Shopping for a 16 Kevlar - Opinions?

I've been looking for a good all 'round canoe and am looking for some opinions.

My top 3 needs are: 1. Speed 2. Solo Handling - portaging 3. Tandem ability with room for gear Here are some of the boats I am considering.

Clipper - Maverick -Kevlar http://clippercanoes.com/canoes/maverick.htm

Mad River - Explorer -Kevlar http://madrivercanoe.com/mrc/htm/canoes/ ver_explorer_kv.shtml

Ottawa Valley Canoe - Trillium 16 Carbon/Kevlar http://www.ottawavalleycanoe.ca/trill16.htm

Are there other outstanding boats that might fit the bill? Any insights would be great!

Thanks,

We have the Nahanni from Langford - with a 16 month old we are able to get everything in it for overnights. Childcare duties also often mean we get to go solo and it is great for that too. (It's assymetrical) In Kevlar I think it is about 50 pounds. I agree with Fred - very well made. There is also something satisfying about the brass beaver on the front deck!

To Brian and anyone else interested in the answers posted....

Your number 2 need is Solo handling / portaging. To get a decent answer you'll have to tell us how big you are.

For Example... I'm 6' 2' and 230 pounds... a big guy... and for my weight I think that a Chestnut Prospector is a great canoe for solo handling. I also think that with a 130 pound paddler you get blown all over the place in any decent wind, yet at my size I have no problems. My roomie weighs in at 120 pounds. She has a blackhawk solo canoe that she can make dance over the water. I get in it and the thing damn near sinks and it paddles and handles like a dog. Moral.... you have to match the canoe to yourself.

Also, a number of companies claim 40 pound weights for their ultralight canoes. Bring along a scale when you look at the canoe because some companies are 'very optimistic' in their weights. Also keep in mind that a 40 pound canoe is a lot less strong than a 50 pounder. Be particularly worried about oil canning, this is VERY common on 40 pounders.... to the point where I would not buy a canoe unless I tried the exact canoe (not one of the same model but the very canoe you are buying) in water to check for this.

As to speed, for decent canoes there is not too much difference between makes and models. For bad canoes the difference is incredible. The Coleman's and sportspals are about the worst thinks ever designed! In John Winter's own admission there isn't a substantial difference in drag at normal paddling speeds between a prospector and his hulls ( Swift canoes) for the same hull length. Adding a skid plate to the front or lots of scratches will more than make up the difference in efficiency.

And Lastly, the Ottawa Paddlesport & Outdoor Adventure Show is on at the Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdown Park, Ottawa on March 10, 11 & 12. You should be able to look at everyone in the same spot and even throw the boats in the pool to play with.

Hope this helps,

Don Haines

Looking at the list below, I do not know why the initial poster is not looking at Swift canoes. Their Kipawa or Mattawa might be just what he wants. IMHO either of them beats the Mad River boat.

[snip]

Just found out that I only read the top of the message. Sorry, you already picked out the Explorer yourself...

I'll rephrase: I think the Explorer in Kevlar will do a fine job. A nice compromise between your points 2 and 3.

Don't know anything about the Kipawa or the Mattawa. I also wil have a look at these sites. Thanks!

Ruud de Koning The Netherlands

I thought I should let you all know what I have settled on.

I'm going with the Langford Muskoka. The boat I am getting is the same as the picture in the link below except that I will be getting wood trim and Kevlar layup. http://www.langfordcanoe.com/canoes/asymmetrical/ muskoka.htm

I have made a few calls to their shop in Dorset Ontario and have found the staff to be friendly and helpful. I am picking it up early April so I will post a message on how it all went..

Make sure you take some weighing scales with you to weigh it before you pay for it. Langford are notorious for producing boats that are well over their advertized weight! (Two friends suffered this problem).

I own a kevlar Muskoka - nice fast boat, but a bit tippy when not well loaded.