This is a long shot, but I am driving up from the St. Louis Missouri area to Ely tomorrow. I will be paddling solo with my Bell Northstar, but I am almost 50 years old and think I should get around to having a proper solo canoe.

Anyone in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota or Illinois have a composite solo canoe they would part with? I know where there are some new and almost new canoes for $2,500+

I am looking to spend less. Between $1,000 happily for a suitable canoe and $2,000 begrudgingly for a canoe that suits my needs and tastes perfectly. $1,500 for something in between

I know it is a long shot in this market, so I expect another trip in the Bell tandem.

In the event you find a solo-I’ve been looking for a Northstar or Polaris so I’d be interested in buying yours if you don’t want to haul it back home. :)

I should make clear, I am NOT selling nor trading my Northstar, it is a great canoe that I am hanging onto.

Apparently, judging from my emails, if anyone has a Bell Northstar / Northstar Polaris for sale, they will find buyers quick.

Hello

I have 2005 Bell Merlin II in white gold layup that I need to sell as I no longer have access to the storage unit I used to store it in. I love this canoe and have been through some nasty waves in Quetico through the years. However in 2018 I tripped on a portage in Quetico and cracked the gelcoat in two places on the canoe. I had the gelcoat repaired and patches placed on the inside of the canoe where the gelcoat was patched. There was extra gelcoat left over from the patch job so some of the deeper scratches on the bottom of the canoe were also filled in. When the gelcoat was applied it appeared to be a color match but as it dried it was apparent that Northstar's Almond is not a color match for Bell's almond gelcoat. The Merlin II isn't pretty anymore but I took a 30 day solo trip with the canoe in 2019 and she is still water tight. In light of the condition I would be willing to sell the canoe for $450.00. The canoe is being stored at my parents house in Ashland, NE (20 miles south of Omaha) so if you want to inspect the canoe on your drive up to Ely your are more than welcome to. Here are some pictures:

That is a bit out of my way, but I am considering it anyway. It is the perfect canoe for me. I sent an email.

There's a sweet Advantage that just got posted here but a little over your price range.

cyclones30: "There's a sweet Advantage that just got posted here but a little over your price range. "

Yeah, it is also too nice for the abuse I tend to put on canoes.
It would be painful to scratch that beauty up.

It is an awesome looking canoe for sure.

I sent message offering use of solo that is located in Ely. Check your junk box.

Namaycush - I'm interested in your Merlin II. Is it still available?

Thanks. I ended up, through a last minute turn of events, motorcycling to my brother’s in Colorado instead. I thank people for contacting me.

This place is always super helpful!