My 5th "Final Canoe": A Swift Carbon Fusion Keewaydin 15, at 80

[Glenn MacGrady]

In 2008, at age 64, I bought my "final canoe" (Hemlock SRT). Then I did it again in 2009 (Bell black-gold Wildfire). And again in 2021 (Nova Craft Aramid Bob Special, given to daughter in Florida). And again in 2022 (Rollin Thurlow reproduction of B.N. Morris wood/canvas). Can I ever stop?

No, I DID IT AGAIN three days ago! Mainly because I have a hard time lifting everything else in the fleet.

Here I am with my 80th birthday and 2024 Christmas presents to myself: A 2021 Swift Carbon Fusion Keewaydin 15 canoe at a liftable 28 lbs., an Akubra fur felt Banjo Paterson hat, and leather Irish Setter Elk Tracker boots.



The first thing the seller, a member here, said to me when I arrived at his house was, "That doesn't look like the typical canoe vehicle." Well, the Merc is only vehicle I have that's currently in working order, and I think it color matches the Kee's carbon/Innegra H-weave and champagne bottom very well. So, here are a couple more shots of the happy couple.





The canoe came with a Swift custom cherry portage thwart . . .



. . . and a custom Bag Lady canoe cover . . .



. . . and the following DIY mystery object. Can you guess what it is?



(P.S. Don't tell anyone in the WCHA that I look like "Carbon Glenn." They might impeach me from the Board of Directors.)

 

[memaquay]

I might have a chance to buy the same canoe for around 3 g's Canadian. Did you paddle it yet? Interested in how it performs.

 

[lowangle al]

It's a bow/ stern protector. Congratulations on your new boat.

 

[CaptainOllieWest]

Looking good! Nice canoe too!

 

[lowangle al]

I hope you don't ding it up like the last one.

 

[Tryin']

That's great, Glenn! I hope you get to put hundreds of miles on it!

Lemme know if that SRT ever gets toooo heavy...

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I might have a chance to buy the same canoe for around 3 g's Canadian. Did you paddle it yet? Interested in how it performs.

Yes, I was able to test paddle it for about 15 minutes in a small lake with some stiff wind gusts buffeting me. The test paddle convinced me to buy it. With a 26.5 inch waterline, a 6.8 L/W ratio (as computed by Charlie Wilson) and a 2"/1" rocker line, it glides well and seems to be noticeably faster than the average touring/tripping canoe.

The elliptical bottom, soft chines and significant tumblehome give it solid initial stability. I didn't try shifting from a kneeling to sitting position, but I'm confident that one can sit in it with confidence. With no protective (or change of) clothing in the cold air and water conditions, I was reluctant to test the secondary stabilty very far, but it was very solid at about a 35° heel.

It doesn't turn as easily as a Wildfire, which has a 2.5"/2.5" rocker line, and I didn't expect it to, but it turns very satisfactorily for a lake-oriented touring canoe. I'm sure it would turn better with a more aggressive heel. It's not a whitewater design, so I personally wouldn't take it on more than class 1+ rapids.

The moderate depth sheer line (unlike my SRT) and the lack of upswept ends (unlike traditional wood/canvas canoes or modern Prospector models such as Swift's) made it well-behaved in the the wind gusts I experienced.

I bought it because I wanted a much lighter canoe than my 38 lb. Wildfire and 44 lb. SRT for day tripping and, hopefully in my age-weakened condition, to be able to heft a canoe on some overnight lake trips with short portages again.

I plan on taking it out for day trips if the weather warms up over the next two weeks. Hopefully, I can fit into my old drysuit. I'll give a more informed review when I have a few hours in the boat.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

It's a bow/ stern protector.

Yes, for pivoting the boat on the nose when doing a half lift onto a vehicle. Very clever. Thankfully, even in my age-weakened state, I can lift this 28 lb. canoe right over my head and military press it up in the air to a straight-armed position.

 

[memaquay]

Oddly enough, my dodgy heart can still handle 40 to 50 pound canoes no problem. It's my traitorous back that would really enjoy a sub 30 pound canoe. Gonna message my buddy, see if he's still got it.

 

[Punkinhead]

It'll be interesting to hear how it paddles with a double blade.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

It'll be interesting to hear how it paddles with a double blade.

Haha!

For those who are so inclined, I'm sure this sleek canoe paddles very well, and swiftly, with a double blade. Swift sells it as a pack canoe, or one could just remove the solo bench seat and install an aftermarket floor seat.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Enjoy that new canoe, Glenn!

I am so going to copy that stem protector!!