BWCA Pack and Trim advice for a Prism Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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griz81
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02/25/2015 06:36PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I am renting a prism from Sawbill Outfitters in July and am wondering what you experienced solo adventurers would recommend for size and locations of packs. I currently own a CCS Guide pack and couple of Kelty Backpacks. My plan is to try to use the guide to hold my shelter, bear barrel and sleep system. I am hoping to fit the rest of my gear and clothes into my Kelty pack as a daypack. I am hoping to have enough space in my guide pack that I can slip the daypack into it for single portage opportunities. This would give me the ability to be able to separate some of the gear as needed for trim also. Is the guide pack going to be too big though to fit well in the Prism? Also are there any special considerations when using a Sawbill style Prism?
Any tips would be appreciated.

 
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02/25/2015 07:37PM  
I have a Prism with the Sawbill seat arrangement, where the seat is towards the rear (stern) of the canoe. Purchased new about 10 years ago. I have two packs. One has everything except food in it. That one goes just ahead of the yoke. The other has my food and weighs around 20 lbs. I put that one just ahead of the front thwart. The canoe is pretty well trimmed at that point.

If I need to trim the canoe while paddling to prevent weathervaning, I just use my double bladed paddle to push the food (front) pack a little forwards towards the bow. This system works really well. Only push the front pack a little bit forward at a time, because you can't pull it back if you push it too far.

My canoe is the Kevlar ultralight, and fully dressed with boots and life jacket, I'm around 180 lbs. Main gear pack (Granite Gear Superior 1) is about 60 lbs.

The canoe trims nicely, even in high winds and waves high enough that I really should not have been on the water. You can pretty much tell how well it it is trimmed by the way it handles. You can also see the water line through the hull, so if the water line looks slanted when you are in calm water, you can adjust it before you hit the high seas! I really like the Prism with the Sawbill setup. Works really well with paddling on main lakes. Winding streams, it works OK with a yak paddle for me, but having the seat exactly in the middle and using a single blade would probably be better. The nice thing about the Sawbill setup is that you don't have to remove the yoke every time you portage.

I would start out with a double blade paddle, and bring a single blade as your spare. You can then use either to see what works best for you.

Tomster

 
bwcasolo
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02/26/2015 05:14AM  
I purchased a sawbill prism a few years back. I have 2 packs. the first time I used it I thought I had it trimmed out ok with the large pack up front and smaller pack behind me, until someone noticed it was not.
I moved both packs up front and it handled much better.
I do have a small, 1" level that I keep in my ccs seat pad pocket that I can set on the floor between my feet and check trim.
since that maiden trip I have moved the seat back to center, designed a removable yoke, and enjoy the prism better.
you will do just fine putting your gear forward.
 
OldGoat
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02/26/2015 04:36PM  
Hmm, my experience seems to have been a bit different. My Prism trimmed out better with my primary pack (Granite Gear Quetico) behind my seat laying down and my secondary pack all the way forward.

You may want to play with it a bit to find what works with your load.

Goat
 
bwcasolo
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02/26/2015 05:15PM  
quote OldGoat: "Hmm, my experience seems to have been a bit different. My Prism trimmed out better with my primary pack (Granite Gear Quetico) behind my seat laying down and my secondary pack all the way forward.


You may want to play with it a bit to find what works with your load.


Goat"

do you have the sawbill set-up?
 
02/26/2015 06:14PM  
I don't have a Prism, so I can't say for sure about how well the Guide Pack will fit, but the Guide Pack is really big, particularly for a solo trip. I find it a bit too large when I'm soloing. I don't have enough stuff to fill it up when going solo.



 
griz81
member (24)member
  
02/26/2015 07:04PM  
Yes I know it is quite large but I am pretty certain I can fit everything I need and my other pack inside it. I am concerned that it may be way too much pack - for my tandem trips I usually have room to spare in it. Perhaps I may have to go visit Dan for another pack, boy I would hate to do that. LOL

My other concern is maneuvering - the route I am planning is all small water, so maybe 2 packs would be best for adjust for maneuverability. I am planning on the Louse River/Lady Chain loop.
 
OldGoat
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02/27/2015 12:23PM  


In response to BWCASOLO, no my boat was not the Sawbill setup, it was factory stock. I'm a small paddler (smaller back when I had that boat -- about 160 lbs.) In the process of trading boats the Prism was replaced by an Advantage, but the layout for trimming is still the same. Main pack in the bilge behind my seat and secondary pack forward.

Goat
 
bwcasolo
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03/04/2015 05:30AM  
the first trip I took with the sawbill set-up prism, before I moved the seat back to center, a person noticed my trim and mentioned my packs should go forward.
i had thought it was good and it looked and paddled like it was trimmed ok.
the small bubble level helped a bunch.
after a few days i was sailing along.
 
Bogwalker
Moderator
  
03/04/2015 06:21AM  
I own a Prism with factory set up. If the Sawbill version has the seat back more toward the stern I would think you would need to put all gear in the bow to make it trim properly, maybe a small pack behind you for gear you need while on the water.

I agree with others that the Guide pack is too big and it will be hard to get up into the bow due to its width and size should you decide to put your other pack in it. I would look for a smaller pack for your main gear and a second even smaller pack for your food.

When I solo I have a CCS Pioneer that fits nicely behind me in my Prism but could also fit easily in the bow although not pushed all the way to the front. If you are good at packing or do not bring too much a CCS Explorer would work as well. I know a lot of guys that use that pack when they solo. I also have a smaller pack, think of a pack the size of a students book pack for my food barrel and cooking stuff. This goes into the bow as far up as it will go. This pack for you could either go there or right behind you if it trims better that way.
 
bwcasolo
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03/06/2015 06:19PM  
quote Bogwalker: "I own a Prism with factory set up. If the Sawbill version has the seat back more toward the stern I would think you would need to put all gear in the bow to make it trim properly, maybe a small pack behind you for gear you need while on the water.


I agree with others that the Guide pack is too big and it will be hard to get up into the bow due to its width and size should you decide to put your other pack in it. I would look for a smaller pack for your main gear and a second even smaller pack for your food.


When I solo I have a CCS Pioneer that fits nicely behind me in my Prism but could also fit easily in the bow although not pushed all the way to the front. If you are good at packing or do not bring too much a CCS Explorer would work as well. I know a lot of guys that use that pack when they solo. I also have a smaller pack, think of a pack the size of a students book pack for my food barrel and cooking stuff. This goes into the bow as far up as it will go. This pack for you could either go there or right behind you if it trims better that way."

the sawbill setup is 21 inches back from center. load need's to be up front.
 
04/13/2015 09:31PM  
Piggyback time............

What if you add an 85lb lab to the equation? He rides well in the canoe and only gets in/out on command.

If I do my solo this year in the Sawbill area I may rent the Sawbill Prism. Last fall I did my first solo in a SR Q 16 because it was my first solo and I wanted something bigger than a true solo since I had the dog along. It went very well and I would like to try a dedicated solo this trip.

So, do I have the dog in the big area right in front of the yoke and then the main pack behind me? or main pack all the way in the bow?

griz81.... I look forward to hearing about your trip as the Lady Chain is on my list of routes.
 
griz81
member (24)member
  
04/13/2015 11:23PM  
Ducks - I will be sure to create a trip report when I get back, my goal is to complete trip reports for all my trips this year. One way of paying back all the advice and knowledge that is received here from all the wonderful members. Thanks TJ
 
OldGoat
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04/14/2015 07:13AM  
quote ducks: "Piggyback time............


What if you add an 85lb lab to the equation? He rides well in the canoe and only gets in/out on command.


If I do my solo this year in the Sawbill area I may rent the Sawbill Prism. Last fall I did my first solo in a SR Q 16 because it was my first solo and I wanted something bigger than a true solo since I had the dog along. It went very well and I would like to try a dedicated solo this trip.


So, do I have the dog in the big area right in front of the yoke and then the main pack behind me? or main pack all the way in the bow?


griz81.... I look forward to hearing about your trip as the Lady Chain is on my list of routes."


Ducks,

I did many a mile with a Siberian Husky hanging over the bow of my Prism, so my suggestion is to start with the dog in front and main pack behind you. My boat was factory stock though, and I understand that Sawbill has the seat moved further back, so you might have to play with loading to get the trim right.

Goat
 
04/15/2015 06:47AM  
Griz....... have a great trip!

Goat....... thanks. I think I'll start that way and tweak as needed. Makes sense since pup weighs twice as much as the pack will.
 
04/15/2015 09:01AM  
ducks,

I'll bet you could put the dog and pack in front of you and be good, especially since 90% of the time the wind is in your face ;). I'll also bet Sawbill could give you good answer.
 
landoftheskytintedwater
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07/10/2017 12:46PM  
Anyone know what kind of seat Sawbill has in their Prisms? Is it the normal Wenonah seat or a wooden web seat?
 
landoftheskytintedwater
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07/10/2017 02:33PM  
While I'm asking, anyone have a picture of one?
 
07/10/2017 03:01PM  
quote landoftheskytintedwater: "Anyone know what kind of seat Sawbill has in their Prisms? Is it the normal Wenonah seat or a wooden web seat?"


it has a web seat..... not the tractor seat
 
07/10/2017 03:05PM  
quote landoftheskytintedwater: "While I'm asking, anyone have a picture of one?"


bumabu has some in his photo album........ bumabu photo album of trip when he rented one[gallery1]/11/
 
landoftheskytintedwater
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07/10/2017 03:52PM  
Thanks on both fronts!

quote ducks: "
quote landoftheskytintedwater: "While I'm asking, anyone have a picture of one?"



bumabu has some in his photo album........ bumabu photo album of trip when he rented one[gallery1]/11/ "
 
OldGreyGoose
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07/12/2017 01:27PM  
Try the longer Wenonah Encounter. Trimming solutions are easy even with the factory tractor seat. Encounter is awesome empty or full, even in dicey situations. After using it I would never paddle the Prism.
--Goose
 
Lailoken
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08/22/2017 12:47PM  
To optimize weathervanninng to work for me, I put heavier pack up front if heading into wind and behind me if heading downwind. The effect is large enough that on larger lakes if windy, I've stopped on islands to rearrange.
 
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