BWCA A Magic Snob? Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping

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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum

Group Forum: Solo Tripping

A Magic Snob?

Author

Text

Exo

11/28/2010 08:48PM

I'm planning my solo this coming May.

I hate to say this, but I'm about to cross Grand Marais off as my entry area because I can't find anyone that rents a Bell Magic.

My last solo I rented a Magic. I fell in love. :)

Am I some kind of snob?

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kanoes

11/28/2010 08:52PM

welcome to the club. :)

sawtooth outfitters in tofte does. sawtooth

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Amok

11/28/2010 08:54PM

LOL!

Trust, but verify. The Lord will provide !!!!

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Exo

11/28/2010 09:24PM

Perfect!!

Now...to get to Little Saganaga in 1 days travel...Missing Link it is.

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mr.barley

11/28/2010 09:57PM

I know several magic snobs.

serenity now

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boonie

11/29/2010 07:33AM

I much preferred the Magic to the SR solo and Wenonah Prism.

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oldgentleman

11/29/2010 07:41AM

That's not being a snob, it's being rational. ;)

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solotrek

11/29/2010 08:53AM

I just refer to myself as a proud magic owner. That said, I can live with the "snob" tag if I have to... Lol

"It is in solitude, in quiet communication with nature that we reach most deeply into truth." Sam Campbell

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Kiporby

11/29/2010 10:32AM

A proud Bell Snob here.

There is a light and it never goes out. Morrissey

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11/29/2010 06:00PM

Yep...I'm a snob too. About my Magic anyway. :)

The purpose of the journey is not to arrive.

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rookie in 03

11/29/2010 06:45PM

Looks like I joined an elite group when I bought my Magic and didn't even know it. Wasn't in the owners manual, I have no problem being a part of this group.

rookie in 03

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Longpaddler

11/29/2010 07:15PM

My solo trips are "magical" as well....

..there is nothing- absolute nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats - Wind in the Willows

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rlhedlund

11/29/2010 07:27PM

Happy to be a member. Feel like I don't deserve to own it.

Life is Good, Living is Better. Everlasting Life is Best! Pray for Us Amok.

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Exo

11/29/2010 08:03PM

You guys are going to force me to buy one...

I do have to say...when I was paddling and came across someone they always commented...what a beautiful canoe.

It certainly is a sight to behold.

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kanoes

11/29/2010 08:07PM

quote Exo: "You guys are going to force me to buy one...

I do have to say...when I was paddling and came across someone they always commented...what a beautiful canoe.

It certainly is a sight to behold."

heard the same thing from two guys in a tandem on knife....

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PortageKeeper

11/29/2010 09:08PM

Don't recall if we were going through Dryden or Ear Falls at the time but a fellow stopped us to comment on the canoes (Magic and North Star) on my pickup. "Wow! Those are some kind of marathon canoes, right?" Anyway, he liked them! "Where do I get a canoe like that?"

I can't imagine ever getting tired of my Magic!

“The more you know, the less you carry” Mors Kochanski

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butthead

11/29/2010 11:40PM

Magic on the fly!

butthead

"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin

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buffalodick

11/30/2010 07:04AM

butthead,

Very impressive!!!
A little hard to tell from the video just how fast the "Magic" was going. It appeared to be moving fast but the shoreline opposite the "Magic" was real fuzzy so it was hard to tell if it was just the waves sliding by or what.
I would like to test paddle one to see how it performs.
I own a Bruce Kunz designed "Merlin" that has lines very similar to the "Magic" so I would like to compare the performance of one to the other.
Do you know if anyone has had the opportunity to compare these two boats on the water?

Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

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butthead

11/30/2010 09:24AM

That's PJ in his Magic!
Just started to cross Pine, east to west under 3 hours. Speed during the clip is about 4 1/2 mph. I have paddled it and am impressed!
Kelso May 2010
I have also paddled this,

Beaver's 15 1/2 ft cedar stripper [Merlin or 38 Special?]. Both are nice canoes, the Magic is a bit faster, turned much the same, and was a bit livelier in the water.

butthead

"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin

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11/30/2010 09:41AM

quote butthead: "

Magic on the fly!

butthead"

Aw jeez...I'm blushing now.

The purpose of the journey is not to arrive.

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Amok

11/30/2010 12:48PM

quote butthead: "That's PJ in his Magic!
Just started to cross Pine, east to west under 3 hours. Speed during the clip is about 4 1/2 mph. I have paddled it and am impressed!
Kelso May 2010
I have also paddled this, Beaver's 15 1/2 ft cedar stripper [Merlin or 38 Special?]. Both are nice canoes, the Magic is a bit faster, turned much the same, and was a bit livelier in the water.

butthead"

And if I ever come into enough cash, a .38 special is my dream boat :)

Trust, but verify. The Lord will provide !!!!

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PortageKeeper

11/30/2010 06:29PM

quote butthead: "That's PJ in his Magic!
Just started to cross Pine, east to west under 3 hours. Speed during the clip is about 4 1/2 mph. I have paddled it and am impressed!
Kelso May 2010
I have also paddled this, Beaver's 15 1/2 ft cedar stripper [Merlin or 38 Special?]. Both are nice canoes, the Magic is a bit faster, turned much the same, and was a bit livelier in the water.

butthead"

Clocked mine with gps @ 7 mph. Tail wind... smooth water.

“The more you know, the less you carry” Mors Kochanski

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butthead

11/30/2010 07:07PM

PortageKeeper, we covered the length of Pine at that pace. I had to work at it in my 'Moccasin', PJ didn't break a sweat! The 'Magic' can go much faster, almost as fast as a 'Voyager'.

butthead

"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin

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buffalodick

11/30/2010 08:12PM

butthead,

That is really an impressive rate of speed to keep up over 3 hours in the Magic.

Is there any keel rocker on Beaver's Merlin or 38 Special?

Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

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mr.barley

11/30/2010 09:44PM

quote butthead: "PortageKeeper, we covered the length of Pine at that pace. I had to work at it in my 'Moccasin', PJ didn't break a sweat! The 'Magic' can go much faster, almost as fast as a 'Voyager'.

butthead

"

I guaranty you'll be able to keep up easily when you buy that Advantage, butthead.

serenity now

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kanoes

11/30/2010 09:57PM

advantage whore...

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butthead

11/30/2010 11:57PM

The 'Magic's' gone, I need some other 'Advantage"!

buffalodick, Beavers Merlin does have some rocker, not sure how much.

Magic and Merlin together.

butthead

"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin

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buffalodick

12/01/2010 08:10AM

butthead,

Thanks for the photo of the two canoes together!

They do look very similar.

I have built the 38 Special version of the Merlin and was happy to hear you describe its permance as compared with the Magic.
The Magic is definitely a lighter boat by at least 10 pounds which is an important consideration.

Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

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butthead

12/01/2010 12:37PM

Not meaning to hijack this topic, but this is worth the look,
PortageKeepers Merlin

butthead

"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin

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mooseplums

12/02/2010 05:35PM

Magic Snobs unite! Bell Rules!

"I am haunted by waters"~Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It"

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Amok

12/02/2010 07:59PM

quote butthead: "Not meaning to hijack this topic, but this is worth the look,
PortageKeepers Merlin

butthead"

Not a hijack. just a dream ....... anybody want to 'loan' me 1K? bwahaha

Trust, but verify. The Lord will provide !!!!

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Kurps

12/02/2010 08:16PM

the magic is a beautiful ride.

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gbusk

12/02/2010 08:41PM

Sorry if it has already been mentioned, but Sawtooth Outfitters used to rent Magics.

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Exo

12/02/2010 10:07PM

The website says they still do. After my lottery gets pulled I'll start making reservations.

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Exo

01/24/2011 04:42PM

In true Magic snobbery, I just had to bump this post.

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01/24/2011 06:30PM

quote Exo: "In true Magic snobbery, I just had to bump this post."

The purpose of the journey is not to arrive.

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boonie

01/24/2011 09:46PM

Exo, let me know if Sawtooth does or does not rent Magics when you make your reservation. I'm planning to head that way sometime.

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jwartman59

01/25/2011 08:48AM

i used a rental magic for a solo BWCA trip. an absolute joy to paddle, no other solo canoe compares. i have the same feeling for all bell canoes.

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boonie

01/25/2011 10:01AM

quote jwartman59: "i used a rental magic for a solo BWCA trip. an absolute joy to paddle, no other solo canoe compares. i have the same feeling for all bell canoes."

Did you paddle in any very windy conditions and, if so, how did you find the handling then?

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jwartman59

01/25/2011 11:24AM

a five day trip with no wind. maybe that is why i felt so positive about this boat.

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SevenofNine

01/25/2011 12:39PM

There's Bell canoes and then there are all the rest. I'm sure there are some nice canoes out there but I love my Magic.

The best part of this journey here is further knowing yourself - Alan Kay

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Exo

01/25/2011 01:51PM

It is tricky in the wind, but very dependent on how you load it. And how you sit. IMHO anyway.

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boonie

01/26/2011 10:27PM

quote jwartman59: "a five day trip with no wind. maybe that is why i felt so positive about this boat."

I switched to the Magic for a lower-volume canoe with a lower shear line after being blown all over the place in a SR solo that was too much canoe for me, but didn't have as much wind when I used the Magic, although I had some. I liked it a lot better, but the conditions weren't as severe.

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SevenofNine

01/27/2011 11:02AM

quote boonie: "
quote jwartman59: "a five day trip with no wind. maybe that is why i felt so positive about this boat."

I switched to the Magic for a lower-volume canoe with a lower shear line after being blown all over the place in a SR solo that was too much canoe for me, but didn't have as much wind when I used the Magic, although I had some. I liked it a lot better, but the conditions weren't as severe. "

I made my decision to buy my Magic based on years of renting Wenonah Prisms from outfitters. I would always be blown around more with the Wenonah versus my buddy who owned a Magic. I just loved the better tracking the Bell has over the Wenonah.

The best part of this journey here is further knowing yourself - Alan Kay

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butthead

01/27/2011 01:52PM

If wind is an issue, use a cover.

The Magic was faster in moderate chop but my covered Moccasin was much easier to keep in line.

butthead

"never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" George Carlin

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boonie

01/27/2011 04:10PM

Maybe a covered Magic would be the ticket...

Anybody else find it sensitive to keeping the load centered side-to-side as well?

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Merganser

01/28/2011 08:06AM

quote butthead: "If wind is an issue, use a cover.

The Magic was faster in moderate chop but my covered Moccasin was much easier to keep in line.

butthead"

butthead is right about the cover, a lot of the problems with wind are from it catching interior surfaces. You do need to trim the canoe correctly as well.

The Bell solo's (I have a Merlin II and love it) all have asymmetric rocker. This means the stern, which has less rocker, will catch waves a bit and that also has an effect. You may find it works out to trim a just a little bow heavy if your stern is getting pushed around by water even though that would be the wrong thing to do if it was being pushed by the wind.

My cover right after "factory installation".

"That sort of thing is my bag baby."

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boonie

02/03/2011 09:23PM

That looks nice, Merganser. I hadn't thought about the asymmetric rocker, although I did keep pushing the small pack forward. Maybe next time I'll put a little more weight in it, a little less in the one behind me.

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Exo

05/03/2011 10:49PM

Well, my solo has been foiled by ice. Perhaps the weather to an extent, though it would not have stopped me. Will be a while until I get into the backcountry again, as a little one is on his way. Was scheduled for entry tomorrow...

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boonie