what the best frestyle canoe..?

Advice
#21

Thanks!
I said I’d stick with the Explorer with tongue firmly in cheek (I’ll try some freestyle poling, maybe), but it is nice to know that I can just take the SRT out on a pond and mess around in it and maybe get a taste of the freestyle world. After all, it’s free, ain’t it?



Thanks for the word, Charlie.



-Chuck

#22

Short test paddle in Bell Flashfire
on a river yesterday. Boy, was that fun! It seemed to fit me better than my royalex Bell Wildfire.



Dang, now I have another boat to lust after.



I can see how it would be a good boat to mess aroud with free style maneuvers, even though I’m not well versed in free style.

#23

WildFire/FlashFire and YellowStone
Bell used to make the WildFire in the mold now at6 Placid boats in Lake Placid NY. Same song with the FlashFire.



The ABS WildFire was/is a different hull, despoite the same sticker. It has significantle less stern rocker. This was a conscious decision to improve tracking for beginning-learning solo paddlers.



While Wild and YellowStone are 14’ by 30", Flash is 13’ by 28.5 inches. It accelerates more quickly due to less wetted surface, turns a little tighter because both hulls have 2.5" roaker at each stem, which leaved Flash with more rocker proportionately, and it fits compact paddlers better, as it was originally fitted to a 5’10" 160 pounder with a 30: inseam. We just infused one with CobraSox rails and thwarts that will weigh 26 lbs with a wood seat installed.


#24

I want a Flash with the cobra sox rails
because I don’t want to mess with maintaining wood rails.



I’m glad that you building them that way now to give me something to save money for.



Thanks for the above info.


#25

freestyle.
Yanoer



what type off canoe you are talking about.?



again i am a big man…240*



i dont want to get on freestyle all the time…but would like to do some for fun …and mabe even a bit more then that.



but i would like something(canoe),a bit more versatyle…that i can use solo and not to expensive.



or even thinking used…sometime can have great deal used…and get a higher end canoe.



thanks to all…great topic and response.





joco

#26

As has been mentioned previously…
you might be able to locate a used Bell Wildfire in a composite layup or a Merrimac Baboosic. Both would be versatile boats given your height and weight, and be fun for FS.

#27

swift shearwater is more likely
to be running around in your area than ours…Its a fine boat for forward FS and touring for a big guy. Not so good backwards but that is getting quibbly.



Did I miss something…Joco what can you find your way? PS there are ways to transport boats around…have boats do travel!

#28

freestyle.

– Last Updated: Jan-08-08 9:35 PM EST –

hi kayamedic

i can find a lot off deferent kind off canoe or models not far frome here.

if you want to no what is around here...just google.....ottawa+canoe

there a good choice i think.

but do have to travel a bit.

there is not that mutch people that do freestyle around here i think.

i might be wrong....i do no there becky mason that do some freestyle here about 10min frome my place in meech lake..canadian style9freestyle)..will go take her course this spring...this will be a good start i gues.

then will go shoping..

thanks again. to all.

joco

#29

Shearwater
FWIW, I own several solo canoes, my Shearwater is hands down the worst of the lot for Freestyle. It’s a good “go-straight” lake tripper for a big guy and can hold a mountain of gear, but it’s not a canoe I would recommend for FS. For a FS canoe forget anything with differential rocker. The Baboosic and Wildfire should both work well for a guy your weight. If beauty is a factor for you the Baboosic has the classic lines and those juicy cherry ribs – very nice. My 2 cents. RK