Merry Christmas to all!! I purchased a Northstar Northwind solo about 7 months ago. I did test paddle it for a bit. I've had it in the water maybe 10-15 times this past ending season. Would like to know your thoughts or tips.

I had it made with the kneeling seat. My issue is that when kneeling and transitioning back to the seated position, its damned near impossible to get my feet out from under the seat. I really have to twist, turn and gyrate everything to get out. I thought some paddle time would have helped my technique a bit, but it has not.

I'm 6 feet, 200 lbs, size 11 feet. I wear water shoes or tennis-type shoes. I'll barefoot it in the summer a bit, and it's a bit better. I'm disappointed because I feel that this seat height only really works for smaller people or people with little feet/shorter legs.

On the flip side, I feel that when seated in the kneeling seat, the seat is a bit high as it is and doesn't lend itself very well to stability, raising it is out of the question for me. Actually have had thoughts of selling it. It's an issue every time I go out.

Any thoughts regarding keeping this boat and help with the transition? In addition, any new solo boat suggestions that don't have this transition problem, adjustable seat???

Separate topic, I know you cant kneel in them, but how about Swift pack boats? Thanks.

I owned both, just sold the Northwind and now own a Phoenix, but the seats are the same. I'm 5' 11" and 195. With size 11 water shoes I can transition fairly easily, but can't get my lacrosse rubber boots anywhere close to going under the seat. I agree that you certainly could not raise the seat any higher. Since the rocker is the same in the Phoenix I was actually considering lowering the seat, and replacing the middle thwart with a kneeling one and paddling it backwards. The bow is 19 and the stern 17, so that is the only thing that would be a problem.

I do not have problems with a size 11 watershoe (5.10 brand) getting under or out from under the seat in a Phoenix. It may have to do with your foot position ? I lay the outside of each ankle against the bottom of the hull with my toes pointed toward the centerline of the canoe. The outside of the ankle petty much stays on the bottom of the hull till the foot is out from under the seat.

I have a Magic. When I initially got it the seat was set high presumably for kneeling. Even with the short seat mounts (about 1 in. high) I couldn't get my feet (size 12) under the seat. The seat was also too high to sit w/o feeling very tippy. I bought a stock seat mount with a 3-4 in. drop and lowered the seat to a comfortable sitting position. Have been happy w/that setup.

I have had my Northwind Solo for 2 paddling seasons and paddle nearly everyday the water is not frozen.

I have comparably sized feet and initially found it difficult to manage the transition from kneeling to sitting. I typically paddle barefoot for that reason.

One thing that really helped me was a mat that slides. I lean forward, grab the thwart and slide myself out on my mat. I found a good deal on closed cell gym foam here. I bought the 1/2 inch 54"x 48" half-sheet for $35. I cut it so it is a little longer than my legs from knees to pointed toes and so it runs up the sides to the gunnels which keeps it in place while portaging.

Good Luck,

Enjoy your Solo

Thanks for all the responses, ocdave's method seems like something that might help.

Would it make sense to make it so the seat can be pushed up? Might be as simple as having the drops be bolts that let the seat slide up. I’m thinking you want this to be easy enough to quickly get out if the boat has capsized.

Was looking for a solo that I can kneel and sit when traveling and a good sitter with stability for when i fish. Do fish a lot? Am 5'5" 170 pounds mid fifties . ..ok shape. Would a Solo or Magic work better? Or even another brand?

As Dan suggested lay the feet in a kinda flat, resting manner--when your ready to exit. I have a Bell Yellowstone that I paddle kneeling and will have issues unless my 10.5" feet are positioned just right. I even had to lower the seat a bit so it got even tighter getting my feet out from under but it's doable. Lay them to side instead of heels upwards. Helps forward movement if both hands gripping the gunwales too.
First canoe I've had that likes to be paddled kneeling but I love that Yellowstone so I'll adjust to it gladly.
1" to 1 1/4" quality closed cell pad for the knees is a godsend.

Cretbo, I'm 5'11", 175 lbs. I was looking for my first solo last year. My daughter and I went to all the Midwest Mountaineering paddle demos this past summer. We preferred the Magic and Solo over the Prism - more responsive and tracked just as straight. Went back and forth between the Solo and Magic and in the end chose the Magic. Magic tracks a bit better and the Solo might be a tad bit more stable. Magic has been great to fish out of. My daughter and I love it. If you can try before you buy, just reading reviews, I would have thought I would liked the Prism the best.

Driftless: "Cretbo, I'm 5'11", 175 lbs. I was looking for my first solo last year. My daughter and I went to all the Midwest Mountaineering paddle demos this past summer. We preferred the Magic and Solo over the Prism - more responsive and tracked just as straight. Went back and forth between the Solo and Magic and in the end chose the Magic. Magic tracks a bit better and the Solo might be a tad bit more stable. Magic has been great to fish out of. My daughter and I love it. If you can try before you buy, just reading reviews, I would have thought I would liked the Prism the best."

Do you kneel a lot or use the seat more? Did you go with the basic one or the black lite?

Cret

When I got my Magic I thought I would like to able to kneel occasionally so I replaced the stock seat drops with a sloping rack sort of arrangement as you will see in the photo below. As the seat is moved back it rises and then the small blocks you see on the rack bring it up a bit higher. It is not something that can be done on the fly, but it works pretty well if you change it before launching. As it turn out, my old (75 years) knees don't much like being kneeled on so I rarely do this, but it can be done and it's much easier getting my feet under or out from under the seat.

Thanks again everyone.

I had a NW Solo for a while and I'm a kneeler and I raised the seat by changing the seat drops. It seems like it comes set up for folks that sit. The boat has a lot of stability and felt fine to me with the seat raised and I'm a similar size as you. I always take my shows off and paddle in socks to gain a little clearance. If you use a small kneeling pad it can also give you a little bit more room. Finally, if you have a flotation cushion or something that can raise you up an inch or two just put it in top of the seat and try it.

I'm in a pretty good mood having snuck in a short paddle today.

I’m a top heavy sitter at about 250#. I disliked the sitting seat drops. My seat is now at 2” (level) after cutting them down. The boat was twitchy before and after if paddled empty. I like it a lot better the way it is now, but I almost always have weight in the bow and stern.

WHendrix: "
"

I missed this before. Very nice, WHendrix! First time I've seen one adustable like this.

Thats a nice adjustable seat, did you make that rig is it from Northstar? I'm getting a Phoenix in the spring and I can only sit due to knee surgery. I love the adjustable pedestal seat in my Prism and would like the same on the Phoenix.

I made it myself. As I mentioned. I don't kneel much anymore, but the adjustable seat can still be used for trim. It takes a little fiddling around when you are making something like this, but it's not too difficult if you have the appropriate tools.

Hi Cret,

For our Magic I found a used one in white gold. I'm a sitter, not a kneeler.

Driftless: "Hi Cret,


For our Magic I found a used one in white gold. I'm a sitter, not a kneeler."

Driftless ... Thanks for your posts, hoping to get a Magic this Spring once i test it out....
BTW - "I'm a lover not a fighter" (ha ha) in response to: "I'm a sitter , not a Kneeler"

Back from the New Year's winter camping and so scrolling while eating lunch. One other comment on kneeling - the more you do it the easier it is and the more flexible you'll be. By the end of the paddling season I can kneel for 2-3 times as long as at the beginning of the season.

Craig Johnson, a former Bell guy, who paddled C-1s used to kneel while he was watching TV over the winter. I'd skip the TV part, but kneeling during the winter makes plenty of sense.

Bearpaulsen: "Back from the New Year's winter camping and so scrolling while eating lunch. One other comment on kneeling - the more you do it the easier it is and the more flexible you'll be. By the end of the paddling season I can kneel for 2-3 times as long as at the beginning of the season.


Craig Johnson, a former Bell guy, who paddled C-1s used to kneel while he was watching TV over the winter. I'd skip the TV part, but kneeling during the winter makes plenty of sense."

Yep. You work up from five minutes to a couple of hours. My Canadian instructors did not own winter furniture and watched TV from kneeling on the floor. They were on their knees even during a dry land session for hours.

Bearpaulsen: "Back from the New Year's winter camping and so scrolling while eating lunch. One other comment on kneeling - the more you do it the easier it is and the more flexible you'll be. By the end of the paddling season I can kneel for 2-3 times as long as at the beginning of the season.


Craig Johnson, a former Bell guy, who paddled C-1s used to kneel while he was watching TV over the winter. I'd skip the TV part, but kneeling during the winter makes plenty of sense."

Yep. You work up from five minutes to a couple of hours. My Canadian instructors did not own winter furniture and watched TV from kneeling on the floor. They were on their knees even during a dry land session for hours.