICE BOAT! Do NOT plan on an 18' boat on the upper Current, especially now as we're within a severe drought. Ironic since we had record FLOODING earlier this year.

I too generally prefer the upper Current, however; If you do come I could guide you to some lower Current River paddling with beautiful scenery and you would likely be the only one on the water. It will NOT be crowded, I guarantee it! You WILL see eagles also, maybe many? I work New Years day, but off Tue-Friday if you're interested in guide/shuttle partner?

ozarkpaddler: "NICE BOAT! Do NOT plan on an 18' boat on the upper Current, especially now as we're within a severe drought. Ironic since we had record FLOODING earlier this year.


I too generally prefer the upper Current, however; If you do come I could guide you to some lower Current River paddling with beautiful scenery and you would likely be the only one on the water. It will NOT be crowded, I guarantee it! You WILL see eagles also, maybe many? I work New Years day, but off Tue-Friday if you're interested in guide/shuttle partner?
"

Ozarkpaddler, thanks for the advice, and I really appreciate your offer. It sounds fantastic. Unfortunately, it's now looking like we won't be down in St. Louis very long at all, so it'll have to wait for a future trip. We come down a few times a year, so it's a high priority of mine to get down there. And a local guide makes everything better!

TominMpls: "

ozarkpaddler: "NICE BOAT! Do NOT plan on an 18' boat on the upper Current, especially now as we're within a severe drought. Ironic since we had record FLOODING earlier this year.



I too generally prefer the upper Current, however; If you do come I could guide you to some lower Current River paddling with beautiful scenery and you would likely be the only one on the water. It will NOT be crowded, I guarantee it! You WILL see eagles also, maybe many? I work New Years day, but off Tue-Friday if you're interested in guide/shuttle partner?
"

Ozarkpaddler, thanks for the advice, and I really appreciate your offer. It sounds fantastic. Unfortunately, it's now looking like we won't be down in St. Louis very long at all, so it'll have to wait for a future trip. We come down a few times a year, so it's a high priority of mine to get down there. And a local guide makes everything better!"

Have a safe trip and a Merry Christmas!