BWCA Savage River Deep Creek Boundary Waters Gear Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Gear Forum
      Savage River Deep Creek     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

Wabawho
member (49)member
  
01/01/2018 09:00AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Well, its the new year...I can officially start thinking about purchasing a canoe at CanoeCopia. I'm looking at the Savage River website and if I'm reading it right it seems as though the deep creek could be converted from tandem to solo? Is this correct? Are the seats somehow moveable? Or, Does anyone have any suggestions as to a lightweight canoe that can be converted back and forth between tandem and solo?
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
01/01/2018 09:11AM  
Calling FOG51 ...... he has one set up as a solo...... I ran across him on Jack Lake a few years ago and it's a beautiful canoe. A solo/tandem crossover at 30lbs...... awesome!!!!! If money wasn't an object that is the canoe I would be buying. The seats are easily removable so you could get one with all 3 seats and then for each outing take out the 2 or 1 seat that you do not need.

The last few years most of my trips have been either solo or tandem with one of my small daughters. We sold our big SR Q 18.5 in Nov. because our 10 and 12 yo old daughters won't fit side by side in the 3rd seat anymore and I'm using that money to buy a used small kevlar tandem/solo crossover.

Like I stated.... if I had the money I'd be getting a Savage River Deep Creek.

Ones that I have used, like, and I'm looking at in order of my preference......

Northstar Polaris....... I rented one from Rockwood on my daddy/daughter trip last year and loved it. At 38lbs it's not as light as the Savage River but it's a sweet ride. It can be set up with all 3 seats and it had a very neat system of 3 removable seats.
Souris River Quetico 16.... I rented one on my 1st solo from VNO and liked it. For me it will probably be what I end up getting becuase it seems to be the easiest to find used and at the lowest price used. It can be set up with the 3 removable seats also.
Wenonah Adirondack..... I rented a royalex one a couple of times from Rockwood on early daddy/daughter trips. I liked it enough that it's in the mix if I can find a used one at a good price.

If I was buying new but didn't have the money for a Savage River I'd get the Northstar Polaris.
 
01/01/2018 09:43AM  
There's a solo version of the Deep Creek on the website.
 
Wabawho
member (49)member
  
01/01/2018 02:31PM  
Thanks for the replies. I am hoping the versatility of converting between tandem and solo will help justify the cost (since I won't have to get two separate canoes). I also think I'll get more use out of it if I can just head out solo sometimes. Ducks, I did not realize that the other brands were also convertible as well. I've paddled the Souris River model in Kilarney 2 years ago and really liked it, so I'll have to throw that in my mix as well.
 
01/01/2018 03:57PM  
Just an FYI, in case you didn't notice - the solo version is 2" narrower at the gunwales, but appears to be identical otherwise. I'd advise checking with them about your plans for converting back and forth.
 
bwcasolo
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/01/2018 06:22PM  
good for you, go for the savage river.
 
01/03/2018 12:35AM  
I have been sumoned and shall reply.... I have the Deep Creek Solo in the ExtremeCarbon layup. I got the wood gunnels, wood looks really nice IMO, I did get the contured web seat vs the tractor seat. I also got the round metal thwarts. I orded it online and picked it up at Canoecopia in March 2014 {saved $300-350, in shipping costs}. I really like my "Dark Lady", that being said, I did not realize it wouldn't have any float chambers on either end. I questioned John about that fact and he assured me "with all the foam in this canoe it will never sink". Sort of reassureing but I'd rather have the floation. I would have liked the center width narrowed just a little and some slight rocker in the bow, but on narrow twisting streams I have learned to "heel" it over some. I'm sure if you chat with the folks at Savage River they can add seats or at least the brackets for the center seat they were simply great to work with. I paddled solo about 250 miles last year through some rough water, down some class I and II rapids, into some nasty rock gardens, some canoe landings made by the Devil for his workers and the Lady carries some marks but come about May she'll be ready to go. If you have any more questions just ask away or email me. If you or any other member wants to take her for a spin come open water season let me know, I'm near the Cedar River and Austin Minnesota. FRED Opps the dreaded double post, sorry.
 
01/03/2018 12:35AM  
I have been sumoned and shall reply.... I have the Deep Creek Solo in the ExtremeCarbon layup. I got the wood gunnels, wood looks really nice IMO, I did get the contured web seat vs the tractor seat. I also got the round metal thwarts. I orded it online and picked it up at Canoecopia in March 2014 {saved $300-350, in shipping costs}. I really like my "Dark Lady", that being said, I did not realize it wouldn't have any float chambers on either end. I questioned John about that fact and he assured me "with all the foam in this canoe it will never sink". Sort of reassureing but I'd rather have the floation. I would have liked the center width narrowed just a little and some slight rocker in the bow, but on narrow twisting streams I have learned to "heel" it over some. I'm sure if you chat with the folks at Savage River they can add seats or at least the brackets for the center seat they were simply great to work with. I paddled solo about 250 miles last year through some rough water, down some class I and II rapids, into some nasty rock gardens, some canoe landings made by the Devil for his workers and the Lady carries some marks but come about May she'll be ready to go. If you have any more questions just ask away or email me. If you or any other member wants to take her for a spin come open water season let me know, I'm near the Cedar River and Austin Minnesota. FRED
 
01/03/2018 06:47AM  
Something you might want to consider.... the width at the gunwale. At least the Savage River tandems canoes are 2 inches wider than the solos. I would think useing a tandem as a solo [with the seat in the middle] might make for a long reach. They would make for getting packs in and out easy. In my solo I can fit a 30 gallon barrel in side ways with no problem, and my CCS explore pack goes in and out with no hangups. FRED
 
wifishncanoe
distinguished member (206)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/03/2018 09:54AM  
I've had my Deep Creek tandem for about 5 years now and I love it. I was also worried about not having flotation chambers at first but they assured me it would float. So my first summer I took it out and swamped it on purpose. It still floated just like any other swamped canoe. My canoe also has many battle scars from various unseen rock gardens and has taken the abuse well. I really like my carbon gunnels. I like the flat feel against my legs versus the rounded wood or aluminum gunnels of other brands that dig into my legs. I have round aluminum thwarts, but would order carbon thwarts and yoke(my yoke is ash) if I could do it over again. Savage River was great to work with and have answered many questions over the years for me. Don't hesitate to call and ask. Another option I saw that I would of liked was painter holes build right into the canoe during construction. Very nice addition in my opinion.
 
01/04/2018 03:58AM  
If you want to have the guys out in Maryland put the painter holes in they will...but be sure you tell them where you want them. I had them put the holes in and didn't know how far down I wanted them so I let them decide, they put them in and they are really to high for good tracking. I also got the large carbon deck covers on both ends, my tie down ropes lay up on them under an elastic cord I added, works good, easy to grab but stay secure during portages. I did get a sliding seat which makes trimming The Lady easy. FRED
 
Wabawho
member (49)member
  
01/10/2018 02:03PM  
Ok. question, what are painter holes?

Fog51 do you have a photo of your canoe online that can be viewed. Your canoe sounds like what I would be looking for.

Thanks for the info on talking to Savage river prior to Canoecopia to save on shipping costs!

 
01/10/2018 02:19PM  
Painter holes are just the holes in the bow and/or stern of the canoe where you would attach painter lines through the hull. Here's a link to one method of creating painter holes.
 
01/11/2018 01:39AM  
I do have a picture online. Go to my little trip report thingy, click on it, then go to my trip report Flirting With Wabikimi and skip through the pictures till you find The Dark Lady sitting at the bottom of the Harmon portage waiting for me to get in. FRED
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next