Spirit II…
was my choice for a tandem tourer in Royalex for all types of water where the fishies like to hang out. It’s a good hull- in any lay-up. I don’t think you can go wrong. Its secondary stability is very good and if you’re with a dog, that might work more to your advantage especially when another critter appears.
Bell Alaskan
Cliff jacobson is a wonderful racontour and a stupendous far north guide and paddler, but David Yost designed the Alaskan with Cliff’s verbal input. Why these myths?
I Guess Since Cliff Jacobson…
…has become an icon to canoeing, he gets a little “Extra credit” for some things, huh? Not to sabotage DetDan’s thread, but I’m curious CE Wilson; do you know anything about the SWEET boat in this picture? Best boats I’ve paddled to date are the Placid Spitfire and Rapidfire. I REALLY want one of those new Wildfires in that beautifull blue color! WW
http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/image/74149224
http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/image/74149388
Those boats
Well, thanks to KAS Transpoort we ship the things all over the nation. Problem is, our paddlers refuse to stay put, so cannot say where they came from, but I’ll go through our production books tomorrow and try to figure - a wine Rapid and a Blue Spit - how hard can it be?
Of course, we know the Rapid is faster - forget the extra three feet - it’s red!
We’re flanging the WildFire mold next week, so will be able to infuse soon.
cew
Love Those Placid Canoes!
– Last Updated: Feb-28-07 2:51 AM EST –
Actually, those both belong to my friend, McWood, here on P.net. BEST BOATS I'VE EVER PADDLED, and by far the most beautifully and skillfully "Finished" trim and hull! I want a Rapidfire, a Wildfire, and a Spitfire (I'm not selfish, I'd give my wife the Spitfire) Unfortunately, I feel I've been single handedly supporting the medical community in S.E. MO the last few years, and I'm going to have to wait another year or so. You certainly build a wonderfull boat! WW
All Completely Different Canoes
Not trying to be critical, but this thread wanders all over the place.
You start by comparing a Wenonah and a Bell, the Bell OBVIOUSLY a better river canoe and the Wenonah OBVIOUSLY a flatwater canoe…
Then you bring in Spitfires, Wildfires, whatever these beautiful canoes are. BEAUTIFUL canoes like these wouldn’t last being BASHED against rocks like you could the Bell…
Anyway, just my opinion. Hulls are like women - you get the thin, fragile ones; the big, tough ones; many in-between; and each with a different personality. By the way, some of these smaller canoes weren’t designed for the bigger guys who like to paddle them…
obviously?
Both the Bell Alaskan and the We-no-nah Spirit are touring canoes with about the same capacity. The Alaskan is indeed more (much more I think) oriented to river touring than the Spirit. But the Spirit is quite a versatile touring canoe too, not what I would call a ‘flatwater’ canoe.
Sorry DetDan
Didn’t mean to sway your thread towards solo canoes, just recognized the builder of some fine boats. WW
No sweat
I have to say, when I went to the link and looked at the Alaskan, I also looked at the other canoes and thought the same thing; wow, what beautiful boats. I have even started thinking about skipping the more practical fishing boat for one of those Placid canoes. Any and all canoe talk is A-O-K with me,
Thanks Dan
Yeah You’re Correct
I was thinking of the larger Wenonah Boundary Waters canoes.
The Spirit is more versatile.
the tripper
– Last Updated: Feb-28-07 6:59 PM EST –
I haven't heard from anyone with a Old Town tripper. I know it is a ledgendary canoe, but has anyone paddled a tripper and a Bell Alaskan? Thanks for the replys, I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, I just want the tax refund to go to a canoe I'll have for a while.
Dan
Tripper vs Alaskan vs Spirit II
The Tripper is a wonderful boat when you are going with a strong current and do not have to carry the canoe at all. It is HEAVY, and it is SLOW. It will carry a ton of stuff, it will survive rough water and you can paddle it almost anywhere. So will the other two.
If your duck hunting involves paddling more than 1/4 mile it finishes dead last in a three way comparison. With just you and a dog, it will be a beast to handle in any wind; the deep hull and high ends are all wind catchers.
The Royalex Spirit is the easiest paddling of the three, the Alaskan splits the difference between the other two. A composite Spirit is in a different league from the other two in Royalex, efficiency wise and weight wise.
If your dog works as a sleddog and can help drag a Tripper, the 80+ pounds would not be as much of a problem.
Bill
Had to laugh
One of the outfitters I do business has some Trippers, and some of the staff have done a bit of surgery on the name by removing the “T”. Ripper seemed to fit very well.
Bombproof but heeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaavvvvvy.
Alaskan
I just picked up the Bell alaskan from BMO. It is a beautiful boat that’s finished very nicely. I’ll let you know how well it paddles after a little time in the canoe. Thanks for all the help and advice
Dan
My take
The Tripper is much bigger, more stable, and more capable in waves/rapids then the Alaskan.
From my limited time in an Alaskan, I liked it, but it is a very different animal to something like a tripper or prospector. It has a much lower sheer-line.
Either would be fine for class 1-2. If you don’t plan on doing more (heavy loads+big waves), and don’t need the bit of extra stability of the tripper, the alaskan will be lighter, faster and less effected by wind.
I personally prefer the Tripper, but that’s likely just because I am used to the bigger boats.
I Think You’ll Be Happy With It
Post a pic or two when you wet that hull! WW
Congatulations!!!
I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with your decision. Let me know what you think after you get it on the water.
Rob
I’m an idiot!
– Last Updated: Mar-15-07 8:50 PM EST –
The Alaskan is a great canoe, but I didn't notice how narrow the front is compared to the other canoes I have had in the past. I mulled this over and over, and realized I wouldn't be happy with this boat and relatively narrow bow area. So I didn't paddle it and swapped it out for the Esquif Prospecteur 17. BMO was amazing about swaping the canoe out no questions asked. I'm an idiot and was saved by amazing customer service! It obviously is not the best choice for a duck hunting-take the retriever out canoe, but WOW it is incredibly well made and the lines are BEAUTIFUL! I'll let you know how it paddles after a couple of trips. I had wanted to take it out today, but the temp went from 71 going to get the canoe, to windy and 40's coming back. Hopefully next week.
Outstanding customer service
Glad to hear it worked out.
Love Esquif
They are making some great boats. You just can’t go wrong with a Prospector design, either. Much more versatile than the Bell, I believe. Congratulations.