We had some great Adirondack canoeing near family in NY last week across 14 lakes/ponds, 4 rivers.

We rented Kevlar Queticos, two 17s and one 18.5', for 6 adults and two children 5 & 8.

Most noticeable design feature was high initial and secondary stability, Having both in one boat is unusual, but much appreciated. We had 780 lbs (three adults, two children and gear) in the 18.5' one day and it was rock solid.

These base Kevlar models had fixed seats and no footbrace. Raised floor ribs gave some grip, but nothing like a foot brace. As a buyer, an adjustable bow seat would be a must and dual adjustable seats even better.

Quoted weights are 44 and 49 lbs and the Carbon Tec layup only cuts one or two pounds. I'd love to see the full 'Savage River' treatment on these models, getting down to the 35 lb range. 'Gravity change' is affecting me: I portaged 68 pounds thirty years ago easier than 44 pounds now!

This isn't a professional review, just impressions after paddling time in both.

Yea I have the Quetico 18.5, agree on the stability. Pretty incredible. I’ve had it unloaded and tried to tip it and the only way to do that is basically fall all the way out of it. Have appreciated that over the years with a GSP running around and jumping in and out at times.

What I don’t like is it doesn’t glide well. When the weather is rocking no big deal, I appreciate the stability but when the water is like glass I feel like I am pushing it through the water and working harder...most of the time the water isn’t like glass...so not a big worry, but no canoe is perfect.

T

timatkn: "What I don’t like is it doesn’t glide well. When the weather is rocking no big deal, I appreciate the stability but when the water is like glass I feel like I am pushing it through the water and working harder...most of the time the water isn’t like glass...so not a big worry, but no canoe is perfect. "

Interesting commentary on the Q18.5. I have a kevlar Mad River Lamoille 184 that (I think) is a pretty similar boat to the Q18.5 and I love it. Very stable for fishing, carries a load very well and, at 50#, is pretty nice on the portage trails. I've always thought that the Q18.5 would be on a very short list of candidates to replace my Lamoille, whenever that day comes.

My two paddling buddies have SR Q17s and they always talk about how my canoe is faster than theirs. I feel like my son and I are solid paddlers, but my friends are no slouches. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the glide of the canoe itself.

If I ever replace my Lamoille, I sure wouldn't want to go backward in performance.

What did you prefer 17 or 18.5? I hear ya on the weight. Carrying 2 alumacrafts every portage is killing my shoulders slowly.

"My two paddling buddies have SR Q17s and they always talk about how my canoe is faster than theirs. I feel like my son and I are solid paddlers, but my friends are no slouches. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the glide of the canoe itself.
If I ever replace my Lamoille, I sure wouldn't want to go backward in performance."


I think your Lamoille speed/glide would be similar to the SR Q18.5 and certainly better than the shorter Q17.

Just be sure you order the adjustable seat and footbrace.

The SR Q18.5 glide & speed is a bit less relative to a Wenonah MN II or a Jensen stock design.

However, in every day use the SR Q18.5 has far better stability and easy response to turns and tight maneuvering.

x2jmorris: "What did you prefer 17 or 18.5? I hear ya on the weight. Carrying 2 alumacrafts every portage is killing my shoulders slowly."

For two people and gear or children the Q17 is great. It reminded me of a Wenonah 17 in speed and maneuverability, but with more stability.

The Q18.5 is big and works well with more weight. It's also 5# heavier than the Q17.

Glad to hear that..especially compared to Wenonah. My father had me do a lot of research for him and the two you used are the two he went with.

This might be the place to put in my first impression of a Northstar Northwind 17.

For lo these many years, we have rented Souris River Quetico 17 canoes from VNO. I fell in love with them and never thought that anything would ever come as close to perfection in a tandem for use in the BWCAW. Sure, the knock on them was how it drags through the water, but the stability factor allowed me to overlook such talk. (Actually, for the trips we took, I never really noticed that it was quite as slow as others made it out to be.)

Well, John says that he's moving away from the SR line -- a change in its design meant that he started noting problems with far too many rentals being returned with cracked ribs -- and moving to the Northstar line.

We rented the Northwind 17 last month and I was sold. Sure, it has that moment of initial instability... a little twitchiness that gets your attention if someone moves a little too aggressively one way or another. But the secondary stability is rock solid. Maybe even better than the Souris River ?? Very comfortable fishing. Loads just as easily as the Q and holds the same load, too. Maybe even more leg room for both riders, actually. My perception was that it also glided slightly faster than the Q... a pretty effortless 4 mph.

About the only knock I have (far from a deal-breaker, tho) is the solid foam panel covering much of the floor which makes quick placement of a transducer in a puddle of water a bit trickier.

I have used the Northwind....just used the 20 this year. Secondary stability is not as good as my Quetico 18.5, no way. With that said it is a great boat, faster, better glide, and still what I’d call stable.

I have outgrown my 18.5 as the kids are too big and that was the reason I tried the Northwind. Most likely the Northwind 20 will be my next canoe so the 4 of us can continue to paddle. I think I will do a custom order from Northstar/Bell as I did not like the seat placement on the 4 seater I rented—my Quetico 18.5 has been awesome to me, lots of sentimental value...I am having a hard time parting with it (I only have space for one canoe) Anyway...Jackfish I’d look at a Northstar Northwind 17 or 18 vs. a Quetico 17 and see which one performs better. Both fine canoes, but if I had to guess with your experience the Northwind might be a better choice. Schweady is right about the foam core interrupting shooting my transducer through the hull, I was able to make it work, but had to different spots. Souris gets the win there but not a deal breaker.

After the kids grow up, my plan is to sell the Northwind, then get a Savage River and go ultralight. I still have to part with the Quetico which I am not sure I can do yet :)

Just my opinion from an average paddler based on canoes I have tried.

T

Jackfish- The Lamoille is much more of a cruiser hull, sleek with shallow arch bottom, asymmetrical and quite fast- closer to the MNII than a Souris Quetico. The Lamoille was the finest tandem Mad River produced and if yours is from their glory years- immaculately manufactured. A terrific canoe.

The Quetico 18.5 is more of a pickup truck. Slow, reliable, impossible to turn over, capable of carrying the farm but frankly a bit of a barge.

Speed in a canoe is funny in a way in that it is hard to detect how fast you are going without a reference. At least for me. I have a Q17 and I love the stability but I don't really notice that it's slower. I picked up an Old town Penobscot 16 that must be faster if only because it is usually empty and it's over a foot shorter but I don't get in it and think that I'm really covering ground. I should get out my GPS and see just out of curiousity.

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. It’s fun and interesting to read the comments of your experiences.

For the record, I’m not in the market for a new canoe, as much as it would be fun to have a new one. My Lamoille really is a nice canoe for tripping. I think it’s reasonably fast, certainly stable, especially for fishing, and at 50#, it’s not a beast on the portage trails. It’s starting to show its age, but it’s still a really nice canoe.

My buddies have SRQ17s And the thought of a new canoe weighing less than 45# is quite intriguing. If I went with the Q18.5, I’d be back around the 50# mark which is still fine. I’m sure it will be a few years though.

I don't understand the need for speed in canoe country. Just not in a hurry. More interested in nosing into every cove and stream, enjoying the scenery. Love my Q17 and my Tranquility (which is faster than people give it credit for.)

billconner: "I don't understand the need for speed in canoe country. Just not in a hurry. More interested in nosing into every cove and stream, enjoying the scenery. Love my Q17 and my Tranquility (which is faster than people give it credit for.)"

It's not speed per se but efficiency ; using less effort to travel the distance, whatever the speed you choose.

Or maybe one could say "I don't understand why you would choose to paddle harder while moving less."

BTW- I think the Tranquility moves pretty good.

Banksiana: "

billconner: "I don't understand the need for speed in canoe country. Just not in a hurry. More interested in nosing into every cove and stream, enjoying the scenery. Love my Q17 and my Tranquility (which is faster than people give it credit for.)"

It's not speed per se but efficiency ; using less effort to travel the distance, whatever the speed you choose.

Or maybe one could say "I don't understand why you would choose to paddle harder while moving less."

BTW- I think the Tranquility moves pretty good."

Love the SR line not knocking them, but I agree with that quote. It isn’t about speed it is about unnecessary effort.

It has never seemed unecessary. :)

Another SR canoe, unfortunately no longer in production (except for special order),that combined both stability and decent speed/efficiency, was the Huron. Very nice 18 foot canoes. I had been looking for a while after paddling one 20 some years ago. I was lucky enough to find one last year. Finally going on its first trip with me this September. If you ever find one......buy it.