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Author	Message Text
ppine	09/16/2020 06:23PM   Thanks to Hans Solo. I agree it is a Charger, the best canoe I have ever paddled. I had one in kevlar, a really early boat made in 1978. It was light, fast and deep and could carry a load. The Charger was very seaworthy and shed waves. It had decent rocker. The early Sawyer advertisement showed 2 guys after a successful moose hunt. The McGuffins chose the Charger for their trans-Canada expedition. The 222 is the modern version and a really good design also. I had a Cruiser and paddled it everywhere. Very fine entry lines makes for great speed but they knife through waves, instead of riding up and over them. The charger looks to be in good shape. I would pay $700 for one that good.
baja	09/08/2020 03:14PM   Thanks, does anyone have a direct comparison of the charger and the 222 cruiser?
baja	09/07/2020 10:28PM   Thanks! Adding the 18 footer below into the mix for $300. How do the cruiser, 222 cruiser, and charger compare? Just trying to pick the best of this bunch since they're all in the same price range.
baja	09/05/2020 10:08PM   Hi crew, Looking at an option for my first canoe purchase. Hoping someone can help me ID the canoe through the link and pics below? Serial number indicates Dec '76 manufacture date. Thanks!
baja	09/07/2020 08:18PM   Thanks for all your help. We decided to go for something a bit lighter and found a goldenglass 18.5 ft. Sawyer for $350 (pictures attached). Any help identifying this one and specs would be very helpful! Cheers, Kevin
mirth	09/05/2020 10:46PM   It's a fiberglass sawyer. Probably 70+ lbs. Should make a nice battle ship, but not necessarily something I'd want to portage for long distances.
HansSolo	09/07/2020 10:01PM   baja: "Thanks for all your help. We decided to go for something a bit lighter and found a goldenglass 18.5 ft. Sawyer for $350 (pictures attached). Any help identifying this one and specs would be very helpful! Cheers, Kevin " That appears to be a Sawyer 222 Cruiser. Great canoe at a nice price! Hans Solo
baja	09/06/2020 07:04AM   Thanks, I was hoping one of the experts here (poke Hans Solo :) ) could help with some more detail on the specific model and if $300 is a good deal for it. Cheers!
Banksiana	09/06/2020 10:45AM   Looks like a Cruiser to me - but that would be 17'6" not 18". The model # of the cruiser was 212 which is in the serial # before the date. The cruiser is a great hull, quick, stable and seaworthy until the waves come over the gunwales. A sweet ride (though not such a sweet carry).
HansSolo	09/06/2020 02:02PM   Not a Sawyer Cruiser! That would be a fiberglass Sawyer Charger at 18' 6". The real give away are the decks. The "Classic" Lynn Tuttle designed Sawyer Cruiser is 17' 9". Sawyer's serial numbers real didn't identify their canoe models. The numbers between the "SAW" at the beginning and the two digit date at the end, were more for Sawyer's manufacturing reference than anything else. At least that's what I was told during the time I was selling new Sawyer canoes at Rutabaga in the 80's. In the late 70's and early 80's, the Sawyer Charger competed with the likes of Mad River's TW Special, the Wenonah Odyssey, and other big 18.5' tripping canoes. I had a yellow fiberglass Charger back in the 80's, (shown below). It was a nice canoe; great tripper with a huge capacity. The only problem was, those old Sawyer fiberglass lay-ups weighed a ton! Although I never put mine on the scale, my Charger had to weigh at least 85 pounds or more. Tough as nails, but I wouldn't think of taking it to the BWCAW or any other location that required numerous portages. It was great on river trips though. Hans Solo
baja	09/06/2020 02:36PM   Thank you! The history is great to know and really interesting!
Banksiana	09/08/2020 11:29AM   I have the 222 in golden glass without foam core. It is well above 80#. It is also the finest paddling tandem in my fleet. Fast, stable, capable of carrying immense loads and by far the most seaworthy hull I've ever paddled. Just hate being under it.
bapabear	09/23/2020 06:19PM   I offer these photos of my Sawyer. I bought it from a canoe shop going out of business in Madison over 10 years ago. He called it a Guide Special and wanted around $400 for it. Love every bit of it even if it is heavy and have used it quite a bit. The tractor seats are super comfortable but using it solo is a challenge.
baja	09/06/2020 06:39PM   Any thoughts on the $300 asking price?
HansSolo	09/06/2020 09:28PM   baja: "Any thoughts on the $300 asking price?" For a 43-year old canoe, it seems to be in decent shape. I think it's a fair price for $300.00, IMHO. The only real negative is its weight. Hans Solo