Are there any significant differences between the Northwind 17 from Bell and the newer Northstar 17 version, in the light kevlar layups?

No difference other than the mold going down the middle on some of the Bells, and slight material/weights.

Bell SPECIFICATIONS

LENGTH: 17'6"
LENGTH / WIDTH RATIO: N/A
WEIGHT: 41/46 lbs
ROCKER: Bow 2.5" / Stern 1.5"
CAPACITY: 6" Freeboard: 1100 lbs
SHEAR: Bow 21" / Mid 14" / Stern 19"

GUNWALE WIDTH: 36"
MAX WIDTH: 36"
4" WL WIDTH: 32"

Northstar Specs
Length: 17ft 6in

Length/Width Ratio: 6.6

Width: 36 gw / 36 mx / 32 wl

Sheer: 21 bw / 14 ms / 19 st

Rocker: 2.5 bw / 1.5 st

Weight: 40 SL / 43 BL

Thank you. It looks like the bell maybe has a recess (tumblehome?) along the sides just below the gunnel where it’s smooth on the modern Northstar versions. Am I seeing that correctly? Not sure if I am describing it very well.

You are correct. The original Bell Northwind 17 had a tumblehome shoulder and the current one does not. There are likely differences in the cloth lay up and structural foam placement.

The current Northwind 16 does still have the shoulder below the gunnel.

The math suggests that length/width ratio (listed as N/A for the Bell) is simply overall length divided by width at waterline. As each canoe is 17'6" (or 210") in length, and each is 32" wide at waterline, won't the Bell's length/width ration also be 6.6?

TZ

Thanks everyone. I just picked up a very nice Bell Northwind 17 in excellent condition. It was no killer deal, but the boat market being pretty nuts this summer, I was happy to find a good used one. It does have a bit of oil canning on the front of one side that I’m not crazy about (seen just behind the 21 tag), but I don’t believe it will effect anything...I hope not anyway, I think it will be above the waterline. We were wanting a little bigger boat for tripping with our dog. Our Bell Morningstar is just a bit too small for that (with the dog anyway) as sweet as that boat is. Man, that going to be a tough boat to let go, I really want to keep both!

It looks like a nice ride. Congrats.

That kevlight layup is so light above the waterline. I have a Bell Composite Northwind 18 made when Ted was just ramping up production again. It has a spot like yours in about the same place. Really causes no problem with how the boat performs.

Keep that Morningstar. Its a treasure. You can't have too many boats.

climbon: "It does have a bit of oil canning on the front of one side that I’m not crazy about (seen just behind the 21 tag), but I don’t believe it will effect anything..."

The Bell kev light and the Northstar equivalent are extremely flexible in that area. Check one out at a dealer some time. It's like pressing in on a paper wall. No big deal as mentioned by sedges.

Good to know, my suspicions were correct, that it's not a big deal. I'm now wondering if it was the way it was stored. I think he had it hanging for the front and rear handles, right side up. I had it on top my truck for 2 afternoons in the sun and the spot is all but gone. So that's cool. Perhaps it will return.

The boat is so clean otherwise. There are like 10 scratches in it. It truly was used very very little. Makes me feel better about the $2000 price I paid.

So another question...It appears that the weight is about 52lbs. The 2004 catalog says it should weigh 47 (my boat is a 2000). I used a bathroom scale, so the accuracy is questionable, I suppose. Any idea why it would be 5lbs over? Something change in the weights & layups from 2000 to 2004? I'm really not worried about it, just curious.

maybe try your scale again ;)

In all seriousness, published weights are usually the bottom end of the range coming off the line, as I understand it.

Yah I think I’ll try to find a different scale I think.

The new Northwinds do not have the tumblehome. I had Bell Northwind and loved it...easy to paddle. Loading was a pain due to the narrow top with the tumblehome.

When I called to figure out which new canoe I wanted from Ted's new company....they told me they removed tumblehome from the boats a couple years ago...and then recommended I go with the B16 for a more versatile option in rivers and flat water. The B16 is slightly wider....and have not paddled their new NW...but the B16 seems to have a little less initial stability but outstanding secondary stability.

Red boat is my old Bell Northwind 165 Rx...newer one is my Northstar B16 IXP

The Bell NW and the Northstar NW 17 are supposed to be the same boat below the gunnels. The difference being that the Northstar boat does not have the tumblehome that the Bell boat has. They did this to make the mold simpler is what I read when they first went into production again.