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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Finally Purchased A Canoe - You All Can Relax Now
 
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ducks
04/17/2019 05:19PM
 
That is a sweet ride!! Congrats.
 
Captn Tony
04/20/2019 06:39AM
 
Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations!
 
JATFOMike
04/18/2019 08:20PM
 
Have you had it out for a paddle yet? The "Dr. Bauer park" at the dead end of Wenger Rd. is 10 minutes from Vandalia and makes for a nice after work paddle......Just sayin'


Mike
 
analyzer
04/17/2019 06:23PM
 
I'm excited for you. Love the Northwind, Jeep Combo. The wife and I are about 10 days from buying a Northwind 17, blacklite, with wood... we're about 10 YEARS from getting the Jeep. LOL.


I've heard nothing but good things about Northstar Canoes. Happy Paddles.



 
WonderMonkey
04/18/2019 09:43PM
 
JATFOMike: "Have you had it out for a paddle yet? The "Dr. Bauer park" at the dead end of Wenger Rd. is 10 minutes from Vandalia and makes for a nice after work paddle......Just sayin'


Mike"



I have not! I did get it registered but then flew to Chicago for some business. With Easter (we are hosting the family) I hope to take it out this Saturday at Eastwood, but maybe I'll check out Dr. Bowers Lake instead. I've never been there, so thanks for the recommendation!


I'm hoping to re-learn how to fish, so using the canoe for that will be nice.
 
Tomcat
04/15/2019 09:27PM
 
WonderMonkey: "Tomcat: ""Do you solo from a center seat or do you turn it around?"



The front thwart is just behind the front seat so without removing it, it is in the way if you turn the boat around to paddle solo from the front seat. I replaced the rear thwart with a kneeling thwart and paddle solo in that location.


Unless I'm missing what you are saying there isn't a thwart behind the seat. Maybe this boat is also used solo so much they moved them?












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"








My northwind 16 has a thwart just behind the front seat.




 
JATFOMike
04/17/2019 05:58AM
 
Congratulations!


Mike
 
WonderMonkey
04/16/2019 08:23AM
 
OneMatch: "GREAT choice!!!! Where'd ya get it?"


I purchased it at Great Miami Outfitters in Centerville (Dayton), Ohio.
 
WonderMonkey
04/18/2019 09:11AM
 
BearBurrito: "Congrats on the new boat!
"



Thanks!
 
WonderMonkey
04/18/2019 09:11AM
 
JATFOMike: "Congratulations!


Mike"



Thanks!
 
WonderMonkey
04/18/2019 09:11AM
 
ducks: "That is a sweet ride!! Congrats."


Thanks! It's terribly difficult not going out and sitting in it. I know I can't do that in these boats.
 
WonderMonkey
04/18/2019 09:11AM
 
analyzer: "I'm excited for you. Love the Northwind, Jeep Combo. The wife and I are about 10 days from buying a Northwind 17, blacklite, with wood... we're about 10 YEARS from getting the Jeep. LOL.


I've heard nothing but good things about Northstar Canoes. Happy Paddles.


"



I really like my Wrangler, and would buy it again. I take it down old unmaintained fire roads and other such trails. No hard-core off-roading for me as it's also my daily commuter.
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 02:14PM
 
ozarkpaddler: "CONGRATULATIONS WONDERMONKEY! "

Thanks!
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 02:15PM
 
bfurlow: "Congrats on the new addition! Happy paddling!"


Thanks! I spoke to the owner of the shop and setup some paddling instruction. Ted Bell stops by on occasion as he visits dealers and such but I'm sure I'll miss that time. I don't want to pretend that because I feel comfy in a kayak that this will be the same.
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 02:16PM
 
bhouse46: "Nice ride. The jeep looks cool, too. Congrats."


I think I'll enjoy time in both.
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 02:17PM
 
awbrown: "Can't go wrong with a Northstar. Love mine."


Thanks! When I do I get to know the secret Northstar handshake?
 
BearBurrito
04/16/2019 04:26PM
 
Congrats on the new boat!

 
Moonpath
04/20/2019 05:14PM
 
A very nice canoe. In 2014 I purchased a northstar northwind 17 footer. I have not looked back. Very impressive on the water and tripping.You will not be disappointed and it sounds like you are already making plans to improve the canoe. Best advice I hear is to get out on the water and use it. Best, JerryG
 
mjmkjun
04/16/2019 05:24AM
 
Does the wife like it? ;-)
Happy for you. Now...onward to maiden trip and baptism by 1st scratch!
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 11:43AM
 
I appreciate all the input given from this forum. It helped me narrow down, eliminate, put back on the list, reconsider, etc. in a geographic market where there aren't many options to put my hands on.

I purchased a Northstar Northwind 16.


 
awbrown
04/15/2019 01:25PM
 
Can't go wrong with a Northstar. Love mine.
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 02:13PM
 
HowardSprague: "Congrats! Great boat!


And I always wondered what a canoe/kayak rack setup would look like on a Wrangler... looks very solid."



Thanks!


I'll add some padding to the front and back bars to help with things. Also I do have extra raised crossbars I put on when I put my J-Hooks on for the kayaks, but I don't think I'll use them with the canoe. Having the front and back even further apart makes good sense for stabilization.
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 02:17PM
 
carmike: "Congratulations! "


Thanks!
 
Zwater
04/20/2019 01:37PM
 
I was so stressing about your canoe purchase. Once I found out it happened I have been sleeping like a baby:)
 
WonderMonkey
04/16/2019 08:28AM
 
mjmkjun: "Does the wife like it? ;-)
Happy for you. Now...onward to maiden trip and baptism by 1st scratch! "



I took her out and showed it to her and when she touched it I wiped it off with a shop rag, just to annoy her.
 
mjmkjun
04/16/2019 08:32AM
 
WonderMonkey: "mjmkjun: "Does the wife like it? ;-)
Happy for you. Now...onward to maiden trip and baptism by 1st scratch! "




I took her out and showed it to her and when she touched it I wiped it off with a shop rag, just to annoy her."



LOL! That's cold. But...I'm still laughing.
 
Driftless
04/15/2019 11:59AM
 
Very nice!!! Congrats!!!
 
HowardSprague
04/15/2019 12:00PM
 
Congrats! Great boat!


And I always wondered what a canoe/kayak rack setup would look like on a Wrangler... looks very solid.
 
WonderMonkey
04/16/2019 08:25AM
 
cowdoc: "That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!"


Thanks! I expect to instantly start making slight modifications or to buy stuff for it.
 
DrBobDerrig
04/16/2019 07:27AM
 
Oh yes ...the 'first scratch'
my beautiful brand new SR Green Kevlar on a rock on the lower Peshtigo River from the city to the lake. After that it doesn't hurt so much.....


dr bob
 
WonderMonkey
04/16/2019 08:26AM
 
Bannock: "Excellent! Now, get it out on the water. :)
"



I plan to! I changed a hiking camping trip to a state camping ground that has a lake. I'll spend time on the water loaded up with weight just getting used to it.
 
WonderMonkey
04/16/2019 08:27AM
 
ozarkpaddler: "cowdoc: "That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!"


Hmmm, well I'll be? Sure looks like there's no thwart there, huh? I guess they figured it wasn't all that important in the composites? But why only in the aluminum railed 16?


Never soloed a Northwind 16 from bow seat, so I have nothing to offer. Also, composite boats do not always paddle like their royalex cousins, but usually much better. You need to take her out and give her a good paddling and report back to us!"



I'll I'll paddle her, that's for sure. She better be good or I WON'T paddle her.
 
justpaddlin
04/16/2019 08:30AM
 
Congrats on your new boat. Great choice.
 
WonderMonkey
04/20/2019 11:48AM
 
Captn Tony: "Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations! "



Knowing it was causing so much stress, I accelerated my buying timeline. It's a huge weight off everybody's shoulders!
 
Zwater
04/20/2019 11:01AM
 
Captn Tony: "Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations! "



I know! I couldn't sleep until I found out you bought one:)
Very nice canoe!
 
WonderMonkey
04/20/2019 11:49AM
 
Zwater: "Captn Tony: "Thank God! I've been stressing out during the whole ordeal!!
Congratulations! "




I know! I couldn't sleep until I found out you bought one:)
Very nice canoe!"



Now that the purchase has happened, how did you sleep?
 
ozarkpaddler
04/15/2019 12:11PM
 
CONGRATULATIONS WONDERMONKEY!



 
bfurlow
04/15/2019 12:20PM
 
Congrats on the new addition! Happy paddling!
 
bhouse46
04/15/2019 12:31PM
 
Nice ride. The jeep looks cool, too. Congrats.
 
carmike
04/15/2019 12:33PM
 
Congratulations!
 
rtallent
04/15/2019 03:04PM
 
It starts with your hand open and reaching back towards your wallet pocket....
Congrat's on the new watercraft!
 
Blatz
04/15/2019 03:16PM
 
Congrats. Great company

 
Tomcat
04/15/2019 03:23PM
 
Congrats !


I am very pleased with my northwind 16.
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 03:16PM
 
rtallent: "It starts with your hand open and reaching back towards your wallet pocket....
Congrat's on the new watercraft!"



HA! Yes... yes I think I knew that part of the handshake without know I knew it.
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 03:40PM
 
Tomcat: "Congrats !


I am very pleased with my northwind 16."



Do you solo from a center seat or do you turn it around?
 
andym
04/15/2019 04:09PM
 
Nice boat. Enjoy!!
 
Tomcat
04/15/2019 04:01PM
 

 
Jaywalker
04/15/2019 06:02PM
 
Excellent choice, and many many happy days of paddling to you!
 
WonderMonkey
04/15/2019 06:22PM
 
Tomcat: ""Do you solo from a center seat or do you turn it around?"


The front thwart is just behind the front seat so without removing it, it is in the way if you turn the boat around to paddle solo from the front seat. I replaced the rear thwart with a kneeling thwart and paddle solo in that location. Also if you place enough weight in the bow it is easy to paddle from the rear seat solo. Either way without enough weight wind is an issue when paddling solo.


Looks like your canoe has the aluminum gunnels. I would have preferred aluminum but ended up with wood.
"

Unless I'm missing what you are saying there isn't a thwart behind the seat. Maybe this boat is also used solo so much they moved them?






 
OneMatch
04/15/2019 09:07PM
 
GREAT choice!!!! Where'd ya get it?
 
Bannock
04/15/2019 09:50PM
 
Excellent! Now, get it out on the water. :)

 
cowdoc
04/15/2019 09:41PM
 
That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!
 
ozarkpaddler
04/15/2019 11:47PM
 
cowdoc: "That may be the difference between wood railed models and aluminum. The Northwind 16 on their website has aluminum rails and NO thwart behind front seat. Also looks like the rear thwart could be a kneeling thwart, but that could have been an option. Anyways......welcome to the addiction. Nice canoe!"


Hmmm, well I'll be? Sure looks like there's no thwart there, huh? I guess they figured it wasn't all that important in the composites? But why only in the aluminum railed 16?


Never soloed a Northwind 16 from bow seat, so I have nothing to offer. Also, composite boats do not always paddle like their royalex cousins, but usually much better. You need to take her out and give her a good paddling and report back to us!