I read grizes post a few posts down but it didnt really answer my question i guess..I really would love to paddle a Magic for my 1st solo just for the history & tradition of the boat itself and for some reason i just think its just a plain beautiful boat. I'm sure most of this is in my head from all the research here on this thread and other sites I've been researching but with no experience at all in a solo should I just stick with a Prism ? 8 to 10 day trip with emphasis on fishing. Doing a semi loop starting on the number chain , up though Insula , Thomas , knife and down to Snowbank. I left a bunch of lakes out but there will be some bigger water in there and I sometimes over pack no matter how hard I try....thanks....

The Prism also has a lot of history and tradition going for it!
Gotta get you feet wet somehow, enjoy the experiance.

butthead

Ha thanks BH. What I was trying to say didn't really come out right. The Bell folks on this site have kind of brain washed me.

prism would be good for your first trip.

quote wvevans: "The Bell folks on this site have kind of brain washed me. "

with good reason. :)

Enjoy what ever canoe you take, just think a little longer before you do, and have fun.

quote wvevans: "...I really would love to paddle a Magic for my 1st solo...

Sometimes we answer our own questions, but can't see it until we tune out all the noise. The only mistake you can make is thinking there is a mistake to be made. Both are excellent boats, so go with the one you want.

quote Jaywalker: "

quote wvevans: "...I really would love to paddle a Magic for my 1st solo...

Sometimes we answer our own questions, but can't see it until we tune out all the noise. The only mistake you can make is thinking there is a mistake to be made. Both are excellent boats, so go with the one you want. "

+1

Hans Solo

Based on the route intended the Magic might be a preferred boat. My reasoning is larger waters with more wind potential where the Magic seems to be less effected. Loaded both boats do well, perhaps the Magic a bit better.

I've always enjoyed paddling the Magics I've rented - more so than the Prisms, but they both got the job done and both have their proponents.

If you haven't paddled a true solo, just be aware that it has a fairly rounded bottom and initial stability is low. Be sure to step on the center line when entering and keep your weight low and both hands on the gunwales. Don't lean out over the gunwale too far to grab that fish.

Do you plan to paddle with a double blade or single? Or do you plan to try both and thus have a spare and some versatility?

Do you plan to paddle with a double blade or single? Or do you plan to try both and thus have a spare and some versatility?"

Ive thought about this and I think I want to take Booth style paddles Boonie and see what I think. I would think both have thier positives and I would end up using both during the course of my trip. But again I dont know what im talking about yet.. And yes Im a bit worried about getting wet during the 1st hr or two of my trip being the 1st time in a solo. Id like to take our small dog, hes a Puggle, with but not sure if this would be a wise decision. I really really want to take out 11 yr old german shepard with but that would be an even unwiser decision Prolly even though she is super calm and just lays in the bottom of my fishing boat when we go.

quote wvevans:

Id like to take our small dog, hes a Puggle, with but not sure if this would be a wise decision. I really really want to take out 11 yr old german shepard with but that would be an even unwiser decision Prolly even though she is super calm and just lays in the bottom of my fishing boat when we go. "

I took my dog for the first time on a solo in 2013 after doing 6 or so alone. I will say that bringing a dog with will occupy a lot of your thoughts thus I found it's not a "true solo". You will always be concerned of its whereabouts and what it's doing.

Also you need to be careful of running into other people on portages. My dog loves people but after 5 days of seeing no one in quetico we came upon a couple of older men at a landing and she growled and barked at them for a bit. Not like her at all and I don't blame her because of the circumstance. But, I don't think the two guys we met found it very amusing.