BWCA Most flexible 2-canoe combination? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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newguy
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01/26/2023 04:52PM  
I own a Wenonah Champlain 2-seat canoe, which is just a beast in terms of size and volume. It's got great stability, but I am a small person, my wife is a small person, and my kids are even smaller. We pack relatively light, and our trips are normally 4-5 days, base camping and fishing. It feels like it might be too much canoe.

Meanwhile, it's my only canoe, but I find myself most often tripping with 2 people, 3 people, or 4 people (could be me+kids, could be me+all adults). Any larger group size, and I'd expect them to bring or rent their own canoe anyway. And I can't fish alone since none of these is a solo, although of course I could do the sit-backward-and-weigh-it-down thing.

What would you do? Would you keep the Champlain and add a solo? Sell it and buy a MNIII and a solo? Buy two 2-persons and no solo?

Bonus points for any hauling advice if I buy another.. I only have a roof rack for an SUV now, but no hitch. I think a hitch would be needed to take two, yes?
 
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01/26/2023 05:32PM  
If you aren't going far with 2 canoe here is a video from ely outfitters showing a homemade 2 canoe rack.

Carry 2 canoes

We have a spirit 2 and 2 kayaks for short trips around home. That system seems to work for us, but I wouldn't want to take the kayaks to the BWCA. The Champlain is a big canoe but doesn't weigh much. Trekking with 4 adults I would recommend 2 tandem canoes. If you're kids aren't old enough to paddle or add a ton of gear then maybe getting a solo to go with the Champlain is the way to go.

 
SinglePortage
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01/26/2023 06:04PM  
The Northstar Polaris is a great tandem for 2 small to average paddlers. I also performs well as a solo. My MNII would likely do great with your whole family, until your kids get bigger.
 
billconner
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01/26/2023 06:06PM  
I think I'd add a solo now. Seems like you might trade your tandem for a triple someday.

I have 78" Thule bars on my Outback and carry a tandem and s solo, could carry 2 tandems.
 
01/26/2023 08:08PM  
Hauling 2 canoes on top of a SUV is no problem at all. I've don it on a Nissan Sentra. Just get wide enough cross bars. I'm a big fan of Yakima. Not sure what the hitch will do for you.
 
01/26/2023 08:42PM  
It's unclear who you are trying to accomodate. Sounds like 2 adults and 2 kids. If you got a solo, you then end up with an adult and two kids in the tandem which doesn't sound practical.

You often trip with 2, 3, or 4 people. So your boat holds 2 people... any more and your partners need their own canoe. Why would you want a solo in this situation?

Determine your goal and your answer will be clear, but I think you just are looking for a reason to buy a solo. So that's what you should do.
 
newguy
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01/26/2023 08:50PM  
Not set on buying a solo. The kids are teenagers. Wouldn't two solos be the most flexible? Or would that be a MNIII and a solo? The MNIII for trip sizes 2-3, and the solo for sizes 1, 3, or 4?
 
Northwoodsman
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01/26/2023 08:59PM  
The MN series are narrower and not as stable as your Champlain. If one of your kids leans over the edge, you will notice it. The Boundary Waters is the shorter version of the Champlain. Very stable and well designed. It doesn't have a thwart behind the bow seat so you can even turn it around and paddle it as a solo if you need to. Plenty of room for a lot of gear. You can add a drop-in seat for the kids.
 
AlexanderSupertramp
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01/27/2023 05:57AM  
Champlain is a perfect 2-person tripping canoe, I don’t know that I’d sell that if you plan on more trips with another person in the boat, unless you just want a lighter canoe.

If what you’re lacking right now is the ability to go fishing alone, and you want a canoe… then a solo canoe seems like the only answer. Or a very small tandem than you can control on your own.

I was in your shoes, I have a Quetico 17 that I use with my dad mostly, but it’s far too large for me to solo or use around here locally. So I got a solo.
 
RedLakePaddler
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01/27/2023 06:37AM  
I have hauled 2 canoes on a car for 40 years, started with a Chev Vega, and clamp on bars. I have an Impala with 50” bars on it. When I want to haul 2 canoes I use radiator hose clamps and 1” conduit. I use the hose clamps to strap the conduit to the existing bars. I put some rubber chair legs end on the conduit to protect my head.

Carl
 
01/27/2023 07:32AM  
newguy: "Not set on buying a solo. The kids are teenagers. Wouldn't two solos be the most flexible? Or would that be a MNIII and a solo? The MNIII for trip sizes 2-3, and the solo for sizes 1, 3, or 4?"


If the kids are now big enough to really contribute to locomotion...perhaps two Wenonah Solo Plus canoes? Or two Northstar Polaris canoes? Smaller tandems that can be soloed would seem like something you should at least consider.
 
newguy
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01/27/2023 07:46AM  
The Solo Plus is a very interesting concept, and I like the idea of a smaller 2-person canoe that could go out for fishing expeditions (while some people and the Champlain stay back at camp). The smaller 2-person wouldn't blow all over the lake, would be lighter weight for day-tripping, and wouldn't need to hold a lot of gear for travel days since the Champlain would be holding it.

Interesting option -- thanks!
 
01/27/2023 10:40AM  
sns: "...Smaller tandems that can be soloed would seem like something you should at least consider."


Good advice. A tandem can be paddled solo, but a solo is only solo.

 
01/27/2023 02:29PM  
I would just keep buying boats until you're happy. You can never have too many canoes.
 
01/29/2023 09:38AM  
Speckled: "I would just keep buying boats until you're happy. You can never have too many canoes. "


Funny reply but kind of true. Several years ago I had 5 canoes but now down to 2 favorites.
 
justpaddlin
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01/30/2023 06:34AM  
newguy: "The Solo Plus is a very interesting concept, and I like the idea of a smaller 2-person canoe that could go out for fishing expeditions (while some people and the Champlain stay back at camp). The smaller 2-person wouldn't blow all over the lake, would be lighter weight for day-tripping, and wouldn't need to hold a lot of gear for travel days since the Champlain would be holding it.

Interesting option -- thanks!"


Solo Plus seems like a nice fishing boat. In my experience the Polaris is a better solo and a better tandem, it actually does both well. Mine has three seats just like solo plus. Polaris is narrower than Solo Plus. I believe that it's considerably more efficient and seaworthy with much better handling. Incredibly versatile boat. Lightest Solo Plus looks to be 40 pounds; you can get a lighter and stronger Polaris if you like.
 
MidwestFirecraft
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01/30/2023 06:51AM  
The Polaris is really hard to beat for it's versatility. On last years trip two teenage girls used my Polaris with only one hour of learning canoe strokes and paddling together. They kept up with us the whole time. I have also soloed it from the stern or bow with the kneeling thwart with great enjoyment.
 
newguy
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01/30/2023 07:40AM  
I really like what folks are saying about the Northstar Polaris. I read that the Wenonah Solo Plus is neither a great solo nor a great tandem -- is that a fair criticism?

I'll try to buy used, because I wouldn't be able to relax with a new kevlar canoe each time it got a scratch. If it's tough to find a Polaris, what are some other similar canoes to add to the shopping list? I'll probably make a WTB post in the Messageboards in a few days. (And does anyone know of an outfitter I could email for off-season sales who would have Polaris in their rental arsenal?)
 
MidwestFirecraft
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01/30/2023 07:51AM  
I purchased mine from a member on this forum as did a good friend of mine. I would suggest placing a wanted to buy post in, as well as searching Facebook Marketplace. Come Spring I think you will have a good chance of finding one if you are diligent.
 
01/30/2023 08:12AM  
newguy: "I really like what folks are saying about the Northstar Polaris. I read that the Wenonah Solo Plus is neither a great solo nor a great tandem -- is that a fair criticism?


"


Very true. Unless you're just putzing you'll be disappointed.
 
01/30/2023 08:42AM  
Polaris is on my wish list for sure.
 
newguy
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01/30/2023 09:01AM  
I appreciate all the advice. I'll go post in the wanted forums. Thanks!
 
foxfireniner
distinguished member (204)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/30/2023 09:58AM  
newguy: "I own a Wenonah Champlain 2-seat canoe, which is just a beast in terms of size and volume. It's got great stability, but I am a small person, my wife is a small person, and my kids are even smaller. We pack relatively light, and our trips are normally 4-5 days, base camping and fishing. It feels like it might be too much canoe.

Meanwhile, it's my only canoe, but I find myself most often tripping with 2 people, 3 people, or 4 people (could be me+kids, could be me+all adults). Any larger group size, and I'd expect them to bring or rent their own canoe anyway. And I can't fish alone since none of these is a solo, although of course I could do the sit-backward-and-weigh-it-down thing.

What would you do? Would you keep the Champlain and add a solo? Sell it and buy a MNIII and a solo? Buy two 2-persons and no solo?

Bonus points for any hauling advice if I buy another.. I only have a roof rack for an SUV now, but no hitch. I think a hitch would be needed to take two, yes?"


I would pick up a light prospector to supplement the champlain. You can paddle one backwards as a solo but you aren't giving up big trips. Remember, your kids won't always be kids. A second canoe will be popular.

I have a yakima roof rack system with extra long round bars. I can ride 2 canoes up there no problem.
 
cmanimal
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01/30/2023 01:39PM  
Piragis is the only outfitter I have seen that rents the Polaris. I didn't look last year so someone else might have added them to their fleet.
 
Z4K
distinguished member (406)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/30/2023 06:52PM  
Never sell a good canoe. 3 canoes will always be better and more flexible than 2 canoes. 4 canoes is better still. I'm at 7, looking to buy, and I regret selling the one that I did.

Any canoe that can 'do anything' will do everything worse than a canoe that's designed to do whatever it is you're doing.
 
MDVancleave
member (31)member
  
02/01/2023 10:55AM  
A Polaris might be a great fit for your family–especially since it sounds like the kids could handle a canoe on their own. I bought a NW17 last spring after many trips renting similarly sized boats but ended up downsizing and have no regrets. I probably wouldn't try to solo the Polaris on an extended BWCA trip but it works great around camp or my local lakes.

Something I learned from the Northstar folks is many people end up buying "too much boat." I think outfitters tend to stock bigger canoes to accommodate larger people, more gear and varying experience levels. Makes sense for a rental fleet but not necessarily what you need.

Northstar actually has a chart that shows the optimal weight loading for each model. My normal paddling partners + food and gear at the start of a trip barely put us at the bottom range for the NW17.

You will notice much less "initial stability" than your Champlain–if that bothers you, you might also consider a NW16 which would be more stable but less optimized for solo paddling.

If shopping used, the Bell Northstar was the predecessor to the Northstar Polaris (see what they did there?). I think they're nearly identical.

Also–there should be no problem getting two boats on your car. Spend a few bucks to buy extra wide bars or DIY it with some 2x4s.




 
newguy
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02/02/2023 12:10PM  
I was able to buy a wonderful Polaris earlier today. Thanks everyone for the advice!
 
MidwestFirecraft
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02/02/2023 12:59PM  
Congrats! Hope she provides many great memories for you and your family.
 
MDVancleave
member (31)member
  
02/02/2023 03:15PM  
Enjoy!
 
02/04/2023 08:29AM  
newguy: "I was able to buy a wonderful Polaris earlier today. Thanks everyone for the advice!"


Congratulations! You’ll love it.

90% of my trips are either me and one of my kids or me and my dog so I have spent a lot of time in small tandems that can also be paddled solo. I own a SRQ16 and have also tried the Polaris, Solo Plus, and Adirondack.

The Polaris is my favorite. It is as stable as SR and Adirondack and more than the Solo Plus and I think it paddles the best solo.

Someday I hope to upgrade to a Polaris. I ended up getting the SR because a used Polaris was really hard to find and the SR I got was a lot cheaper. I like the SR but would love to have a Polaris someday. Especially in the new stealth lay up.

Enjoy your new canoe.
 
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