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PikePetersen
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06/03/2022 10:19AM  
Had one drop from our trip, so now we are looking at options for 3 man canoes. 3 adult males. Outfitter has a few models available:
- Northstar B19 (19’6”)
- Northstar Northwind 20 (20’6”)
- Wenonah MNIII (20’)

We will be basecamping and fishing for a few days. Wondering if anyone has experience/advice they’d be willing to share. I was leaning towards the longest option just to have a little extra space while fishing hopefully.
 
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Porkeater
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06/03/2022 11:56AM  
The one time we needed one, we rented a Souris River Quetico 18.5. Granted, our 3rd person was a younger teen, but it worked well. It seems more voluminous, and probably turns a little better than the MNIII. It was really stable for fishing, too.
 
Michwall2
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06/03/2022 01:07PM  
If you are basecamping and fishing you should go with one of the Northstars.

The Minn3 are great traveling boats. They track like a dream and are faster than anything else out there. BUT: As noted before, they are a battleship to turn. There is no rocker in them at all. In addition, the feet of the bow man will be cramped. The front seat slides to help with trim, but, even with that, the bow of the canoe is quite narrow and makes for an uncomfortable seated position. The Minn3 also is a lot narrower (think speed)with a more rounded bottom. It can make the boat feel jittery. Tougher to fish from.

The 19'6" or the 20'6" Northwind? Several factors to consider:
These are wider canoes and give a more stable platform to fish from. However, they are not as fast as the Minn3 and will not track as straight because they have some rocker in them.
How much gear?
Weight of the paddlers.
Big Lakes or smaller lakes?
Any river paddling?
Longer canoes catch more wind and are tougher to control in windy conditions.
Longer canoes can give more space between middle person and both ends.
Longer canoes are tougher to pass the worms, etc. from one end to the other.

I paddle an 18'6" Bell Northwoods (a progenitor to the Northstar Northwinds). We sometimes put a third in to trip with, but our trips are more traveling than fishing. It is very stable and has a lot of space. I think the 19'6" will do nicely for your trip.
 
06/03/2022 05:10PM  
The B19 actually allows for more load and is supposed to be a great canoe.

I’m doing a 3 person trip but 14 days so more food and gear this July. I went with the Northwind 20 with 3 seats for that trip. We’re also covering serious distance and the Northwind should be better at that. I’m also doing another shorter trip with 2 buddies later August but we’re all big guys. I chose the Northwind 20 for that as well.

The wenonah Champlain I paddled at Northern tier is a really nice canoe. They tended at least the one I had was super tail heavy with the added 3rd seat. I eventually strapped an under seat bag below the front seat with all the fishing gear and some other items to balance the canoe. Our NT guide said he’d had to tape a big rock in below the front seat on a few trips.

A Souris River Quetico 18 with 3 seats wouldn’t have enough weight capacity.

Ryan
 
06/04/2022 10:12PM  
Any of the three will work.

I’d favor the Northstar 20. Just because I have used it before for 3 and 4 people and it did well.

Another option is the Souris River Quetico 18.5, hauls a ton…not sure why a previous poster said it didn’t have the weight capacity? You could haul a moose in that thing :)

T

 
06/05/2022 02:19AM  
I guess because Souris River doesn’t list a weight range. I think they are great canoes but I based it on comparing it to a Northwind 18 which has listed optimal loads.

Souris River Quetico 18 is 18.5 feet long. Width 36.5 inches
Northwind 18 is 18.9 feet long. Width 36 inches optimal load is 400 to 700 lbs.

I’m going to assume the Souris River is going to be pretty similar to the Northwind 18

Northwind 20 is 600 to 1000 lbs. with a 36 inch max width.
B19 is 650 to 1100 lbs length of 19.6 feet and max width of 38 inches. That added width might make it a little more comfortable to paddle but I’d assume a little slower.

Ryan

 
06/05/2022 06:46AM  
timatkn: "Another option is the Souris River Quetico 18.5, hauls a ton…not sure why a precious poster said it didn’t have the weight capacity? You could haul a moose in that thing :)"


True - SR's are load-haulers and stable for fishing. I've rented them several times including last week in the Q. But they always bring up the rear when paddling with Wenonahs and/or Northstars, and it's not very close.
 
cmanimal
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06/06/2022 10:53AM  
SR Quetico 18.5 is my preferred canoe with 3 people. Stable, turns well, and has more space (width) for the bow paddler. I haven't tried a B19 yet, I did like the B17, bow paddler was on the fence.
 
06/10/2022 08:35AM  
We used the NW 20 for a week in Crooked, nice stable canoe, plenty of room up front for bow person, turned good enough for large boat. Just make sure the third seat is not a sling seat, the person in that would not be happy. Was not a problem to portage, just don't be in a hurry, one man can carry it easily.
 
06/10/2022 10:55AM  
I've used a Wenonah Seneca before. I think 19 or 19'6".
Three guys and a lot of gear. Paddle well but tight turns are tough. Moose River North entry was kind of a pain but that's a tight little river for anything.

Three men with respective weights of 230, 210 and 180. Two full Granite Gear Superiors and a full 60L food barrel plus three personal size backpacks. 5 fishing rods, a small tackle box, 4 paddles as well as 3 seat back chair frames.
 
OHPaddler
member (22)member
  
06/10/2022 12:05PM  
I've got a SR17 and SR18.5. Both are stable - but slow. If I had to do it again I would have selected a faster shape.
 
YetiJedi
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06/11/2022 10:21AM  
I have the SR Quetico 18.5 - love it! We use the middle seat for one teen or two 5-10 year olds. It's been through a lot and always performs like a champ.

Based on this thread, we are renting a Northstar b-19 this summer for a trip with 6+ people. Excited to try out a new model!
 
Nomadmusky
senior member (97)senior membersenior member
  
06/13/2022 11:09AM  
I can speak to the Souris River Quetico 18.5. We've had trips with three grown men, camping gear, and fishing gear with zero issues.

I'm amazed at the water it can handle and the load it can carry.

Nomad
 
06/14/2022 12:48PM  
I own a 18.5 ft. Souris. It will do between 4 to 6 mph with three adults in flat water. It's not as fast as some of the others but more comfortable for the front man. I really like the stability of it also. If you're taking a first timer you'll be happy you have it.
 
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