We’ll I ordered my 1st canoe today.

Northstar B17 in the IXP lay up. Getting it tricked out for flat water and whitewater trips.
Combi drop seat in stern. Helpful for whitewater use
Lining Holes installed front and back. Lower down near the water line
Internal Skid plates added in build for a bit more durability
Knee Pads Installed Rectangle type front and back

Bear and Ted were awesome to talk to and so helpful with information. I’d never seen an IXP canoe from them nor had I gotten to see a B17 or any other B series. The IXP is heavier but for use in whitewater. Bear let me see his own B17 in IXP at his house this week. Exact same set up as his except for I’m going with Aluminum trim and he has wood.

Excited to use it on our first whitewater trips next year.

Ryan

I see you with big smiles when you are paddling new places!

Dan, I Left you a message on the 60 liter barrel quad pocket pack yesterday. Never heard back. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.

Ryan

Monday will be better- Winter camping symposium this weekend

Sounds like a great canoe! Enjoy having one that is setup just for you.

I love hearing these stories. I hold Ted, Bear, Charlie, Dan, and the whole crew at Northstar in such high regard. They’ve always gone out of their way to answer my questions, talk through ideas and it’s so obvious how much they care about their customers and their products and matching the two up. I love that Bear had you over to his place to look at his own boat. All this was a big factor when I decided to sell both my Wenonah’s and replace them with Northstars. They also just paddle really nicely! Hope you enjoy the new boat! Do post some photos when you get it! IXP is such a cool layup.

Congratulations on the new purchase! I was eyeing up one of those during a whitewater canoeing course this spring. Those are good boats. Quite maneuverable in the swifts and stable for tripping. You'll love it.

Nice purchase!

T

Congratulations on the new boat.

Congrats!!!

You’ll love it. I have the same canoe. Bought it secondhand off a buddy of Ted’s spring 2020. It went down the San Juan on the 2019 Northstar Experience. Best I can tell from the videos I’ve seen of the trip it was the one Dan and Bear used but can’t be sure.

Tried to post a link to the video but can’t because my profile is “too new”. Google Northstar experience San Juan to see for yourself.

I replaced the thwarts as one of the laminated birdseye maple ones had pulled out on one side. Also swapped the yoke for a Spring Creek.

Love it though. I’ve beat the hell out of it for three seasons now and it barely shows any wear. A little heavy but I’ll take the weight to not have to worry about fragility.

I’ve definitely watched those videos. I’m interested in doing a San Juan trip in the next few years. I”ll need to get my wife and daughter trained on whitewater as well first though. Pretty much the whole family wants to do at least the upper part with the Native American village and petroglyphs. I’ll need to figure out how challenging the lower part is though so some research is going to happen. I’m thinking a June trip so I can do an end of July early August Canadian trip.

Ted said one of the canoes on this Septembers trip landed on a rock so hard near the front paddler that it actually flexed and left a mark bend on the aluminum gunnels. He said you couldn’t really see anything on the hull though.

Ryan

My canoe got delivered to the retailer this week. I went over and fondled it today and got a few not great pictures! Won’t pick it up till this spring since I don’t have a place to store it inside this winter. Looks great and I’m super excited to paddle it next year!

Ryan