Greetings,

I'll try to keep this short. I missed out on my plan this year to purchase a used NW 17 from an outfitter. I'm in the market for my first real canoe purchase, I'd like for it to be a Northstar canoe. I think what they're doing up there is great for the community and I'd like to support that.

What I'm looking for it a canoe that can do a bit of everything. I know this may be a bit cliché, I do see myself getting more canoes down the road to fill specific wants, however as of right now I'm looking to get the best "all-arounder" I can until then. I'll realistically make 1-2 BW trips a year, likely tandem, but also potentially solo. I have a wife and a 1 year old girl that I would like to take out from time to time. They will likely not be joining me for tripping, just for fishing and plain ol' paddling. I live next to a river that I will frequent the most, mostly for fishing or just paddling for some R&R. It's for the most part a slow moving fishing river. I would say I'll be solo most of the time, at least until our little one gets a bit older, or the misses gets more into canoeing. Which is why I'm looking at boats around that 16' range which should allow for a respectable solo experience, while still allowing for tandem.

So that's about it in a nut shell. I did have the NW17 in the running as well, but I can't help but think it'd be a bit big for as much solo time as I'm anticipating at least to start. As for our tripping adventures, I won't be travelling with the kitchen sink, I like to stay relatively light. The only real convivence item would be a chair, even that's debatable. Which should allow for us to get by just fine with the shorter boats.

My heart is in the Polaris, but my head is in the NW16. I want the boat to be exciting and to leave me wanting more, but I want it to be stable enough for taking the family out. My wife has never been in a canoe, kayak yes canoe no, and I don't know how taking a young child out is in a canoe either. Would probably depend on the child and instruction. I worry the Polaris would be a bit tippy for a family boat, while I worry that if I get the NW16 for the added stability and practicality that I will long for the Polaris.

I've called and talked with Ted on this so I have his point of view, I'd like to hear what you guys might have to say as well. Again I understand a guy can but more than one canoe, but I am trying to make the best decision I can initially, so I don't have to hear "I told you so" down the road.(That never really happens, does it?)

Take Care

I've never paddled a NW16, they seem to get fine reviews. That said I say go for the Polaris. Because:

1. It is NOT a tippy boat (the shallow arch design is inherently friendly)
2. It is a surprisingly good solo
3. It's a great tandem (quick, pretty fast, highly maneuverable, effortless)
4. It's the signature boat of Northstar canoes for a reason...and yes you'll regret it if you don't get it

Mine has the optional center seat which is super comfy compared to a kneeling thwart and also puts you in a much more ideal paddling position.

Pics show mine including a shot of me soloing with a dog. I put lots of miles/hours on my Bell Northstar (basically the same boat) and it never felt the least bit tippy and never let me down.

Don't take this the wrong way but, ya need to get your head adjusted ;)

OK, so I responded mostly so I could use that line. I do think your Heart is right and your Head will come around.

I own a Northwind Solo and a Polaris. The Polaris is a perfect canoe for use as you describe. Because I have the Solo, it is the boat I use when alone. My Polaris is most frequently used with my wife and one or 2 dogs up front.


Love my wife and tolerate the dogs but, no one but myself contributes much to the forward motion. Still, the Polaris performs great. When my 16 yo son, a competent paddler, is up front, The Polaris seemingly flies across the water.

As far a stable canoe, I have tipped my Solo but, never the Polaris. Even with the dogs getting a bit crazy in the boat, I never felt close to tipping while paddling the Polaris.

I have only paddled a Polaris Solo a few times. It performs well as a Solo but, not as well as my NW Solo. I confess, my Polaris has no center seat nor kneeling thwart. I just kneel on a pad. I can only tolerate that for about 30 minutes at a time. If I did not have the NW Solo, the Polaris would be the only canoe I'd need.

I have never paddled the NW16. I'm sure it also would be a fine boat.

Good Luck

You did not mention their B 16 model. I have not paddled any of their canoes but the B 16 sounds like an all around kind of boat. Just curious why you eliminated it.

I have a Polaris. The web site is incorrect about the rocker. My Polaris has NO positive rocker! I prefer the handling of a boat with a little positive rocker. I have taken a now 14 year old on trips in it for the last 3 years and it has served the purpose ok.

LarryS48: "You did not mention their B 16 model. I have not paddled any of their canoes but the B 16 sounds like an all around kind of boat. Just curious why you eliminated it. "

I had narrowed it down to the NW16 and Polaris partially due to the tumblehome hull. I think that would yield the best solo performance without giving up much if anything to tandem paddling. But it does sound as if the B 16 would be the most stable 16' family boat they offer.

Rambo3489: "

LarryS48: "You did not mention their B 16 model. I have not paddled any of their canoes but the B 16 sounds like an all around kind of boat. Just curious why you eliminated it. "

I had narrowed it down to the NW16 and Polaris partially due to the tumblehome hull. I think that would yield the best solo performance without giving up much if anything to tandem paddling. But it does sound as if the B 16 would be the most stable 16' family boat they offer."

It would be no surprise that Ted suggested the Polaris. If you want to paddle solo from the middle of the canoe I can't think of a better choice. As Larry mentioned, the B16 would be a great choice as well. It was designed to be a great tandem canoe that can haul lots of gear, but also a great solo canoe with symmetrical rocker and no bow thwart. As always it would be great if you could paddle each of the canoes you are considering. I unfortunately did not heed that advise and went through 4 solo canoes before I found my beloved Morningstar. I have a B16 you can try in the spring if you are in the twin cities area.

Rambo3489: "

LarryS48: "You did not mention their B 16 model. I have not paddled any of their canoes but the B 16 sounds like an all around kind of boat. Just curious why you eliminated it. "

I had narrowed it down to the NW16 and Polaris partially due to the tumblehome hull. I think that would yield the best solo performance without giving up much if anything to tandem paddling. But it does sound as if the B 16 would be the most stable 16' family boat they offer."

+1

I LOVE my B17 IXP and will never part with it. I added a spring creek seat yoke and have no issues soloing it fishing from the center seat or duck hunting sitting backwards in the bow. I've never paddled a B16 but I imagine it performs much like my 17. I definitely prefer my B17 to the other Bell/NS tandems I've paddled.

I'd consider the extra foot if you'll be hauling kids and doing any tripping.... If the B19 were available when I bought my B17 I'd have gotten it instead. Length=speed and better tracking. Plus the B's have enough rocker to make the extra length nearly negligible when turning.

I've paddled everything. I'll take a prospector over any other design 9 times out of 10.

Long time lurker here... and never post. However, I feel strongly about this one!

To the OP...

POLARIS!

I have a BL wood trim Polaris, and:

-It's fast... directly compared side by side to a friend's brand new NW16 (not that speed is the end all). That same friend now has a Polaris on order. It's also not a MNII or III though. Trimmed correctly, it maneuvers great. Heels nicely from the kneeling thwart I installed. Faster than the Q16 I previously had and feels like a lot less skin friction. Its a pleasure to cover water in.

-It's stable... my 11YO son and I trip and fish in it (ballast bag in the front is key with light paddlers). We can both stand up and fish with ease. I stand up and fly fish in it all the time. We pack pretty light, so we don't need massive capacity. It's modest usable load is sufficient for us. I like to single portage, so staying light, especially with a little buddy that cant carry a ton is important. It feels livelier than the Q16, but I cant imagine needing a more stable canoe.

-Carbon bent shafts for making time! Oiled ottertail for me for steering strokes while being a trolling motor for my son! So much fun!

Love the ash trim! Less stiff than aluminum and for sure carbon, but the BL makes up for some of that. I lightly sand the wood once or twice/year and use raw linseed oil on it, rather than the recommended sticky Watco oil that has lots of tacky residue. Love oiled axe handles, gunnels, etc. I put combi drops in the back for sitting and kneeling and switching it up.

A starlight carbon gunnel is 34ish lbs! Mine is probably 42ish. I bet a BL carbon gunnel is one responsive boat! But the wood...!

It's a canoeist canoe! If you canoe to enjoy canoeing, along with using it for efficient transportation and fishing, it's the one to have! It also solos well, trips well, looks killer. It speaks to me. It pleases me. My bet is the same for you.

Thank you to everyone who has added to the discussion here. I appreciate the detailed information given.

Really I have to sit and think a bit more on this. Try to decide if my priorities are to have a boat that can cover more water in a day, or one that would take a little longer to get to the destination, but maybe put everyone aboard more "at ease". I hadn't given the "B" series much thought, but you guys do bring up good points for owning one of them as well. I can see why people always seem to end up with more than one canoe.

Rambo3489: " I can see why people always seem to end up with more than one canoe."

7 canoes so far and no regrets. Each one has a specialty, from the 13 foot pack boat to the 18.5 foot three seat tandem. While my B16 is my favorite all around canoe, I love having the right canoe for the right situation. Don't just look at numbers on paper, do your best to try out any canoe you are considering. Good luck with the purchase.

MidwestFirecraft: "

Rambo3489: " I can see why people always seem to end up with more than one canoe."

7 canoes so far and no regrets. Each one has a specialty, from the 13 foot pack boat to the 18.5 foot three seat tandem. While my B16 is my favorite all around canoe, I love having the right canoe for the right situation. Don't just look at numbers on paper, do your best to try out any canoe you are considering. Good luck with the purchase. "

+1

You can read reviews until you're blue in the face but you'll never truly know how any boat handles a situation until you're in it on the water.

I'm lucky enough to live in canoe country. I've owned a few different canoes and logged thousands of hours in dozens of others. So I've gotten to "test paddle" just about everything out there.

Every boat design and material has it's pros and cons. Some models even handle slightly differently based on layup. Paddling one is the only way to know how it feels to YOU, and that's the ONLY opinion that really matters.

Truthfully, I prefer my Crestliner to every canoe I've ever been in. Slightly more comfort and a little less effort ;-) I only paddle because the wilderness act of 1978 says I have to in certain places hahaha

Just wanted to loop back around on this. I know everyone's on the edge of their seat waiting to hear the final decision. After sitting on it for a long while I ended up placing an order for a B16 in IXP. I went this route as most of my paddling will be on rivers, and the IXP was simply because it's among the toughest stuff around. It's been my general philosophy in life that's it's better to be over prepared than under. The B16 will allow me to paddle most any water I come across, and allow me to grow and learn along the way. I feel it is the best jack of all option out of my choices.

As for my BW/Q time, I will just be taking a little longer to get from point A to point B. But that's part of the trip as well. About to finish up a Sigurd F. Olson book and one thing has really been apparent and stuck with me. It's not about having the fastest or best boat around, chasing the all important promise of speed. The trip is really made in the simple joy of being, wherever that is, and however many miles were made.

With that said, I could definitely see myself with a Polaris at some point down the road. But for now my exploring will be from the hull of a B16.

Great choice! From your profile it looks like your young enough to portage the IXP, I'm at that age where 45#s is my comfort limit:) I don't know if you got a chance to paddle one before you purchased, but I think you will be very happy with it as an all around solo , tandem for the family.

That was part of the decision making process. I hopefully have another 15+ years of being able to portage a 60 pound canoe without much problem. By that time I’ll have a lightweight lake canoe to make the weight on my shoulders significantly less.

I didn’t get a chance to test paddle a B16. But think it’s a pretty safe bet and one that will allow me to learn the ropes and better determine what direction my future padding preferences will be.