So, this is what a 36 pound tandem looks like-and it is yours for just under 9 grand! The Swift Keewaydin 16 in carbon fusion layup with full carbon package.

Two please!

Looks sexy as hell. Those of us not at copia would love more intel on what you're seeing - especially absurdly light canoes...

Wish I were there!

:) look at that grid.
Thanks for sharing.

Impressive indeed. Very sleek. Thanks for sharing the photo!

Swift is by far my favorite canoe brand. So many layup's and options. I own two and am about to buy a third.

Northstar has a Stealth (their carbon layup) Magic on display with the E6 (their carbon gunnel) gunnel system, and it is a stunning boat. What is awesome about the E6 gunnel/end cap is that it is one piece rather than having the end cap glued on like Swift does. I will try to get a pic before I leave and post it, but you can also see the technology on the Northstar website.

dschult2: "Swift is by far my favorite canoe brand. So many layup's and options. I own two and am about to buy a third."

Their boats are beautiful! I wish there was a retailer in Minnesota that offered their products.

Frenchy19: "

dschult2: "Swift is by far my favorite canoe brand. So many layup's and options. I own two and am about to buy a third."

Their boats are beautiful! I wish there was a retailer in Minnesota that offered their products. "

I'm am surprised that they don't have a physical presence in Minnesota considering how steeped the state is in canoe culture. They would do quite well there. But if you do know what you want Swift will deliver across the continental U.S. and all of Canada, in fact there are a couple of You Tubers in Australia that I follow that have Swift boats.

I didn't even dare go into the main hall for fear of seeing a boat like that :).....

HighnDry: "I didn't even dare go into the main hall for fear of seeing a boat like that :)....."

I love looking at the latest and marveling at the technology. So far, I have been a good boy; I bought a replacement blade for my Agawa saw for 12 bucks!

Man, that's a beautiful boat. Not sure I could ever justify spending more on a canoe than I've ever paid for a vehicle, but it would be tempting if I had unlimited spending money.

Too heavy! My Northstar Northwind 17 is a mere 34#

Obviously just kidding…that canoe is a work of art.

T

I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)

T

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)


T"

I was thinking exactly the same thing about the 32# Polaris for $5500 I was looking at online today.

ducks: "

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)



T"

I was thinking exactly the same thing about the 32# Polaris for $5500 I was looking at online today. "

I am curious where you are finding these online prices for NS Stealth boats. The only place I see prices listed are on the Piragis site, and Stealth is not an option there.

NEIowapaddler: "Man, that's a beautiful boat. Not sure I could ever justify spending more on a canoe than I've ever paid for a vehicle, but it would be tempting if I had unlimited spending money. "

I hear you. Even if money was not an issue, I do not see ever spending 9 grand on a canoe. Fun to dream, nonetheless!

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)


T"

In my mind, anything over 4 grand for a tandem is expensive, exclusive and flat out crazy. That said, aesthetically speaking, the fabric lines in the Swift boats blow NS out of the water. Does that make the boat worth 3 grand more? If you have the funds to spend on either, I leave that to you.

Frenchy19: "

ducks: "

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)



T"

I was thinking exactly the same thing about the 32# Polaris for $5500 I was looking at online today. "

I am curious where you are finding these online prices for NS Stealth boats. The only place I see prices listed are on the Piragis site, and Stealth is not an option there."

Piragis In Stock Canoes

ducks: "

Frenchy19: "

ducks: "

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)




T"

I was thinking exactly the same thing about the 32# Polaris for $5500 I was looking at online today. "

I am curious where you are finding these online prices for NS Stealth boats. The only place I see prices listed are on the Piragis site, and Stealth is not an option there."

Piragis In Stock Canoes "

Thanks!!

I will say the "take away" prices I saw on Swift's at show were surprisingly low compared to their web site.

Or a grand on a used Royalex boat and 8 grand to spend on hiring guides. Then the canoe weighs nothing!

But that is a sweet looking ride. But at that price it better be. Our fleet of 8 canoes don’t add up to that much money.

andym: "Or a grand on a used Royalex boat and 8 grand to spend on hiring guides. Then the canoe weighs nothing!


But that is a sweet looking ride. But at that price it better be. Our fleet of 8 canoes don’t add up to that much money. "

I like the way you think. I wonder how many Sherpas I could hire for 8 grand

NEIowapaddler: "

andym: "Or a grand on a used Royalex boat and 8 grand to spend on hiring guides. Then the canoe weighs nothing!



But that is a sweet looking ride. But at that price it better be. Our fleet of 8 canoes don’t add up to that much money. "

I like the way you think. I wonder how many Sherpas I could hire for 8 grand "

Gotta feed your sherpas too as well. That could get expensive.

I certainly would like a Swift Canoe someday. Likely a less expensive layup. Swift make some nice boats.

billconner: "I will say the "take away" prices I saw on Swift's at show were surprisingly low compared to their web site."

You were probably seeing the prices quoted in $Cdn on their website.

In the alternative universe were I live, you get excited when you look up a product and find it's way cheaper online only to become crestfallen upon discovery you've been directed to a US website.

NEIowapaddler: "

andym: "Or a grand on a used Royalex boat and 8 grand to spend on hiring guides. Then the canoe weighs nothing!



But that is a sweet looking ride. But at that price it better be. Our fleet of 8 canoes don’t add up to that much money. "

I like the way you think. I wonder how many Sherpas I could hire for 8 grand "

+1 - Work smarter not harder!

I'd buy it, but it's a foot too short.....

unshavenman: "I'd buy it, but it's a foot too short....."

Come in a 17 as well!

Frenchy19: "

unshavenman: "I'd buy it, but it's a foot too short....."

Come in a 17 as well!"

Still a foot too short! It will always be a foot too short....

Frenchy19: "

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)

T"

In my mind, anything over 4 grand for a tandem is expensive, exclusive and flat out crazy. That said, aesthetically speaking, the fabric lines in the Swift boats blow NS out of the water. Does that make the boat worth 3 grand more? If you have the funds to spend on either, I leave that to you. "

When boats get that high tech, they don't get better than one another, just different. It becomes subjective at that level. We all know that to be completely honest, any fully carbon fiber/E6 boat has to be treated like a newborn fawn. Any boat that fragile (yes, "fragile") had better come with cordage permanently attached to the bow so you can get out around 100 yards from the portage and swim up to the landing holding the cordage in your teeth. That carbon canoe so much as sniffs a rock and it's "good night, sweet prince." The cachet that comes with owning a beautiful canoe like these comes with a price...a price that doesn't show up in the right hand column of an Excel spreadsheet. It's the constant worry and concern of having to be overly careful or of not being able to ram-it-home on a beach site when you feel like it. We've all done it to rental canoes. We try not to do it to our own. But these gorgeous specimens of a boat illicit an entirely new level of care, concern, and worry. Obviously I'm speaking for myself but I'll take a good ol' used outfitter Starlite Northstar Northwind 17 any day as a balance of weight vs durability.

Just my $0.02. Enjoy paddling!

TAN RAT SCHOONERS

Argo: "

billconner: "I will say the "take away" prices I saw on Swift's at show were surprisingly low compared to their web site."

You were probably seeing the prices quoted in $Cdn on their website.


In the alternative universe were I live, you get excited when you look up a product and find it's way cheaper online only to become crestfallen upon discovery you've been directed to a US website."

They have both CA and US prices on web site.

scottiebaldwin: "

Frenchy19: "

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)


T"

In my mind, anything over 4 grand for a tandem is expensive, exclusive and flat out crazy. That said, aesthetically speaking, the fabric lines in the Swift boats blow NS out of the water. Does that make the boat worth 3 grand more? If you have the funds to spend on either, I leave that to you. "

When boats get that high tech, they don't get better than one another, just different. It becomes subjective at that level. We all know that to be completely honest, any fully carbon fiber/E6 boat has to be treated like a newborn fawn. Any boat that fragile (yes, "fragile") had better come with cordage permanently attached to the bow so you can get out around 100 yards from the portage and swim up to the landing holding the cordage in your teeth. That carbon canoe so much as sniffs a rock and it's "good night, sweet prince." The cachet that comes with owning a beautiful canoe like these comes with a price...a price that doesn't show up in the right hand column of an Excel spreadsheet. It's the constant worry and concern of having to be overly careful or of not being able to ram-it-home on a beach site when you feel like it. We've all done it to rental canoes. We try not to do it to our own. But these gorgeous specimens of a boat illicit an entirely new level of care, concern, and worry. Obviously I'm speaking for myself but I'll take a good ol' used outfitter Starlite Northstar Northwind 17 any day as a balance of weight vs durability.


Just my $0.02. Enjoy paddling!

PS) What can I spell with my new "NORTHSTAR CANOES" decals...?

"

A couple thoughts. First, I would not ram any canoe into shore-rental or my own. Second, I have a carbon hull solo, and I have hit rocks with it, and it still floats just fine. Finally, General Hospital; really?

scottiebaldwin: " "

Those are 2021 prices…went up in the first quarter of 2022.

I guess I’ll find out soon, but I think you are exaggerating how fragile carbon canoes are. They aren’t new, just more of them now a days, been around for awhile and I haven’t heard they are that fragile. People used to say the same the exact same thing about Kevlar when they first came out and I initially bought mine in 2002. I got 18 years out of my Kevlar, still going strong to a new owner so those predictions were wrong about Kevlar—I am pretty sure that canoe I bought in 2002 still doesn’t have skid plates…I suspect the same is true for carbon.

When I talked to Northstar and Savage River, there didn’t seem to be a concern about durability. I know they are the manufacturers, but they are also part of the paddling community so I trust their opinion. They come with internal skid plates as well.

T

The lightest tandem canoe I saw at Canoecopia was a Northstar Polaris in the Stealth layup at 31 lbs. The lightest solo I saw was a Northstar Magic in Stealth at 23 lbs. Both were much less than $9k.

That said, Swift canoes are very nice. There's a level of finishing they do that's impeccable, especially on the inside of the canoe. Hats off to them.

Northstar takes the cake for ultra-lightweight though.

Kermit: "The lightest tandem canoe I saw at Canoecopia was a Northstar Polaris in the Stealth layup at 31 lbs. The lightest solo I saw was a Northstar Magic in Stealth at 23 lbs. Both were much less than $9k.


That said, Swift canoes are very nice. There's a level of finishing they do that's impeccable, especially on the inside of the canoe. Hats off to them.


Northstar takes the cake for ultra-lightweight though. "

Eliminating the outer gel coat allows NS to build lighter boats whereas Swift's outer layer is gelcoat, and that affords them to offer the beauty. With the beauty comes additional cost and weight.

Kermit: "The lightest tandem canoe I saw at Canoecopia was a Northstar Polaris in the Stealth layup at 31 lbs. The lightest solo I saw was a Northstar Magic in Stealth at 23 lbs. Both were much less than $9k.


That said, Swift canoes are very nice. There's a level of finishing they do that's impeccable, especially on the inside of the canoe. Hats off to them.


Northstar takes the cake for ultra-lightweight though. "

Did you look at the Hornbecks? I thought at least their classic and new tricks start around 15 pounds. (and between $1695 and $2495 - buy a fleet for the price of one Magic!)

Scottie Baldwin is my name. What seems to be the problem?

Frenchy19: "

scottiebaldwin: "

Frenchy19: "

timatkn: "I was at Midwest Mountaineering a few weeks ago…they had a 16’ Northstar Northwind Tandem in Stealth for around…$5500 or so…33#, thought it was expensive, but maybe not now :)



T"

In my mind, anything over 4 grand for a tandem is expensive, exclusive and flat out crazy. That said, aesthetically speaking, the fabric lines in the Swift boats blow NS out of the water. Does that make the boat worth 3 grand more? If you have the funds to spend on either, I leave that to you. "

When boats get that high tech, they don't get better than one another, just different. It becomes subjective at that level. We all know that to be completely honest, any fully carbon fiber/E6 boat has to be treated like a newborn fawn. Any boat that fragile (yes, "fragile") had better come with cordage permanently attached to the bow so you can get out around 100 yards from the portage and swim up to the landing holding the cordage in your teeth. That carbon canoe so much as sniffs a rock and it's "good night, sweet prince." The cachet that comes with owning a beautiful canoe like these comes with a price...a price that doesn't show up in the right hand column of an Excel spreadsheet. It's the constant worry and concern of having to be overly careful or of not being able to ram-it-home on a beach site when you feel like it. We've all done it to rental canoes. We try not to do it to our own. But these gorgeous specimens of a boat illicit an entirely new level of care, concern, and worry. Obviously I'm speaking for myself but I'll take a good ol' used outfitter Starlite Northstar Northwind 17 any day as a balance of weight vs durability.



Just my $0.02. Enjoy paddling!


A couple thoughts. First, I would not ram any canoe into shore-rental or my own. Second, I have a carbon hull solo, and I have hit rocks with it, and it still floats just fine. Finally, General Hospital; really?"

Scottie Baldwin is my name. What seems to be the problem?

scottiebaldwin: "Scottie Baldwin is my name. What seems to be the problem?"

My apologies! I thought you were using the name of a character from a soap opera called General Hospital back in the 70s and 80s. My attempt at humor failed miserably, and I am sorry.

Frenchy19: "

scottiebaldwin: "Scottie Baldwin is my name. What seems to be the problem?"

My apologies! I thought you were using the name of a character from a soap opera called General Hospital back in the 70s and 80s. My attempt at humor failed miserably, and I am sorry."

OMG, that is too funny......

unshavenman: "

Frenchy19: "

scottiebaldwin: "Scottie Baldwin is my name. What seems to be the problem?"

My apologies! I thought you were using the name of a character from a soap opera called General Hospital back in the 70s and 80s. My attempt at humor failed miserably, and I am sorry."

OMG, that is too funny......"

I was wondering about the General Hospital reference as well…not enough to ask…LOL

Kermit: "The lightest tandem canoe I saw at Canoecopia was a Northstar Polaris in the Stealth layup at 31 lbs. The lightest solo I saw was a Northstar Magic in Stealth at 23 lbs. Both were much less than $9k.


That said, Swift canoes are very nice. There's a level of finishing they do that's impeccable, especially on the inside of the canoe. Hats off to them.


Northstar takes the cake for ultra-lightweight though. "

I paddled that Polaris. It was divine. While weight and beauty are certainly appealing, there's much more to a fine canoe than that.