Hi. I am curious to hear from those who have tripped in Northstar Canoe's BlackLite lay-up - how durable is this material? I do not intend to whitewater trip with this lay-up, but solo tripping and dealing with rocky landings, an occasional riffle or class 1 shoot, and typical BWCAW/WCPP/etc wilderness trips. Does it handle these conditions well? Any concerns? Is IXP a better option? Is BlackLite that much more durable than StarLite?

Sorry no personal experience, but I believe Stu at the boundary waters journal swears by the black lite for durability. He dry foots and does 4-5 hard Quetico trips/year for perspective.

I wet foot and do one to 2 trips a year, me personally I don’t want the extra weight and don’t need the durability.

T

Thank you timatkn

Blacklite is offered as a more durable and stiffer layup compared to the just Kevlar option and is great for the BWCAW. I have two Northwoods canoes in this layup and love them. Honestly though, I also have a Souris River Q17 in Kevlar and it is just fine up there as well, so if weight is an issue I would stick with Kevlar. I can't speak to IXP material.

I have a Wildfire in a very similar layup to the Blacklite. I've hit a rock or two with it in shallow rapids to no ill effects. It seems like a pretty tough layup. I wouldn't bother with an expedition layup for the use you are describing.

Quinn

Thank you Unshavenman and Bearskin Lodge. Useful input.

I don't own a Northtsar canoe but I am familiar with the fabric. Carbon fiber has exceptional abrasion resistance but not exceptional impact resistance.

Kevlar has exceptional impact resistance but not exceptional abrasion resistance.

This is where the hybrid fabric is a perfect material for a canoe not even to mention the low weight of the boat.

I would not worry for a minute about using a Blacklite fabric canoe in the BWCA. It will hold up to everything you throw at it.
Tom

tumblehome: "I don't own a Northtsar canoe but I am familiar with the fabric. Carbon fiber has exceptional abrasion resistance but not exceptional impact resistance.
Kevlar has exceptional impact resistance but not exceptional abrasion resistance.
This is where the hybrid fabric is a perfect material for a canoe not even to mention the low weight of the boat.
I would not worry for a minute about using a Blacklite fabric canoe in the BWCA. It will hold up to everything you throw at it.
Tom"

I HAVE owned a Bell Starfire and Bell Northstar in "Blackgold" which is an earlier version of Ted Bell built canoe. Mine was very tough and although it would get some superficial scratches, it was easily sanded down and re-epoxied to look good as new. It is plenty strong enough to hold up to rivers and rock. I'm certain that Northstar's new version of "Blackgold" is at least as tough if not tougher?