Northstar Phoenix
I finally did it. I ordered a new canoe. This is the first canoe that I have ever custom ordered, I usually buy used boats. Here is why I got it:
I currently have three fast, straight-tracking solo touring canoes and a couple of solo whitewater boats, a Hornbeck 10 for my wife, and a few kayaks, but no canoe that is ideal for tight twisty creeks and swampy paddling that one often finds in South Carolina. I have been using the touring canoes but have had to back out of some spots instead of turning around in the creek. I needed a more maneuverable canoe in my quiver. The Northstar Phoenix is the canoe that I chose to fill this gap.
I had paddled a Phoenix canoe at the Western Pennsylvania Solo Canoe Rendezvous and really enjoyed it. The feel of the Phoenix reminded me of my old Yellowstone Solo, but larger, which is a good thing for me. The nimbleness and glide of the Phoenix stuck in my mind and I decided that I would like to add one to my stable of canoes. I started watching for one to appear on Craigslist or one of the other websites that I monitor, but few showed up. The ones that did were mostly in the IXP layup and were costing close to the original retail price. My ideal Phoenix would be in the Blacklight layup with wood trim, but it seems that this combo is not too common in the Southeast.
To get my “dream boat” it looked like I would have to order one. I looked up the Northstar website to verify that the nearest dealer was still the one near Savanna, Georgia, which is over four hours away. Looking over the dealer list I noted the Sunrift Outfitters in Travelers Rest SC was now listed as a dealer. They are about 45 minutes from my home and I have shopped there many times in the past few decades, picking up hiking and paddling gear. On September 21st I called the shop and talked to the owner. He sounded surprised; he had just hit “send” on placing their fall order just a minute before and said that if I decided soon that I could get the Phoenix on the same order, which should be here in six to eight weeks. If I waited, the next order would be in the spring. I told him that I would be back in touch that afternoon.
I wanted to see what options were available on the canoe besides the layup and wood gunnels so I called Northstar. The phone was answered by Bear and we had a great conversation about canoeing, the Phoenix, options and the delivery time; it would be no problem to schedule it in since he had just received the Sunrift order. After chatting for a while, I told Bear to watch for the order to come in soon. I called back to Sunrift and started the order process for the Phoenix. Besides the Blacklight layup and wood trim, I also added internal skid plates and went with the kneeling drops as they ship with sitting drops if you do not specify. The transaction went smoothly and now all I could do was wait.
At the five week point I called back to Northstar to check on the delivery estimate. I ended up talking the driver that would deliver the canoes. He checked on my Phoenix; it was finished and ready for delivery. He then checked his schedule and said that if all went as scheduled, he would be at Sunrift on Tuesday, November 7th. That would be just over six and a half weeks from ordering. Whoopie!
On Monday November 6th, right at 6 1/2 weeks from placing the order, I found a message on my phone; the Phoenix had arrived a day early. I bustled on over to Sunrift and driving up I saw a bunch of new Northstar canoes sitting by the storage building, most still in their wrappings. One of those was my Phoenix. After several employees gathered around, they removed the three protective layers and I saw my canoe. It was beautiful and in perfect shape after it’s long trip from Minnesota to South Carolina. I loaded it up on the car and drove back home. It was a bit late in the day to go paddling, so I saved that for tomorrow.
I tested my new Phoenix on a sunny, 81-degree November day at a small local lake. There was a light breeze rising as I set the canoe into the water. I had been used to sitting while paddling, except while using a whitewater pedestal or saddle, so getting into a kneeling position with my size 12 feet under a seat even with kneeling drops took a few tries. I finally, but not too gracefully, managed it although it will take some practice to get this move down. In the kneeling position the Phoenix was quite stable and responded well to the different paddle strokes that I tried. I also sat on the seat and the canoe was a bit tender, but still more stable than I remembered. After this 1½ hour paddle along the autumn colored banks, I am looking forward to getting it on moving water.
I finally did it. I ordered a new canoe. This is the first canoe that I have ever custom ordered, I usually buy used boats. Here is why I got it:
I currently have three fast, straight-tracking solo touring canoes and a couple of solo whitewater boats, a Hornbeck 10 for my wife, and a few kayaks, but no canoe that is ideal for tight twisty creeks and swampy paddling that one often finds in South Carolina. I have been using the touring canoes but have had to back out of some spots instead of turning around in the creek. I needed a more maneuverable canoe in my quiver. The Northstar Phoenix is the canoe that I chose to fill this gap.
I had paddled a Phoenix canoe at the Western Pennsylvania Solo Canoe Rendezvous and really enjoyed it. The feel of the Phoenix reminded me of my old Yellowstone Solo, but larger, which is a good thing for me. The nimbleness and glide of the Phoenix stuck in my mind and I decided that I would like to add one to my stable of canoes. I started watching for one to appear on Craigslist or one of the other websites that I monitor, but few showed up. The ones that did were mostly in the IXP layup and were costing close to the original retail price. My ideal Phoenix would be in the Blacklight layup with wood trim, but it seems that this combo is not too common in the Southeast.
To get my “dream boat” it looked like I would have to order one. I looked up the Northstar website to verify that the nearest dealer was still the one near Savanna, Georgia, which is over four hours away. Looking over the dealer list I noted the Sunrift Outfitters in Travelers Rest SC was now listed as a dealer. They are about 45 minutes from my home and I have shopped there many times in the past few decades, picking up hiking and paddling gear. On September 21st I called the shop and talked to the owner. He sounded surprised; he had just hit “send” on placing their fall order just a minute before and said that if I decided soon that I could get the Phoenix on the same order, which should be here in six to eight weeks. If I waited, the next order would be in the spring. I told him that I would be back in touch that afternoon.
I wanted to see what options were available on the canoe besides the layup and wood gunnels so I called Northstar. The phone was answered by Bear and we had a great conversation about canoeing, the Phoenix, options and the delivery time; it would be no problem to schedule it in since he had just received the Sunrift order. After chatting for a while, I told Bear to watch for the order to come in soon. I called back to Sunrift and started the order process for the Phoenix. Besides the Blacklight layup and wood trim, I also added internal skid plates and went with the kneeling drops as they ship with sitting drops if you do not specify. The transaction went smoothly and now all I could do was wait.
At the five week point I called back to Northstar to check on the delivery estimate. I ended up talking the driver that would deliver the canoes. He checked on my Phoenix; it was finished and ready for delivery. He then checked his schedule and said that if all went as scheduled, he would be at Sunrift on Tuesday, November 7th. That would be just over six and a half weeks from ordering. Whoopie!
On Monday November 6th, right at 6 1/2 weeks from placing the order, I found a message on my phone; the Phoenix had arrived a day early. I bustled on over to Sunrift and driving up I saw a bunch of new Northstar canoes sitting by the storage building, most still in their wrappings. One of those was my Phoenix. After several employees gathered around, they removed the three protective layers and I saw my canoe. It was beautiful and in perfect shape after it’s long trip from Minnesota to South Carolina. I loaded it up on the car and drove back home. It was a bit late in the day to go paddling, so I saved that for tomorrow.
I tested my new Phoenix on a sunny, 81-degree November day at a small local lake. There was a light breeze rising as I set the canoe into the water. I had been used to sitting while paddling, except while using a whitewater pedestal or saddle, so getting into a kneeling position with my size 12 feet under a seat even with kneeling drops took a few tries. I finally, but not too gracefully, managed it although it will take some practice to get this move down. In the kneeling position the Phoenix was quite stable and responded well to the different paddle strokes that I tried. I also sat on the seat and the canoe was a bit tender, but still more stable than I remembered. After this 1½ hour paddle along the autumn colored banks, I am looking forward to getting it on moving water.
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