Looking for a solo boat along the lines of a Northwind Solo / Merlin II / Hemlock Peregrine / Keewaydin 15 or similar. I am in Maryland, but am willing to travel basically anywhere in the eastern US for the right boat. Thanks!

There are a couple Peregrines for sale in site linked below (located in New York). Worth keeping your eyes on as the inventory changes regularly.

Hemlock Canoe Works

Frenchy19: "There are a couple Peregrines for sale in site linked below (located in New York). Worth keeping your eyes on as the inventory changes regularly.


Hemlock Canoe Works "

I have been looking at that site - I would LOVE that red LiteTech boat, but sadly it's a bit out of my price range. Ugh! Thanks for the tip, I will definitely keep checking them out!

NikonF5user: "

Frenchy19: "There are a couple Peregrines for sale in site linked below (located in New York). Worth keeping your eyes on as the inventory changes regularly.



Hemlock Canoe Works "

I have been looking at that site - I would LOVE that red LiteTech boat, but sadly it's a bit out of my price range. Ugh! Thanks for the tip, I will definitely keep checking them out!"

I hear you! Best to you in your search.

NikonFSUser,
I have a Bell Merlin II that I purchased as a used boat from Piragis back in 2006. My talented brother replaced the original aluminum gunnels with custom ash gunnels three years ago. Boat is in very good shape with the normal bottom scratches. I have a detachable yoke for it. I would like to get $1000.00 for it, as these are hard to come by.
The boat is at our cabin up in Maine right now. I am at winter quarters in Petersburg, VA. No problem for me going up to get it and bringing it to Maryland.
I'll see if I have any photos of the boat. It was used on about 10 BWCAW trips and a fair amount of paddling in Maine.
Email would be a reliable way to contact me. kfinlay5@comcast.net.
Regards,
Ken Finlayson

This is great! I just sent you an email. Thanks!!

Just a few comments in case you're still shopping.

Regarding the Trillium it is indeed a hot boat and could handle 260 pounds relatively easily, I prefer a longer/bigger boat and you are bigger than me. And although we don't have a dog right now most of my paddling has been with a 60-70 pound dog and the low volume and relatively small size of Trillium doesn't lend itself to dropping a 60-70 pound lump in front of you.

I think the white Peregrine at Hemlock is a great option if you can swing it. Peregrine is perfect for you. Both of the Sawyers are fine boats too. Shockwave is stable and fast. Summersong is quick and fast but not as stable as the other boats on your list. If you test paddle a few of the used Hemlocks I think there's a good chance you'd take one home.

I think I saw a post where you found a used Swift Shearwater. Shearwater is the predecessor to the Keewaydin 15 with an identical load capacity (180-320 IIRC). The Kee15 cruises slightly faster but the Shearwater turns better and is effortless to paddle and is just as stable and capable in rough conditions. From what I've seen everyone that owns a Shearwater loves it. I've owned 2 over the years and would be darn tempted to get another one. You're a perfect fit for a Shearwater.

I definitely agree about the Peregrine, I just wish I could find one in my price range! The Shearwater you mention is for sale on Facebook marketplace, for $2,000. That's a bit more than I can afford, but getting close. It does look like a stunningly beautiful boat. I am completely unfamiliar with that model however, this is a 2017, and it looks stunning. If it is that similar to a Kee, I will see if I can arrange a test paddle somehow!

I have owned both the Shearwater and the Keewaydin 15, and I must say that I do not believe they are all that similar. At a full foot plus shorter and with greater rocker differential, I found the Keewaydin to be much more maneuverable-and also less stable overall than the Sheerwater until I got used to it. I disagree that the Sheerwater turns better, but I do believe it tracks straight with less effort. My Sheerwater also had a sliding seat, and I really liked that; some don't. The seat in the Keewaydin also sits significantly higher than the one in my Sheerwater did, and that also took some time to get used to. I weigh 240 pounds, and while I have only had the Keewaydin for one year and did not spend a lot of time in it last year, I can say that I miss the Sheerwater.
Specs:
Sheerwater
Optimum Load Range: 180-320 lbs.
Industry Capacity: 475 lbs.
Hull Shape: Asymmetrical
Length: 16’2?
Gunwale Width: 26”
Maximum Width: 30“
Waterline Width: 28”
Centre Depth: 12.5”
Bow Height: 19”
Stern Height: 16”
Bow Rocker: 1.5”
Stern Rocker: 1”

Keewaydin:
Optimum Load Range: 160-320 lbs.
Industry Capacity: 425 lbs.
Hull Shape: Asymmetrical
Length: 161
Gunwale Width: 25.5”
Maximum Width: 29.5“
Waterline Width: 27”
Centre Depth: 12.5”
Bow Height: 19”
Stern Height: 16”
Bow Rocker: 2”
Stern Rocker: 1

Neat comments Frenchy. I also miss my Shearwater and maybe that's the key point for NikonF5user. With boats like Shearwater and Kee15 it's getting down to personality. I also agree that they have very different personalities (in the world of canoes where small differences can feel big). Both of my Shearwaters had sliding seats and if I scooched forward and got on my knees and leaned my friend said he could see 4 feet of daylight under my stern (it spun like a 12 foot boat). For me the John Winters boats also lean with much less effort than the Yost boats.

I think specs like rocker specs can be misleading because they are not standardized. I included some pics...maybe not the best, showing my black Merlin II, red Kee15, and Osprey. All 15 feet. Merlin II and Kee15 (Yost boats) listed at 2"/1". Osprey (Winters boat) listed at 1.5"/1" same as Shearwater. The Osprey is the most maneuverable by far. Another surprise for me was that the extra volume of the Kee15 made it noticeably more maneuverable than the Merlin II (the broader "shoulders" helped lighten the ends when leaned over). YMMV

Beautiful boats! I do think the Shearwater is probably a bit larger than I am looking for at 16 ft. Not that it wouldn't work - definitely will - but I generally prefer a more sprightly canoe. I really do think a Merlin is my prime target, but I wouldn't want to go much longer than the NW Solo or Peregrine. That being said, I am not going to be very picky!

"

Love the pics!!

merci beaucoup Frenchy!

I bought Frenchy’s Sheerwater in 2020 ( 2021??) for my son (over 6ft) and it was a good fit. It was not “sprightly” but it tracked straight and had excellent primary and secondary stability. My son took a busy job, far from paddling, as life will sometimes take (some of) us. I sold it last summer to another lucky guy. It was a great canoe, but definitely designed for larger load and/or bigger paddler. For me, the Trillium cannot be surpassed - it is quite sprite. But I am 5’4” and solo without a large dog. I wouldn’t be too quick to move away from a Bell or Northstar if you want nimble.