Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Northwind 16 vs Northwind Solo
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justpaddlin |
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ISRO |
I am a fan of a dedicated solo |
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jhb8426 |
OCDave: "Paddling the Northwind 16 backwards is not the best solution. The different rocker front vs back will affect your maneuverability. Paddling backwards works best with a symmetrical hull. The Northstar B16 has a symmetrical hull but I have no experience paddling this canoe." Totally agree with this. Most Bell and Northstar canoes are asymmetric and are not intended to be paddled backwards. Like OCDave I have no experience with the symmettical hull B16. |
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portagerunner |
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straighthairedcurly |
1. Decide which kind of trips you will do most, solo or tandem. Buy that boat and then rent one when you plan to do the other kind. This works especially well if you are doing 7 days or less a year for the rental. 2. Be patient and shop for used boats. Every canoe I own has been purchased for 50% or less of list price. I have even traveled out of state to get a good boat at a good price. |
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Ogoki |
Don't want to make a mistake on something this expensive. Got plenty of time between now and spring to get this figured out . Wish I could paddle this boat . |
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nsuo |
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scottiebaldwin |
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Ogoki |
I Boundary Waters Catalog the North star Northwind is $3695. The Northstar Nortwind Solo is $3395. Ouch ! Can't purchase both . May have to buy one and go the rental route on the second . Thank you gentlemen for your input on this ! |
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justpaddlin |
I have a Northstar Polaris with an optional third seat for solo paddling. For me a seat is more comfy than a kneeling thwart plus it outs you in the ideal position for solo paddling (if you paddle the NW16 backwards from the front seat it will be very light in the bow). The Polaris is an inch narrower at the waterline than the NW16 and that helps efficiency both solo and tandem. The boats all have an ideal (efficient) weight range, if you are below the minimum when solo it means the boat will get blown around by wind. The description of the NW16 basically says it's a tandem that can also be used for occasional solo use...meaning it's primarily a (very nice) tandem. Tandems aren't nearly as efficient as solos for solo use. I can totally enjoy my Polaris solo on a small calm lake. It's also a roomy/luxurious boat for a downstream solo paddle. Tons of room for a dog. I've even done some upstream solo paddling in it and it does very well for a tandem but overall it's a calm weather solo that I may not take out even once a year solo even though I get out often. Solos can be fun to drive upstream against some current and also to paddle on challenging windy days; in my experience a tandem is not fun as a solo in those conditions. But if I lived on a small lake I might choose a tandem as a cottage boat for the comfort. If you are dreaming about a solo then I think you need to get a solo. If you're near SW MI you could try a couple of my boats to give you a better feel. |
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scottiebaldwin |
Ogoki: " i appreciate your comments and offer to paddle your canoes , but I am probably 800 miles from you . justpaddlin is definitely an expert on all of this. But please consider buying a used canoe. If you check the for sale/wanted board here on the website or check your local craigslist or Facebook marketplace postings, you can find amazing deals and the boats are usually in great shape or easily repairable. Also, if you go to the BWCA you should consider buying one of the boats from an outfitter. I got my Northstar Northwind 17 from Rockwood, then re-coated the bottom and auto-buffed the sides, re-stained the thwart, added decals that I got from Northstar and the canoe came back to life as if it were brand new. It’s fun to make a project out of an older canoe and give it a new beginning. Perhaps you could even share the experience with a trip partner or family member. It’s a great way to pass time in analog form. Good luck and enjoy paddling! |
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Kermit |
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OCDave |
Ogoki: "Looking at the Northwind Solo . But my wife will be going with my half the time.. . " Paddling the Northwind 16 backwards is not the best solution. The different rocker front vs back will affect your maneuverability. Paddling backwards works best with a symmetrical hull. The Northstar B16 has a symmetrical hull but I have no experience paddling this canoe. In my experience, the best Northstar canoe to meet your needs is the Polaris. The Polaris is a great couples canoe. My wife and dog love a Sunday trip around the lake in our Polaris. Occasionally, my wife even helps paddle ;). I have a Northwind Solo, so don't regularly paddle the Polaris as a solo, but the addition of a center seat or kneeling thwart converts the Polaris to a great Solo canoe. The Polaris is only 31 inches wide, so paddling solo from the center position seems easy and natural. My own is the Blacklight with E6 trim so weighs a bit under 40 lbs. It is available in a Stealth model weighing as little as 32 lbs. Good Luck |
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ducks |
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Ogoki |
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