Hello,

I injured my back about 25 years ago at work and have been left with chronic back problems. Occasionally I'll do something careless like pick up a canoe using bad technique and aggravate the old injury, putting myself out of commission for weeks with debilitating back pain. Most recently this happened when I was putting our 56 lb Nova Craft Prospector 16 on top of the car last weekend.

I am looking for a tandem, minimum 16 ft and ideally around 18 ft, quality canoe in the lightest possible weight. For example, I see the Northstar Northwind 18 weighs 38 lb in their Stealth layup.

I absolutely can't risk this kind of injury while tripping and what happened last week was a wakeup call to me to minimize the chances of this happening in whatever way I can. We have tripped without incident several times in the past with our 46 lb Aramid UL Wenonah Champlain, including 10 days in the BWCA earlier this year.

Cost is no object if the canoe is quality and lightweight.

I'm "only" in my late 30s so I hope to have many more years of tripping ahead of me.

Savage River, Northstar Stealth come to mind.

I have the Northwind Stealth 17. It’s done one solid trip and seemed fine. Will have a second trip in 2 weeks.

Once you recover I’d also consider an extensive CORE, leg, back strengthening routine if you haven’t already. Graded, gradual loading the spine over time significantly reduces flare ups. You may even be able to get insurance to cover a Rehab program utilizing a MedEx machine… The link is just one example—there are many offered by different companies. I have no affiliation with the product. You can do the same thing working out at home, but some people need guidance/reassurance/feedback.
MedEx example

Good luck!

T

I own a Northstar Polaris in BlackLight with Carbon trim. At 16'9" this is great canoe to paddle with my wife but manageable if I paddle solo. Mine is still weighty at nearly 40 lbs but, if price is no object the Polaris in the Stealth layup is advertised at just 32 lbs.

I have seen a Polaris Stealth on the sales floor at a local outdoor equipment store. With carbon seats, thwarts and gunnels is is an impressive looking piece of equipment.

Northstar Polaris

Make sure you lighten the rest of your outfit as well. My solo outfit has no load heavier than 30 pounds. I have lighter tent, lighter cooking equipment, lighter or fewer clothes and lighter food. If I go more than 10 days I'll have to start out triple portaging to meet the 30 pound limit. I just enjoy the walk and plan mileage differently. I also look at routes with bigger lakes. More padling, less portaging.

Look at Savage River for really light. The Harmony is 22 to 28 pounds depending on layup.

The Polaris in Stealth is my dream canoe.

Submitting another vote for Northstar Polaris, in either the Starlite (38lbs), or the Stealth (if you're going for weight). Though I really prefer the Blacklite as the most all-around capable layup for tripping. And of course, you dont have to worry about quality, they are truly fantastic boats.

I will echo what someone else said though about shaving kit weight down as well.

I feel for you. For many years I have dealt with a rare disease that has fused my spine making it difficult to pick up a canoe the way I used to. I went with a then Bell Northstar which worked OK for awhile. I second those who recommend either the ultra-light Northstar or Polaris. In addition, as you hint, the problem isn't so much carrying the canoe as getting it up, so let me suggest a few old man's cheaters. I almost never pick up a canoe out of the water. I cringe when I hear canoes grind on shore. It is the mark of a lazy cancer who doesn't care about their gear. Have been a wet-footer for sixty-some years. Yes, there are portages where this can get dicey, but I like to be able to pick it up in almost waist deep water. That way there is less distance to get it up. If I am at all worried about footing I will keep a paddle for balance. If I can't pick it up in the water I will "cheat" and enlist a tree for help. You just put the bow in a nearby tree, get under the canoe, and off you go. If no tree is available I will use the other "cheat" which is to walk to the opposite end the yoke is facing, roll the canoe over while leaving the other end on the ground and slowly roll the canoe over. Once I get it to where my hands are over my back I walk back to the yoke. You have to practice this a few times in the backyard to get the hang of it, but it works. It avoids the twisting that comes with a regular pickup. There is also the intermediate method where you put the canoe on your hips and then bring it up. Finally, maybe I missed something, but you post says nothing about whether you are going solo or with someone. My last few trips have been with my son and daughter-in-law who take care of the heavy lifting.

If I understand you correctly, you were a teenager when you hurt yourself at work.

I herniated two disks when I was 21. They wanted to cut me open but I went for intense physical therapy instead. I've been on nearly 100 trips since and paddle a wood canoe.
I think strengthening your back and proper body mechanics is more important the the load you lift.
Tom

Savage River Deep Creek

I also looked at the teenage work issue. Then, I remembered I went to work on the family farm at the age of 12. Driving a tractor was not hard for me, but bucking hay bales from 55 to 75 pounds was. No injury from any thing I ever did, but could have been good luck.

Light canoes are nice (and I've got a BlackLite Polaris too) but I also remember being unable to lift even one end of a 32 pound canoe. If you're susceptible to injury with a 56 pound canoe it sure seems like you could injure yourself tripping any number of ways even with a lighter boat. In my case just a light core routine helps me in many ways and for sure it makes me less susceptible to back injuries/pain.

As others have mentioned, a Northstar Polaris, or their newer Pearl, in Stealth is the lightest composite canoe on the market. I have a Northwind 17 in Stealth and it's surprising how light it is.

Kermit: "As others have mentioned, a Northstar Polaris, or their newer Pearl, in Stealth is the lightest composite canoe on the market. I have a Northwind 17 in Stealth and it's surprising how light it is. "

Savage River Deep Creek and Harmony come in at a lower weight- They can even manage a 32# 18'6" cruising hull.

I'll also recommend Savage River Canoe. I've got an 18' Black Hawk that I haven't weighed, but as someone who has never been to a gym, am blown away at how light and easy to move it is. I took it off the roof rack myself the other day!

In addition to the low weight, it's a pleasure to paddle, and was so fun to order. I am sure if you called to explain your situation, and requirements, they'd walk you through everything, and build a dream boat. I was really impressed with their outfit.

I've had my bad back since 1980 and my Savage River - Deep Creek since 2014. (I'm 76). The canoe weighs 34 lbs and I love it both on the water and on the portages. It is a Carbon/Kevlar layup with aluminum thwarts and web seats.

I have to agree with some of the others here. Light weight will help, but you can quickly get to a point of diminishing returns. Due to their length all canoes can be awkward to handle at times leading to re-injury. Strengthening your core is far more important than saving 5-10 pounds of weight, IMO.

I wouldn’t knock either light weight canoes or a stronger core. The lighter weight isn’t just reducing lifting, it reduces the moment of inertia for rotation in all directions. That makes it easier to control when turning or tilting the canoe on the trail. The other thing that helps with that is a shorter canoe. But shorter affects performance and load carrying on the water.

And it is good to remember that canoeists come in all sizes and strengths and ages. What seems like insignificant weight to one person may be big to another.

Finally, putting the boat on top of the car can be more awkward than portaging depending on the height of the car. For our heavier boats, I find that the Yakima boat loading rods are useful on our SUV. And a trailer can be even easier for loading and unloading but a bit of a pain on the road and when parking.

tumblehome: "I think strengthening your back and proper body mechanics is more important the the load you lift.
Tom"

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