I'm in the preliminary stages of planning a Gunflint to Ely solo.

Like Sawbill does with their Prisms, does anyone know if any of the Ely outfitters rent the Prism or Voyager with a fixed yoke so I do not need to put it on each portage?

I must say, just because it may appear easy to you to not remove the yoke, it is harder to trim out.
just rent a reg. prism with a removable yoke and you will be cruising much better.
solo canoes should be paddled from the center, imho.

quote bwcasolo: "I must say, just because it may appear easy to you to not remove the yoke, it is harder to trim out.
just rent a reg. prism with a removable yoke and you will be cruising much better.
solo canoes should be paddled from the center, imho."

+1 it only takes a minute to put it on and take it off.

Agree with the others. Can't imagine not paddling from the center when solo. Only takes a moment to put on the yoke.

Alan

I know a few Prism owners who do like the relocated seat and fixed yoke position of the Sawbill mods.
Having said that I personally do not like them.

Never have seen the mod used by other outfitters, but my experience is limited (with outfitters).

butthead

quote butthead: "I know a few Prism owners who do like the relocated seat and fixed yoke position of the Sawbill mods.
Having said that I personally do not like them.


Never have seen the mod used by other outfitters, but my experience is limited (with outfitters).


butthead
"

I bought a prism like that and quickly changed the seat location, made a detachable yoke for it. very happy with it.

Alright, fair enough. You've convinced me. I'll deal with the removable yoke. Just seems like a pain, but I'll be paddling far longer than portaging.

I rented a Prism with a fixed yolk a few years ago and fought the thing constantly in the wind. My Magic with a center seat and removable yolk is a dream to paddle in comparison, and taking the yolk on and off quickly is super easy. Enjoy your trip!

Takes me about 15 seconds or less to take out or put back in my removable yoke.

quote PINETREE: "Takes me about 15 seconds or less to take out or put back in my removable yoke."

+1

quote PINETREE: "Takes me about 15 seconds or less to take out or put back in my removable yoke."

It probably takes me twice as long.

Alan

quote PINETREE: "Takes me about 15 seconds or less to take out or put back in my removable yoke."

Mine takes 11.74 seconds. :)

quote KarlBAndersen1: "

quote PINETREE: "Takes me about 15 seconds or less to take out or put back in my removable yoke."

Mine takes 11.74 seconds. :)"

I am Getting old and slowing down.

I bought a Prism from Piragis 10 years ago and told them I wanted the "Sawbill" setup. They knew what I was talking about. I've had it now for 10 years and it works well. Put the big pack just ahead of the yoke, and the smaller, food pack up front. Use a yak paddle to push the small pack forward to trim the boat.

I will say that the Prism, at least with this setup is not the best for winding streams, but it works very well in open water and is fast.

When I paddle without packs in waters around here, I just fill two 5 gallon buckets with lake water and screw on lids. You can push the front one forward to trim the boat. Works well too. Dump the water back into the lake when you leave. Water weighs about 8.345 lbs per gallon, so you get about 40 lbs per bucket.

I've never paddled the boat with a regular paddle, so that may be something for you to check on to see how that goes. With the yak paddle, it is easy to track straight and get some speed going when you need it.

Tomster

removable yoke is just part of the process, only time it pisses me off is when you have like 5 of those 5 acre lakes you paddle across and then a portage every 10 minutes. Well I guess that is part of the process too :)

Have Fun and Bee Happy :)

SunCatcher

I'm curious where is the seat in the fixed-yoke Sawbill setup? I'm trying to picture how it would work with a fixed yoke. Is the seat further forward? It seems like you would want it further back, but then in seems like your legs would run into the yoke.

Anyway, I agree with the others who say it's not a big deal to put the yoke on and off. I'll go crazy and say it takes 28 seconds - other steps for getting ready for a portage take longer.

they pushed the seat WAY aft. way too far aft.

Ho Ho.... there are 3 pics in this trip report by bumabu that show what it looks like trip report