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mtncur
member (11)member
  
07/17/2020 08:45AM  
Hey Folks,

I know it's designed to be a river runner but I thinking of a new 'all arounder' for the arsenal and am drawn to the Phoenix. It will be a 50/50 boat. Southern MN rivers, Central Wisconsin river, Brookies on the Yoop etc... but I will absolutely want to take her to the BWCA a few times a year too.

I am wondering if anyone has taken a Phoenix into the BWCA for some flat water fun for a few nights and their impressions.?.?.?

Thanks!
 
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JATFOMike
distinguished member (366)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/17/2020 10:12AM  
I picked up a Phoenix 3 years ago in the IXP lay up. I primarily use it on rivers in SW Ohio, but have taken it up to the BWCA on 3 weeklong trips. last September I encountered another guy paddling one. I enjoyed paddling it up there. It's not as fast as flat water solos, but fast enough for me. Certainly plenty of capacity for gear. The bow can act as a sail in a stiff cross wind, particularly when there is no gear in the boat, but other than that no issues. I'm looking forward to taking it back up there this September. It really shines when you hit the rock gardens or are paddling down some of the smaller rivers or creeks. Are you a kneeler or sitter? I had my boat set up for kneeling, but now when I go up there, I put lower seat drops in for sitting. The reason being, I have one bad knee that can't take more than an hour of kneeling without stopping to stretch which really limits my fishing time.

Mike
 
mtncur
member (11)member
  
07/17/2020 10:38AM  
Thanks for the prompt reply!

Good to remember about the load in front. Gotta remember that rocker. I like the romance of kneeling but I'm in my late 30s and have already done 2 ACLs so I'm a sitter too nowadays. I even fancy a footbrace. I'm not grasping at any illusions like, 'it'll be a speedboat on Sag, I tell ya...' I'll probably use her for weeklong solos at most. I am also a Trouter so I end up doing a few early and late season laker trips every year so I carry a heavier load and like to dry-foot in the cold water. The IXP is calling me on that front...

I appreciate the feedback, truly.

Best!
 
DanCooke
distinguished member(1271)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/17/2020 12:32PM  
Just paddled from International Falls to Gunflint lake July 2-11 in a Phoenix. 24 miles one day on flat water, multiple days of 20+ , some long portages, glass waters to 18" rollers on Bailly bay on Basswood. Dragged through some places. Good all round solo canoe.
 
07/17/2020 12:36PM  
Tried a Phoenix out at a Gunflint Trail Expo a few years ago. Paddled Seagull for 1 1/2 hours. I have paddled many solos and own/ed a Wenonah Moccasin and now and Advantage. It reminded me of the Moccasin, handy, responsive, comfortable. Even in the wind present on Seagull at the time. While the Advantage is great for covering distances the Phoenix was just fun to paddle. I paddled with no gear in the Phoenix, no particular problems. I used the Moccasin a lot in BWCA and wold no hesitate to use a Phoenix.

butthead
 
mtncur
member (11)member
  
07/17/2020 01:31PM  
Thanks for the prompt replies!

Well... that's that, then.

If it's good enough for you two, it's good enough for me.

I'll be paddling, pushing, portaging and dragging it along the Gunflint soon enough.

Now I just just gotta get a cover made from that Cooke fella... ;)

Thanks!

-B

 
mtncur
member (11)member
  
07/17/2020 05:49PM  
r


So... I’m a Phoenix Fella now too!

Thanks again for the replies, guys.

-B

 
JATFOMike
distinguished member (366)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/17/2020 08:29PM  
Congratulations!

Mike
 
DanCooke
distinguished member(1271)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/18/2020 09:46AM  
Enjoy your new canoe!
 
mtncur
member (11)member
  
07/18/2020 09:59PM  
So...

Got her out for a few hrs on the Yellow River and Yellow Lake today before all heck broke loose in NW-WI and I really liked her! Like, a lot. The little river was chugging along after all that rain last night and I had a blast twisting and turning around the downed trees. I just sold a NW Solo about 2 weeks ago on CL and was starting to regret it, until today that is. The NW Solo is a fine boat, don't get me wrong but it just wasn't 'my' boat. The Phoenix feels like an old time canoe to me and it's a boat that I will grow old with. It's a, 'for the stable, not for sale' type of boat in my book. I'm already itching to hear the thud of the IXP on the Granite in a few weeks. :)

Thanks again, fellas, for all the prompt replies.

Happy Paddlin!
 
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