I understand that there is no one perfect solo tripping canoe.

There are factors for each person's choice; budget, availability, how you trip, etc.

My parameters are:

1. Needs to be Boundary Waters-style trip functional handle the water, paddle longer distances under load.

2. Needs to be stable enough to fish from.

3. Needs to be light enough to portage, (at my age the lighter the better, HE MAN has left the building!)

4. Needs to be able to glide for longer distance paddling, unlike my short river solo canoe geared more for tight turns.

I think these are my basics. I'd love to hear your ideas and recommendations and why.

Nomad

Fun!

Would need:
Size/weight of gear
Size/weight of you

Rough budget?

Nomadmusky: "I understand that there is no one perfect solo tripping canoe.

There are factors for each person's choice; budget, availability, how you trip, etc.

My parameters are:

1. Needs to be Boundry Waters style trip functional handle the water, paddle longer distances under load.

2. Needs to be stable enough to fish from.

3. Needs to be light enough to portage, (at my age the lighter the better, HE MAN has left the building!)

4. Needs to be able to glide for longer distance paddling, unlike my short river solo canoe geared more for tight turns.

I think these are my basics. I'd love to hear your ideas and recommendations and why.

Nomad

"

These all make sense to me, Nomad. So what is your ideal solo canoe?

I kinda went through this last summer, and chose the Swift Prospector 14 Pack .
14' long, with a nice comfy seat. Kevlar Fusion layup with carbon thwarts and handles + skid plates (for rocky landings) - weighs 31 lbs.

Can take loads up to 400#'s - so it can haul plenty of gear and a big food barrel.

It's a very stable fishing platform. This is the primary reason I bought my boat. When I'm not paddling in northern Minnesota, I'll be paddling/fishing all over Wisconsin lakes.

The option to add universal mounts to the thwarts is a beautiful bonus. Easy way to connect a fishing rod holder or two, a camera mount, etc.

It'll certainly glide more than a short river boat - but won't be as efficient as a long racer. Using a double paddle makes the Prospector 14 Pack move quite easily. I'll be bringing it up the Gunflint Trail this June.

Joe Robinet - Wabakimi tripping on big water with the Swift Pro14Pack

If you want something a bit more efficient, then the Swift Keewaydin 15 Pack looks solid.

I was torn between these two boats - but was told the Prospector 14 Pack was a more stable fishing platform. I don't regret my decision one bit.

Sounds like a Northstar Magic or Northwind Solo would be strong candidates, depending on how much gear you wanted to carry. The Magic is slimmer, lower rocker, longer, and tracks straighter. The Northwind Solo having a little more carrying capacity, stability, and is slightly more maneuverable but still has the asymmetrical rocker for good tracking. I recently switched to a Northwind Solo primarily to trip with my dog and a week's worth of gear. It is the perfect solo tripping canoe for me.

Over at Wenonah the Wilderness and Prism both seem like they'd fit the bill. The Prism is incredibly efficient at moving across water, but may not be the best for fishing from. The Wilderness is a foot shorter and thus slightly easier to portage. Seems a little more stable as well. Either would even be lighter in the graphite layup.

Swift makes some crazy ultralight solos depending on the layup like a full carbon Keewaydin 15, but they're wildly expensive and can be difficult to get depending on where you're at.

Consider:

Northstar Magic (a nearly perfect compromise of size, speed and stability- surprisingly gifted in rough seas)
Northstar Northwind Solo (a bit slower and more stable/seaworthy)
Wenonah Prism (volume, speed, stability- catches wind a bit)
Swift Cruiser 15.8 (haven't paddled this one, liked her big sister though)
Swift Cruiser 16.8 (fast and stable- catches a bit of wind)
Savage River Blackwater (my dream hull, fast, nearly silent, light (23#), seaworthy and really, really glides).

Hemlock peregrine?

Good questions.

5'11" about 205,

Let's say 50 lb pack of gear

10lbs of fishing gear.

Nomad

I don't know that I have a favorite yet...LOL

I have a SOLO stripper a beautiful 38 special almost too beautiful to paddle, Although I love it and love the look of it, I'm thinking of a "modern material" made canoe that others have paddled. I have a tandem Oscoda Sport 16 that I've had forever which is great for river fishing but is heavy and not a great glider. I also have an SR 18.5 3-man canoe that I love for tripping with 3 guys.

I'm thinking a Kevlar, 16' or more and budget isn't a real issue if it's right, but I don't mind buying an outfitter boat so I don't have to put the first scratches in it.

Nomad

Scoobs,

That's good info. I've watched Joe and like his boat as well as Shawn James who paddles a Swift as well.

They don't always get talked about as much, but the guys who have them sure like them. I will have to put them into the thought process.

Nomad

Nomad,

I picture you in a Curtis Nomad. It has an amazing glide. They were made in Hemlock, NY. I love mine.

Bench or pack seat? I have 2 solos - an SR Tranquility and a Swift Prospector Pack. For BWCA or Quetico I prefer the Tranq. For the ponds and streams of the Adirondacks, I prefer the Prospector. The Swift pack seat is quite a bit higher than most pack seats, a key difference from, say, a Hornbeck Classic.

Also your tolerance/need for initial stability is an important factor IMHO. (And those who kneel and heel will tell you to ignore initial stability or lack there of. Count on it.)

Nomadmusky: "I understand that there is no one perfect solo tripping canoe.

There are factors for each person's choice; budget, availability, how you trip, etc.

My parameters are:

1. Needs to be Boundry Waters style trip functional handle the water, paddle longer distances under load.

2. Needs to be stable enough to fish from.

3. Needs to be light enough to portage, (at my age the lighter the better, HE MAN has left the building!)

4. Needs to be able to glide for longer distance paddling, unlike my short river solo canoe geared more for tight turns.

I think these are my basics. I'd love to hear your ideas and recommendations and why.

Nomad

"

Hi Nomad,

If you're considering Wenonah models the Prism would be the place to start. Especially since you already have a more nimble canoe for moving water.

The Prism is stable enough for fishing (I've fished from it plenty) will hold a couple weeks worth of gear, is straight tracking and has tons of glide. This is our most popular solo canoe and the Wenonah solo most commonly rented out by Boundary Waters outfitters. In ultralight aramid construction it weighs 30 pounds.

We have other canoes that are faster, more maneuverable, hold more gear or are more stable, but for many people the Prism hits the sweet spot.

Best wishes,

Brian from Wenonah

I went to a demo day a few years back, with the same criteria that you list. I padded the Wenonah Prism and Wilderness and the Northstar Magic and Northwind.

They all seems like they would work for what I wanted. Going in, after reading many reviews here and having two Spirit IIs that I love, I figured I would come away liking the Prism the best.

However, there was just something magic about the Magic. It tracked as well as the Prism, but was much more maneuverable, responding well to correction strokes. I don't know how Ted Bell did that - obviously magic.

The Wilderness and Northwind, were good too. You get a bit more stability and give up some speed and tracking.

After three years, I have no regrets. The Magic works well for me, both fishing and BWCA tripping. Still if you can, demo some boats. The 4 canoes I mentioned all have hard core fans and what feels best to me, might very well not be the same for you.

Good luck and have fun with the process!

As a cedar strip builder ? I'd build a Bruce Kunz designed, 38 Spl. I knew when you put the weight requirement, that would be out of the question.

I have paddled the Magic, and I would give it High marks ! If you could pick up an older one, in Kevlar, or Black/ Gold, and in good shape ? I think you would be happy ! Your pocket book should thank you too looking at todays prices !

Good luck

Jim

Great information here, thanks!

It looks like you have to install an additional portage yoke on these solo models, for BW portaging?

Can anyone share a photo of their solo canoe with their added portage yoke and how much weight it added? Thanks!

I like the size of my Rockstar. It carries a lot of gear.

I have a removable wood yoke for my Tranquility with Bourquin pads. Very similar to the one Northstar lists. I'd say a pound and a half to two pounds. Maybe someone has a better weight.

I have the swift carbon yoke fro my prospector. A few ounces. I pick it up and afraid I'll throw it against the ceiling. Kind of amazing and lucky it came with used canoe.

IowaGuy: "Great information here, thanks!


It looks like you have to install an additional portage yoke on these solo models, for BW portaging?


Can anyone share a photo of their solo canoe with their added portage yoke and how much weight it added? Thanks!"

Solo yokes will vary a little depending on which canoe you choose. Solos with sliding pedestal seats like those on a Wenonah Prism require a yoke that clamps to the seat. Solos with wood gunwales, vinyl gunwales or wide aluminum gunwales can use a "universal" clamp on solo yoke. Wenonah makes a solo yoke that fits on the seat rather than the gunwales and this is a good option for low profile gunwales like those on Wenonah composite canoes.

Best bet is to paddle the canoes you're interested in, choose the one you like best and then purchase the yoke that's most appropriate for that model.

Brian from Wenonah

Nomadmusky: "Good questions.
5'11" about 205,
Let's say 50 lb pack of gear
10lbs of fishing gear.
Nomad"

I'd say NS Magic, NS NW Solo or Wenonah Prism.

I used to own the NW Solo - excellent boat & might be your best choice - I just liked the rocketship feel of the Magic, and now own one & have tripped a bunch in it.

That said, all my other solos have stayed dry since I started paddling a Savage River Blackwater.

Mine is not as pretty as that piece of canoe porn that Banksiana paddles.

Wenonah Advantage has checked all those boxes for me

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. I have a browser now full of links to all of the suggested canoes.

It still ends up being a process, but it does help narrow down the process.

Nomad

Nomadmusky: "I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. I have a browser now full of links to all of the suggested canoes.


It still ends up being a process, but it does help narrow down the process.


Nomad"

Glad you got some good information, Nomad. My apologies as earlier I misunderstood and asked for your answer instead of providing input. So, here's my $.02 worth...if that!

About 6 weeks ago I bought my first solo. I had been paddling my Wenonah Boundary Waters tandem backward when I went alone. Worked just fine for my purposes but caught wind and is a lot of canoe for a solo.

I share your same four priorities pretty closely and selected a Wenonah Basswood Solo. Since it is a new model primarily sold to outfitters, the Wenonah website doesn't have it listed yet. Essentially, as I understand it, it is the Wenonah Wilderness but a little slower, more stable, with a higher capacity...all things that were important to me. At 33 pounds, it is light enough too.

I took it out last weekend for the first time and really enjoyed paddling it for a couple of hours...even caught a fish!

Good luck with your purchase...hope you get a great canoe!

IowaGuy: "Great information here, thanks!


It looks like you have to install an additional portage yoke on these solo models, for BW portaging?


Can anyone share a photo of their solo canoe with their added portage yoke and how much weight it added? Thanks !
Weight about 4# including pads, and they are heavy. My doubles as a backrest "

IowaGuy: "Great information here, thanks!


It looks like you have to install an additional portage yoke on these solo models, for BW portaging?


Can anyone share a photo of their solo canoe with their added portage yoke and how much weight it added? Thanks!"

I built a rail-based system that supports both seat and yoke. The portage yoke parks out of the way when paddling. The seat has a great range of adjustability. Its been handy to adjust trim to deal with wind from any direction. I've installed this system on a Mad River Independence, a Dagger Sojourn and recently on a woodstrip William English Model20(16 foot) fora large paddler.

Set up to portage

Set up to paddle

"I share your same four priorities pretty closely and selected a Wenonah Basswood Solo. Since it is a new model primarily sold to outfitters, the Wenonah website doesn't have it listed yet. Essentially, as I understand it, it is the Wenonah Wilderness but a little slower, more stable, with a higher capacity...all things that were important to me. At 33 pounds, it is light enough too."

Hi Yeti--have fun with that Basswood!

For the OP and anyone else curious about this canoe:

Yeti is correct that it was designed as a Boundary Waters rental canoe first and foremost. Because of this we build it in only one configuration: ultralight aramid "outfitter" construction with a fixed web seat. Standard with the Versigunwale fishing accessory track.

This is a very stable canoe. It tracks straight and has plenty of capacity for trips. There aren't a lot of pics of the boat out there yet so I thought I would share a couple from my test drive of the prototype two seasons back. Quick weekend solo into Angleworm with a crash down Home Creek into Beartrap.









Brian from Wenonah

What kind of fishing do you do?

I had a Magic and loved it for traveling. It was good to troll from or fish the windward side of lakes. If you like to fish the leeward side of a lake for walleye, I found the stability a little lacking for my taste. I have a SRQ 16 for soloing and love it for all types of fishing.

Brian, is there any plan from Wenonah to offer ultralight layups infused with carbon or Innegra that provide a look other than the characteristic aramid yellow? I'd love to see some aesthetic variety in your lineup. I've liked most Wenonah hulls I've paddled, but for my own boat I did not consider Wenonah for aesthetics more than anything. I could see myself purchasing a solo canoe in the next few years and I'd like to include Wenonah in the running when that time comes.

jdoutdoors: "Brian, is there any plan from Wenonah to offer ultralight layups infused with carbon or Innegra that provide a look other than the characteristic aramid yellow? I'd love to see some aesthetic variety in your lineup. I've liked most Wenonah hulls I've paddled, but for my own boat I did not consider Wenonah for aesthetics more than anything. I could see myself purchasing a solo canoe in the next few years and I'd like to include Wenonah in the running when that time comes."

Hi JD,

Definitely. Many of our ultralight canoes are already available in either Graphite Ultralight or IB (Innegra/Black) Ultralight. These constructions exchange the outer layer of aramid fabric on our ultralight foam core construction for either carbon fiber or an Innegra/aramid co-weave. Most folks who choose these designs are looking for exactly what you described--a canoe just as light, tough and stiff as our ultralight aramid canoes with a different visual appeal.

Brian from Wenonah

BrianDay: "

jdoutdoors: "Brian, is there any plan from Wenonah to offer ultralight layups infused with carbon or Innegra that provide a look other than the characteristic aramid yellow? I'd love to see some aesthetic variety in your lineup. I've liked most Wenonah hulls I've paddled, but for my own boat I did not consider Wenonah for aesthetics more than anything. I could see myself purchasing a solo canoe in the next few years and I'd like to include Wenonah in the running when that time comes."

Hi JD,


Definitely. Many of our ultralight canoes are already available in either Graphite Ultralight or IB (Innegra/Black) Ultralight. These constructions exchange the outer layer of aramid fabric on our ultralight foam core construction for either carbon fiber or an Innegra/aramid co-weave. Most folks who choose these designs are looking for exactly what you described--a canoe just as light, tough and stiff as our ultralight aramid canoes with a different visual appeal.


Brian from Wenonah
"

No kidding. I see it for the ones I'm checking now, but I swear there was no graphite layup listed for the ones I was looking at just a month ago. Maybe I missed them. I've browsed your website many times over the last several years but this is news to me.

All's well that ends well! In this case I'm glad to be wrong. :) Thanks Brian.

"No kidding. I see it for the ones I'm checking now, but I swear there was no graphite layup listed for the ones I was looking at just a month ago. Maybe I missed them. I've browsed your website many times over the last several years but this is news to me.


All's well that ends well! In this case I'm glad to be wrong. :) Thanks Brian."

Happy to help!

BrianDay: "crash down Home Creek into Beartrap. "

Well that's an accomplishment!

Lots of great suggestions here, and the advice to paddle before you purchase is wise.

That said, depending on where you live, you are limited to what you can paddle before you buy. Some areas are saturated with limited makes, and, frankly, there are many distributors who do not allow you to take the merch for a spin.

I have owned 5 different solo canoes (all used) and did not paddle any of them before I bought them because it was not an option.

sns: "

BrianDay: "crash down Home Creek into Beartrap. "

Well that's an accomplishment!"

It's a bit steep in there. Not much water. Sort of a slot canyon with a bunch of boulders and logs. An interesting way to spend the afternoon.

Like they say, if you're gunna be dumb you'd better be tough!

:-D

Hey all....

I'm watching this chat on Solo's with bated breath as today is my last "working" day and heading into retirement.. looking forward to new found time for solo trips in the BW..

Stats are 6', 200 LBs, like to fish and camp in luxury (yes I'm a true gear head)..

My research thus far has me leaning towards the Northstar Northwind Solo...

Any comments, perspective, guidance would be appreciated..

Thinking I'll start with renting a Northwind Solo...

Heading to Duluth (where I summer) from AZ next week!

DMan...

DMan5501: "Thinking I'll start with renting a Northwind Solo...


Heading to Duluth (where I summer) from AZ next week!


DMan... "

Renting is a great way to try out a canoe for an extended period of time in varied conditions. Maybe even with a pack in the canoe and a trip or two across the portage. Summering in Duluth it would be easy to do a couple weekends of daytrips up in the BWCA trying solos from different manufacturers. Way better than a brief test paddle.

Good luck on your quest for the perfect solo!

Brian from Wenonah

billconner: "Bench or pack seat? I have 2 solos - an SR Tranquility and a Swift Prospector Pack. For BWCA or Quetico I prefer the Tranq. For the ponds and streams of the Adirondacks, I prefer the Prospector. The Swift pack seat is quite a bit higher than most pack seats, a key difference from, say, a Hornbeck Classic.


Also your tolerance/need for initial stability is an important factor IMHO. (And those who kneel and heel will tell you to ignore initial stability or lack there of. Count on it.)"

The higher pack seat in the Swift Prospector keeps your butt dry, compared to the 1-2" foam pads. ...that Swift seat back can't be overstated enough either. On a side note, they do have lower pack seats. Not sure if you can swap them from one boat to the other, as the hull shapes are different.

With the Placid Boats, you can order the lowerest seat, then stack a higher seat on the lower option, if you want more height. ...That's a pretty cool feature.

BrianDay: "

"I share your same four priorities pretty closely and selected a Wenonah Basswood Solo. Since it is a new model primarily sold to outfitters, the Wenonah website doesn't have it listed yet. Essentially, as I understand it, it is the Wenonah Wilderness but a little slower, more stable, with a higher capacity...all things that were important to me. At 33 pounds, it is light enough too."

Hi Yeti--have fun with that Basswood!


For the OP and anyone else curious about this canoe:


Yeti is correct that it was designed as a Boundary Waters rental canoe first and foremost. Because of this we build it in only one configuration: ultralight aramid "outfitter" construction with a fixed web seat. Standard with the Versigunwale fishing accessory track.


This is a very stable canoe. It tracks straight and has plenty of capacity for trips. There aren't a lot of pics of the boat out there yet so I thought I would share a couple from my test drive of the prototype two seasons back. Quick weekend solo into Angleworm with a crash down Home Creek into Beartrap.














Brian from Wenonah"

DANG! That boat looks most excellent. ...I wish I'd have seen the Basswood last season before I made my purchase. Get that boat on your website. :)

Scoobs: "DANG! That boat looks most excellent. ...I wish I'd have seen the Basswood last season before I made my purchase. Get that boat on your website. :)"

Thanks Scoobs. We're working on it!!

Brian

Anyone mention the Placid Rapidfire? I've paddled many solos over the years and after using the Rapidfire, it's the only solo I've kept. My trips are generally 2-weeks long and focused on fishing, primarily Quetico. Rapidfires come in several trims, most around 30 lbs, give or take. It can carry a large load and is very fast on the water, loaded or unloaded. Very stable in heavy water and a great fishing platform. Electronics shoot thru the hull.

Best of luck on your search.

PineKnot: "Anyone mention the Placid Rapidfire? I've paddled many solos over the years and after using the Rapidfire, it's the only solo I've kept. My trips are generally 2-weeks long and focused on fishing, primarily Quetico. Rapidfires come in several trims, most around 30 lbs, give or take. It can carry a large load and is very fast on the water, loaded or unloaded. Very stable in heavy water and a great fishing platform. Electronics shoot thru the hull.


Best of luck on your search.
"

I looked at those years ago... What's the durability like on yours?

PineKnot: "Anyone mention the Placid Rapidfire? I've paddled many solos over the years and after using the Rapidfire, it's the only solo I've kept. My trips are generally 2-weeks long and focused on fishing, primarily Quetico. Rapidfires come in several trims, most around 30 lbs, give or take. It can carry a large load and is very fast on the water, loaded or unloaded. Very stable in heavy water and a great fishing platform. Electronics shoot thru the hull.


Best of luck on your search.


"

+1
PineKnot
What does the total weight in your Rapidfire weigh when moving camp. My total (me +gear) is about 260 lb.
Edit
Durability? My Rapidfire is 12 years old and one year I logged aver 700 miles.

I really appreciate the involved replies from experienced paddlers!

Has anyone paddled both the Swift Prospector and the Placid Rapidfire? Those are kind of new on my radar. I know people with the Wenonah's, Bells/Northstars, or the Souris Rivers, but the Swift and the Placid, outside of Youtubers and those that commented positively on here, I don't know anyone personally that I've seen in person.

I'd love to have a compare and contrast on those.

This has been a lot of great information and is helping me form some ideas.

Nomad

Not Rapidfire, but both the Hornbeck Classic and New Tricks, not far from Rapidfire in my mind, before buying a Swift Prospector 14 Pack. The Prospector seat is much more comfortable as well as much easier on my knees and easier to get in and out. I found the Prospector had higher initial stability, which I like. I believe the Prospector is not as efficient as the Rapid fire, but of little value to me. I found a great deal on a used - not a scratch - Prospector but new, much more expensive than Rapidfire. If looking at Rapid fire, I suggest looking at Hornbecks. You can test paddle them both in Adirondacks, and maybe the Prospector at Racquet River Outfitters (Where I bought mine.)

I've owned a Wenonah Prism, Bell Magic and Bell Rob Roy. I've also paddled a Wenonah Canak.

For me - I'd rank them as follows.

Bell Rob Roy
Bell Magic
Wenonah Prism
Wenonah Canak

I sold the Prism some years back and still own the Rob Roy and Magic. The Rob Roy has been my primary BW tripping boat for over 15 years. I pack my gear in a hiking pack and tuck it in behind me. I'm 6'4" and around 200 lbs.

My perceptions on the various models.

Wenonah Canak - It felt a bit like a barge in the water compared to the other three and I could never get to where I felt like the boat and I were really working together...hard to describe, it just didn't do what I wanted it to or anticipated it to do.

Wenonah Prism - To me Wenonah's have never felt as stable as the Bell/Northstars and this model is no exception. It was a nice boat and I know a number of folks love the model. To me the Bell models felt more stable. Now - a comment on stability, the prism is plenty stable and it would take some serious effort or a major f-up to dump in my opinion, just the other two provided a more comfortable feeling paddle from a stability standpoint. I think this is partially due to the tractor seat. The seats in the other models allow for varying adjustments and varying butt in the seat positioning. I'm not a fan of the tractor seats.

Bell Magic - Picked this boat up a year and have used it a bakers dozen times for tripping and fishing. Not as fast as the Rob Roy, maybe faster than the prism, but not noticabely. Side by side, I wouldn't see the magic just leaving a prism in the dust. I find it to be less roomy for packs than the prism was. You are to a degree limited to a hiking style pack or a very narrow and short canoe style pack. I tried a few different packs in it and was only comfortable with the hiking pack in it. For me the Magic just felt more responsive and intuitive...if that makes sense than the Prism and Canak.

Bell Rob Roy - I paddle it with a double blade, which adds to the speed, but this boat is far and away the fastest of the group. Also the most stable. It rides low in the water, providing relief from a cross wind and can take waves like no other canoe I've paddled. Large waves, just break over the top of the front of the boat and then separate and split at the cockpit. Absolutely love this boat.

@ Nomadmusky: Sorry, haven't paddled the Swift Prospector...

MagicPaddle
+1
PineKnot
What does the total weight in your Rapidfire weigh when moving camp. My total (me +gear) is about 260 lb.
Edit
Durability? My Rapidfire is 12 years old and one year I logged aver 700 miles.

"

MP, total weight of me + gear on my 2021 Sept solo (planned for about 2 weeks, but cut short) was around 290 lbs. Yeah, I know. Too much stuff, but I fish quite a bit and I like my candy and luxury items.... :-)

After seeing yours in action in Quetico a couple times, I monitored various canoeing sites and craigslist for about 6 months into 2014....then found a lightly used Rapidfire from a fellow in Houston that I bought for $1600. It has probably been on about 24 trips since then, most solo, a few groups. Lots of scratches so I added a thin layer of West epoxy over the gelcoat a couple years ago for added protection....I don't see me buying another solo canoe for quite some time....maybe forever....

I paddled a Swift Cruiser 16.8 this summer unloaded out of Saranac Lake, NY. The ship is FAST (and probably best used with a kayak paddle) but I totally agree when it comes to winds. With a wind quartering from behind it was all I could do to keep the thing going straight. Perhaps it's better with a full load, but it was a surprising amount of effort required with just my 220 pounds and a day pack...

You and I are almost the same size. I have owned and paddled a lot of solo canoes.

A Northstar NW Solo in starlight layup would be my top recommendation. This is the boat that is the perfect compromise of attributes you are looking for.

The Magic is a long, narrow boat. I loved mine and put a ton of miles on it. It's fast and covers water quickly but it lacks in initial stability over the NW Solo for fishing. It didn't bother me at all but I saw a few roll that one over at the paddling demo. The gunnel spread is narrow. I found it to be a great boat to paddle but it was a little too confining for my legs and my packs were a snug fit.

I have not owned a NW Solo (I keep looking but have never found one yet). I have paddled it three times at paddling demos. I always take the Magic out right after as a comparison. I gotta say, I sure love that Magic though. It's a great canoe and it's the one I really want to keep paddling. Many would say that my statement right there seals the deal and I should stick with the Magic. But when I was using it for fishing and hauling gear, it never lived up to the hype. I always thought of it as overrated for someone my size. The Magic would be ideal for the lake traveler that has a smaller build.

But the whole thing is completely subjective. You really need to try them all out and then decide.

In the end, the NW Solo was always the winner in the comparison. I absolutely loved it. It's has that Yost feel to it, glides well like a Magic but with a touch more stability. It's a great compromise of attributes. If I owned both canoes, I'd paddle the Magic every day and all day for the pure pleasure, speed and that great on the water feel. For tripping and fishing, it's not even close - the NW Solo all the way.

The Wenonah Wilderness is a great boat. I owned one and paddled it a lot as well. Cons, I thought it was kind of a pig and caught a lot of wind. I loved the length and the adjustable seat. It was very stable for fishing. I always felt very safe in that canoe and felt that I could take that one anywhere - which is what it was designed to do. If you're not in a huge hurry, you would probably like it. It's another great compromise of capabilities. But it trades a little speed for more stability and capacity. If you don't plan on going too far and spend more time fishing, this would be a great choice.

The Basswood solo is a little bigger and wider for more stability. I'd really like to paddle this one. This would be the boat for a guy landing big fish in big water. I have seen one in person at an outfitter and the lines appeared similar to the Wilderness. I imagine it would feel similar to the Wilderness on the water.

If I wanted to go faster, carry a load and still fish, than the Prism would be better yet compared to the other Wenonahs.

If you go with a Swift, the Keewaydin 15 is the right one for your size. This would be comparable to the NW Solo.

The Prospector 14 is also a great canoe but the maneuverability makes it slightly slower on the water compared to the others mentioned. It is more of a river boat like the Northstar Phoenix. Smaller, more maneuverable but with good capacity for hauling gear and a dry ride.

I wish you the best with your soul searching.

Another vote for the Magic and add the Borquin pads. Nothing like them.

I second the Tranquility.

vandolomieu: "I second the Tranquility. "

It is a very good BWCAW/Quetico solo. Stable, light, good in rough water, and tracks nice. Works well with single or double blade. Lots of capacity.

I was looking for a solo that seemed a little more stable, could hold a little more and one that could take some abuse.
The Tranquility seem to fit the bill for me, especially for the deal I got on one that was only 2 years old and barely used.
I do not use the rudder as much as I thought I might, but it is a neat little option at times.
I spend most of my time in it fishing the metro lakes.
But I sure do enjoy it as my BW canoe.

Bell Wildfire, oldie but a goody!

walllee: "Bell Wildfire, oldie but a goody!"

^^this:)