I appreciate all the input given from this forum. It helped me narrow down, eliminate, put back on the list, reconsider, etc. in a geographic market where there aren't many options to put my hands on.

I purchased a Northstar Northwind 16.

Very nice!!! Congrats!!!

Congrats! Great boat!

And I always wondered what a canoe/kayak rack setup would look like on a Wrangler... looks very solid.

CONGRATULATIONS WONDERMONKEY!

Congrats on the new addition! Happy paddling!

Nice ride. The jeep looks cool, too. Congrats.

Congratulations!

Can't go wrong with a Northstar. Love mine.

HowardSprague: "Congrats! Great boat!

And I always wondered what a canoe/kayak rack setup would look like on a Wrangler... looks very solid."

Thanks!

I'll add some padding to the front and back bars to help with things. Also I do have extra raised crossbars I put on when I put my J-Hooks on for the kayaks, but I don't think I'll use them with the canoe. Having the front and back even further apart makes good sense for stabilization.

ozarkpaddler: "CONGRATULATIONS WONDERMONKEY! "

Thanks!

bfurlow: "Congrats on the new addition! Happy paddling!"

Thanks! I spoke to the owner of the shop and setup some paddling instruction. Ted Bell stops by on occasion as he visits dealers and such but I'm sure I'll miss that time. I don't want to pretend that because I feel comfy in a kayak that this will be the same.

bhouse46: "Nice ride. The jeep looks cool, too. Congrats."

I think I'll enjoy time in both.

carmike: "Congratulations! "

Thanks!

awbrown: "Can't go wrong with a Northstar. Love mine."

Thanks! When I do I get to know the secret Northstar handshake?

It starts with your hand open and reaching back towards your wallet pocket....
Congrat's on the new watercraft!

Congrats. Great company

rtallent: "It starts with your hand open and reaching back towards your wallet pocket....
Congrat's on the new watercraft!"

HA! Yes... yes I think I knew that part of the handshake without know I knew it.

Congrats !

I am very pleased with my northwind 16.

Tomcat: "Congrats !

I am very pleased with my northwind 16."

Do you solo from a center seat or do you turn it around?

Nice boat. Enjoy!!

Excellent choice, and many many happy days of paddling to you!

Tomcat: ""

Do you solo from a center seat or do you turn it around?"

The front thwart is just behind the front seat so without removing it, it is in the way if you turn the boat around to paddle solo from the front seat. I replaced the rear thwart with a kneeling thwart and paddle solo in that location. Also if you place enough weight in the bow it is easy to paddle from the rear seat solo. Either way without enough weight wind is an issue when paddling solo.

Looks like your canoe has the aluminum gunnels. I would have preferred aluminum but ended up with wood.
"

Unless I'm missing what you are saying there isn't a thwart behind the seat. Maybe this boat is also used solo so much they moved them?

GREAT choice!!!! Where'd ya get it?

WonderMonkey: "

Tomcat: ""

Do you solo from a center seat or do you turn it around?"

The front thwart is just behind the front seat so without removing it, it is in the way if you turn the boat around to paddle solo from the front seat. I replaced the rear thwart with a kneeling thwart and paddle solo in that location.

Unless I'm missing what you are saying there isn't a thwart behind the seat. Maybe this boat is also used solo so much they moved them?








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My northwind 16 has a thwart just behind the front seat.

That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!

Excellent! Now, get it out on the water. :)

cowdoc: "That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!"

Hmmm, well I'll be? Sure looks like there's no thwart there, huh? I guess they figured it wasn't all that important in the composites? But why only in the aluminum railed 16?

Never soloed a Northwind 16 from bow seat, so I have nothing to offer. Also, composite boats do not always paddle like their royalex cousins, but usually much better. You need to take her out and give her a good paddling and report back to us!

Does the wife like it? ;-)
Happy for you. Now...onward to maiden trip and baptism by 1st scratch!

Oh yes ...the 'first scratch'
my beautiful brand new SR Green Kevlar on a rock on the lower Peshtigo River from the city to the lake. After that it doesn't hurt so much.....

dr bob

OneMatch: "GREAT choice!!!! Where'd ya get it?"

I purchased it at Great Miami Outfitters in Centerville (Dayton), Ohio.

cowdoc: "That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!"

Thanks! I expect to instantly start making slight modifications or to buy stuff for it.

Bannock: "Excellent! Now, get it out on the water. :)
"

I plan to! I changed a hiking camping trip to a state camping ground that has a lake. I'll spend time on the water loaded up with weight just getting used to it.

ozarkpaddler: "

cowdoc: "That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!"

Hmmm, well I'll be? Sure looks like there's no thwart there, huh? I guess they figured it wasn't all that important in the composites? But why only in the aluminum railed 16?

Never soloed a Northwind 16 from bow seat, so I have nothing to offer. Also, composite boats do not always paddle like their royalex cousins, but usually much better. You need to take her out and give her a good paddling and report back to us!"

I'll I'll paddle her, that's for sure. She better be good or I WON'T paddle her.

mjmkjun: "Does the wife like it? ;-)
Happy for you. Now...onward to maiden trip and baptism by 1st scratch! "

I took her out and showed it to her and when she touched it I wiped it off with a shop rag, just to annoy her.

Congrats on your new boat. Great choice.

WonderMonkey: "

mjmkjun: "Does the wife like it? ;-)
Happy for you. Now...onward to maiden trip and baptism by 1st scratch! "

I took her out and showed it to her and when she touched it I wiped it off with a shop rag, just to annoy her."

LOL! That's cold. But...I'm still laughing.

Congrats on the new boat!

Congratulations!

Mike

That is a sweet ride!! Congrats.

I'm excited for you. Love the Northwind, Jeep Combo. The wife and I are about 10 days from buying a Northwind 17, blacklite, with wood... we're about 10 YEARS from getting the Jeep. LOL.

I've heard nothing but good things about Northstar Canoes. Happy Paddles.

BearBurrito: "Congrats on the new boat!
"

Thanks!

JATFOMike: "Congratulations!

Mike"

Thanks!

ducks: "That is a sweet ride!! Congrats."

Thanks! It's terribly difficult not going out and sitting in it. I know I can't do that in these boats.

analyzer: "I'm excited for you. Love the Northwind, Jeep Combo. The wife and I are about 10 days from buying a Northwind 17, blacklite, with wood... we're about 10 YEARS from getting the Jeep. LOL.

I've heard nothing but good things about Northstar Canoes. Happy Paddles.

"

I really like my Wrangler, and would buy it again. I take it down old unmaintained fire roads and other such trails. No hard-core off-roading for me as it's also my daily commuter.

Have you had it out for a paddle yet? The "Dr. Bauer park" at the dead end of Wenger Rd. is 10 minutes from Vandalia and makes for a nice after work paddle......Just sayin'

Mike

JATFOMike: "Have you had it out for a paddle yet? The "Dr. Bauer park" at the dead end of Wenger Rd. is 10 minutes from Vandalia and makes for a nice after work paddle......Just sayin'

Mike"

I have not! I did get it registered but then flew to Chicago for some business. With Easter (we are hosting the family) I hope to take it out this Saturday at Eastwood, but maybe I'll check out Dr. Bowers Lake instead. I've never been there, so thanks for the recommendation!

I'm hoping to re-learn how to fish, so using the canoe for that will be nice.

Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations!

Captn Tony: "Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations! "

I know! I couldn't sleep until I found out you bought one:)
Very nice canoe!

Captn Tony: "Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations! "

Knowing it was causing so much stress, I accelerated my buying timeline. It's a huge weight off everybody's shoulders!

Zwater: "

Captn Tony: "Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations! "

I know! I couldn't sleep until I found out you bought one:)
Very nice canoe!"

Now that the purchase has happened, how did you sleep?

I was so stressing about your canoe purchase. Once I found out it happened I have been sleeping like a baby:)

A very nice canoe. In 2014 I purchased a northstar northwind 17 footer. I have not looked back. Very impressive on the water and tripping.You will not be disappointed and it sounds like you are already making plans to improve the canoe. Best advice I hear is to get out on the water and use it. Best, JerryG