In the next couple of days I am going to check out a carbon layup Grasse River Classic XL. According to the owner it has some sun bleaching, but is in otherwise good shape. The price seems about right.
My question is: Has anyone out there done any tripping (a week or so) in such a canoe? Will it hold the gear and a 6'1" 170 lb. guy?
Even if it will not handle the tripping, I might get it just for a "go fast" boat. I will still have my Tranquility for my solo tripper. A 16'8" x 26" beam boat at about 23 pounds should be fun!

Have not paddled one but I am jealous that you may be able to do so...

Buy it. Paddle it. You can probably trip the BWCA in it - I would - but the risk/tradeoff is being more easily windbound on marginal days. However on all other days it will outstrip your Tranquility by a wide margin.

If you don't like it you can almost certainly get 100% of your $ back out of it.

Bought the Grasse River Classic XL today and spent the afternoon cleaning it. Man, it was dirty! I've got to work for the next couple of days, but then I will be trying it out. It looks fast just sitting on the ground!

Hey Southern,

Have you had this boat out on the water? Impressions?

TailSlap: "Hey Southern,


Have you had this boat out on the water? Impressions?"

Hi TailSlap,

I only had the XL out a couple out times due to work and travel, but I LIKE THIS CANOE!

I posted on the "Listening Point- General Discussion" a thread titled "Prettying up a carbon fiber canoe" with photos and my impressions after the first paddle. As of today it is on page 5 of Listening Point.

On the next time out, I tested the secondary stability out with a bit more lean and bracing. I did not take it to it's "roll point" but felt comfortable and stable with the water well up on the tumblehome. The initial stability is surprisingly good for a 16 1/2 foot boat with a 26" max beam, great for sitting and watching wildlife, but I don't think I'll be fishing out of it. I'm not surprised, but this canoe is FAST. Even though I am not a racer, this boat's speed put a smile on my face. You also get curious looks when you carry a 24 pound canoe to the put-in and the local folks are used to the weight of aluminum and plastic boats.

I will have to work on maneuverability though. This boat loves straight and fast, but I am slow in the turns. The vertical bow and stern and lack of rocker is a bit different for me, and I am still learning how to make this canoe go in circles.

I will soon want to test the canoe with a load. I am 180 lbs. and there appears to be plenty of freeboard left for a bit of weight. My only concern is that my Granite Gear #4 portage pack will not fit and I will have to get a tall narrow pack to fit the canoe. I'll be carrying approximately 45 lbs. Any suggestions?

If anyone out there has used one of these as a solo tripper, I would be interested in your experiences. Thanks!


I still have a some sanding and refinishing the gunnels to do, replacing the bow plate due to a bit of rot and I'm considering epoxying or varnishing the hull, but it is already looking better than it did in these photos.

That refurbishment is coming along nicely. Congratulations.

I have paddled a UL Kevlar Advantage since 2011, probably 400km/yr in that hull. I am pretty consistently 160-165 lbs. Your boat is more narrow at the waterline than the Advantage I think (but nearly the same width at the gunwales), Maybe my turning approach won't work as smoothly for your Classic XL. You may already do this. But I have found that leaning away from the turn and paddling on the same side as the lean, gets me around reasonably efficiently, although not on a dime. This lean can be facilitated by moving my feet to the side of the boat away from the turn while staying upright in my tractor seat, then playing with butt cheek pressure. But I am far from a technician.

I can get a 115L Seal Line dry bag behind the rear thwart if I pack carefully. But they are not cheap.

I am close to pulling the trigger on a GRB Newman Concept. I want something different for long workouts, but not a typical racing design. And that hull is different. I have also coveted the Classic XL, but have wondered about the durability of that hull for trips over the Canadian Shield. I have wondered if it compares in durability to the Wenonah graphite layups. I have also had the Advantage out in some miserable conditions, coming across Basswood on a windy afternoon, big water on Snowbank, trying to get up the Moose Chain from PP with a stiff wind in my face, and have always felt stable enough. I have never felt like I was in danger, even when caught sideways to a stiff breeze because I lost my focus. Just relax and ride it out. AND ALWAYS WEAR A PFD. Of course, if it looks too bad, I am a firm believer in discretion being the better part of valor. Anyway, I have wondered about the Classic XL under similar conditions. But I love my boat.

Hi TailSlap,

Thanks for the info. I have read about the Advantage, have never tried one but they sound comparable. There are not many such boats down here in the south, but I've always seemed to have a preference for different.

I have tried the outside lean and paddle method (learned it from kayaking) but have not got it to my liking yet. At SLOW speed this technique has worked; leaning well forward, sweeping out from the bow , continuing with the paddle as far out as possible, then around to a draw to the stern as far back as I can reach. It does not work well at speed but does OK for turning in the back of a cove in the lake. Maybe with a bit more practice...

I may give a dry pack a try, but I am leaning towards an internal frame pack with dry bags. I have a bunch of various size drybags, been using them for years. In my SR Tranquility I was able to carry my Granite Gear #4 pack and a daypack both stuffed with stuff in drybags.

The GRB Concept is an interesting looking canoe. I am looking forward to you posting your impressions of it and where it's strengths and weaknesses lie.

I agree with you about PFD use. My paddling started in a whitewater C1 back in the early 80's then on to whitewater kayaks and WW Open Boats so a PFD was the standard. Paddling without a PFD would still just seem weird to me, so it is part of my essential gear. At least I don't wear my whitewater helmet on flatwater!

I'll post more on the Classic XL as I get back on the water. I am planning on another solo BWCA or Algonquin trip for next year so I have a bit of learning to do with this canoe. If it doesn't work out, I still have my Tranquility.