I just tried out my new used Bell Northstar, and I have a few questions . it's certainly fast. Empty and solo it seems surprisingly tippy. I'm a bit old to paddle comfortably from my knees, and paddling backward from the forward seat means I have to put my legs over the thwart. Remove the thwart? I love its light weight (60 lbs.); seller told me he guessed it was 50 lbs. It's 16.5 feet long, black exterior, gold interior. Do I have "blackgold?" What material was it made of? Seller thought blue steel....

If it's black on the outside then it's black/gold and 60 pounds is oddly heavy for a black/gold Northstar, I'd expect it to be around 50. Another sign of a black/gold boat is that the front thwart and yoke should be black walnut, not ash. Black walnut is much darker than ash and should match the color of the decks. I had a Northstar and probably shouldn't have sold it but now I have a Northstar Polaris (I know the names are confusing) which is basically the same boat. My Polaris has a factory center seat installed with low seat drops made for sitting and it's much more comfy than a kneeling thwart and would also lower your center of gravity and add stability. You might have to remove your yoke to get a center seat in the right position.

Solo paddling a tandem can be a handful, especially empty.

Sounds like you got an awesome canoe. I’d love to try one if those out sometime.

If you decide it’s not the boat for you please let me know as I’d be interested.

First off, the Bell Northstar is an asymmetric hull. It is not designed to be paddled backwards. If you don't like to kneel, install a seat (from Ed's Canoe) at the location of the rear thwart. Leading edge of the seat at the location of the thwart. I've done this with another brand with a similar hull and it worked just fine. Maybe position the seat a bit forward, say middle of the seat at the rear thwart position.
A black/gold Northstar should weigh 40-45 lbs.
Ummm, blue steel is a Nova Craft layup.

Also depending on how the seat is mounted removing the front thwart will lessen the structural integrity of the hull. If the seats are hung with seat drops attached to the gunwales the hull will tend to flex and probably oil can as well. If the seats are rigid mounted to the hull with brackets riveted to the sides it will probably be stiffer. If the gunwales are wood the seats will be hung from them. Not sure about boats with aluminum gunwales. Obviously you have the boat and can easily tell.

Good info, thanks! I re weighed the Northstar and of course it weighs 50 with the kneeling thwart, not 60. Poor subtraction on my part. But what a breeze to lift and carry! My Penobscot weighs 75, and the Big Pig, the Old Town Discovery 169, that baby is 94 with its fiberglass patches.

OK, but I’m in northern NH.

Great advice. Thanks

tandemtripper: "OK, but I’m in northern NH."

If this is in reply to the note about getting a seat from Ed's Canoe Parts, that's an online mail order store.

https://www.edscanoe.com/

I have an original Bell Northstar (Kevlite, wood trim), and toyed with selling it. Decided, it is the perfect day-tripper tandem for modestly sized people. I soloed a couple trips with it. Agree about kneeling. Prefer to paddle that way, buy my feet do not agree. So, I decided to make the next logical choice - bought a used Merlin II. Same rocker, only a foot shorter. Much happier.

My black/gold Northstar also weighed 50 pounds. Bell fibbed a little about the weight of all their boats in my experience, plus the wood trim adds some weight per their brochure. I don't remember if all black/gold boats had the kneeling thwart or if that was an option. In any case congrats it's a great boat. It can take a lot of abuse so don't be shy about where you take it.

Kevlite.... I have to do some homework on that. Sounds too much like Kevlar for my taste. As for day tripping, I’m looking forward to trips of up to a week or so...

justpaddlin: "...I don't remember if all black/gold boats had the kneeling thwart or if that was an option. "

It was an option, though some dealers seem to have had them installed in their stock. I bought a used b/g northstar last year and installed one. Seriously considering a third seat though.