Canoecopia 2023

[Gamma1214]

...if you should paddle one of those canoes or hang them on a wall of an art gallery

Take the first trip down a particularly bony river. Once you get a few scratches in her, she'll be performance art and you'll feel better about using it (at least that's my theory).

 

[billconner]

I love the sessions. The 89 day kayak solo from Washington to Sitka AK; Daughter/father Mississippi River trip; Kesslering's Noatak River trip. All saying you'll never regret the big trip, only not doing it.

And watching a Cliff Jacobson/Kevin Callan debate. Hard to top for canoe entertainment.

Very good show.

 

[Frenchy19]

Can’t believe how good of a time I had.

Wife and I stopped in on Friday, walked the floor a couple times. Was always tentative about Helinox chairs being too fragile. It was good to try them out since I’m not a particularly small guy. Ended up buying 2 chairs.

Stopped in on Saturday with my 15 yr old daughter. Walked the floor some more. Got caught in a long conversation with Swift Canoes…dang, now I’m really tempted. Thing is I don’t if you should paddle one of those canoes or hang them on a wall of an art gallery. We then did Rob Kesselring’s campfire talk seminar.

Did Sunday again with the wife. Did two Callan seminars and now the wife is actually interested in doing a Canadian trip. That’s cool. Hit the sales floor one last time in my quest for an otter tail paddle. Ended up coming home with a Badger Tripper.

Regarding the Swift canoes, that carbon Keewaydin 16 was stunning. Then again, for the price, the thing better peel potatoes and chop onions once in camp. I do wish there was a Swift retailer in the Twin Cities.

 

[Blukanu]

Regarding the Swift canoes, that carbon Keewaydin 16 was stunning. Then again, for the price, the thing better peel potatoes and chop onions once in camp. I do wish there was a Swift retailer in the Twin Cities.

If I recall correctly and heard correctly the rep I was taking to said that checkerboard pattern was a $2k option.

 

[Tryin']

Regarding the Swift canoes, that carbon Keewaydin 16 was stunning. Then again, for the price, the thing better peel potatoes and chop onions once in camp. I do wish there was a Swift retailer in the Twin Cities.

That picture, while good, does not capture the beauty of that finish. The weave itself is iridescent. First time I've ever seen it on a canoe. Really unique looking.

Swift also had by FAR the best fit and finish of any builder at the show. Honestly made some big names look pretty bad. Clearly, Swift cares about their product.

Now a couple complaints:

1. The US price on their canoes does not follow the exchange rate. Not even close. I'm sure there are some different taxes and whatnot, but there was a 1k difference from their build calculator to the equivalent exchange rate when I built out a simple prospector.

2. I couldn't get a straight answer about layups from them. Especially in the difference between kevlar fusion and expedition kevlar and how that translated to the real world.

I really want an inegra boat from them, but I'm just not sold on whether it will hold up to river use.

 

[Jim Dodd]

Anybody stop and visit Nick Schade ?

He would be the top of my list !

Jim

 

[billconner]

2. I couldn't get a straight answer about layups from them. Especially in the difference between kevlar fusion and expedition kevlar and how that translated to the real world

Laminates - Swift Canoe & Kayak - People Who Know, Paddle Swift

Canoe & Pack Boat Laminates Kayak Laminates

swiftcanoe.com

 

[Tryin']

Laminates - Swift Canoe & Kayak - People Who Know, Paddle Swift

Canoe & Pack Boat Laminates Kayak Laminates

swiftcanoe.com

Thank you for the link. That is pretty much word for word what I was told by Bill at the show. He did not want to discuss specific reinforcement structures, foam composition, or any other technical details. I understand keeping proprietary processes under wraps, but when you have Nova Craft and Northstar next door to you and VERY willing to discuss their layups, it starts to smack of sales-speak instead of actual information.

Best looking boats at the show, but I didn't leave convinced that their "tough" layup was equivalent to other manufacturers.

 

[Frenchy19]

If I recall correctly and heard correctly the rep I was taking to said that checkerboard pattern was a $2k option.

Yep; more than I paid for my first kevlar canoe 23 years ago.