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dossbranch
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Saw this yesterday on Craigslist and wondered what, if anything, the Extreme designation meant. I’ve searched around a bit and wondered if anyone had any information. No affiliation to the seller, but what a lovely canoe.
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/for/d/andover-bell-wildfire-solo-canoe/7160423511.html Bell WildFire Extreme
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olsonm37
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I would imagine the "extreme" relates to the Royalex material vs fiberglass
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Jacoop09
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https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/for/d/andover-bell-wildfire-solo-canoe/7184991428.html
Stumbled upon this wildfire for sale on craigslist. Is it the same one from the link you posted? That one was taken down. I haven't been able to find much information about it. I've been looking into a used solo canoe but not sure if $2100 is high for this boat. Seems to be on the high end and can't find anywhere what they retailed for when they were still in production. Beautiful looking boat.
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kona
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Very cool boat.
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jhb8426
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Some info on the wildfire...
Bell WildFire vs. Yellowstone Solo
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DanCooke
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Jacoop09: "https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/for/d/andover-bell-wildfire-solo-canoe/7184991428.html
Stumbled upon this wildfire for sale on craigslist. Is it the same one from the link you posted? That one was taken down. I haven't been able to find much information about it. I've been looking into a used solo canoe but not sure if $2100 is high for this boat. Seems to be on the high end and can't find anywhere what they retailed for when they were still in production. Beautiful looking boat. "
This is a just a Wildfire with a layup designed for being able to handle the abuses that occur from whitewater adventures. Heavier than your standard composite Wildfire that has been coming out of the mold for decades. You can get a standard Wildfire new @$29995 (price tonight) Colden Canoe
What do you want from the used solo canoe should be the first question. Are you looking for a canoe that tracks easily, or one that is more efficient? do you like to paddle sit and switch and make time or do you enjoy the nuances of the paddle and wish to gently coax the hull along its path? The Wildfire like any canoe hull performs well at some things and at other things you should hold out for a different hull if you enjoy those characteristics.
I owned a Wildfire in Carbon fiber for more than 2 decades and used in the BWCAW and on river trips like the Yellowstone river. I also have the Roylex Yellowstone mentioned in a post above.
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WoolShirt
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That is a thing of beauty!
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DeanL
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Cedar strip canoes are like flipping through a Christmas catalog as a kid. I dream and wish and just maybe one day I'll get to have one. This one sure is pretty.
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justpaddlin
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DeanL: "Cedar strip canoes are like flipping through a Christmas catalog as a kid. I dream and wish and just maybe one day I'll get to have one. This one sure is pretty. "
Hey Dean, if your complements (and those of others) are aimed at the blue boat, thank you very much. Just FYI it's not a cedar stripper, it's canvas over cedar. I once had a guy in a stripper paddle up to me and say "those are even more unusual than mine!". I have to mention that it's also just 35 pounds and paddles every bit as efficiently as a composite Wildfire but it's even more predictable and stable than a composite Wildfire when leaned. It was built by the late Tom MacKenzie, Tom was a great guy and is still a legend of the canoe world in my mind. :)
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Othello
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justpaddlin: "I've got the wood/canvas (wood/Dacron) version of the Wildfire, a Loonworks Aria.
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My goodness, that's a beauty!
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dossbranch
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The seller was kind enough to write me back and said:
“Extreme means the boat was built heavier for river use. They had a beefier lamination schedule. “
Does anyone have any idea how many of these Extreme layup boats Bell made?
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yellowcanoe
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dossbranch: "The seller was kind enough to write me back and said:
“Extreme means the boat was built heavier for river use. They had a beefier lamination schedule. “
Does anyone have any idea how many of these Extreme layup boats Bell made?"
No but I have two friends nearby here in Maine that have them. It is reinforced with extra carbon/kevlar. for heavy duty use.
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kona
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Really interesting boat been for sale for a year it seems.
I asked the seller for weight and never heard back. I’d love a composite wildfire. For that price I’d probably rather have either the bomber IXP layup If a Phoenix or something less heavy than IXP.
Was at Northstar last week. I asked Charlie about the layup and the red interior and he said that sounded like the old fiberlar layup, maybe beefier. Ouch that red would be a lot to look at, but a coat of paint maybe?
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justpaddlin
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Interesting. I've never heard of an "extreme" Bell lay-up. It has the black walnut thwarts typically put only on black/gold (carbon/Kevlar) boats and the red interior that I've only seen on KevLight boats. You could contact Ted Bell at Northstar canoes to get more info...I'd be curious to learn more too. I've got the wood/canvas (wood/Dacron) version of the Wildfire, a Loonworks Aria.
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jhb8426
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Just a WAG but I'd say they retailed for around $2500.
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chessie
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I have a Bell Wildfire, standard version, about 32#. I love this boat. It is a versatile canoe - so as someone mentioned, consider what you plan to use it for, because versatile means it can do most everything, but not at an "A+" -- more like a "C" on some things. I have done some white water, and recreational, and BWCA trips loaded, with a large dog. It is a very fun little canoe and easy to handle. It has some rocker, and I typically cannot keep up with 2 in a tandem, fyi.
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yellowcanoe
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The Extremes I know are BlackGold.. Never seen a WG WF Extreme.. The decals on my friends boats that say Extreme are in the stern and in a pleasing script. The decal on the pictured boat seems out of place.
Its going to be heavier for sure. Bell back in the day did some experimenting and not exactly mass producing those experiments.
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