The New Swift/DY Redesign of the Dragonfly

[Tryin']

Thank you! Very informative.

Dang it. I still need at least three five solo canoes.

Right?!

I wonder how the DF15 would handle 300-320# loads.

 

[BurkeJ]

Right?!

I wonder how the DF15 would handle 300-320# loads.

Right?!

I wonder how the DF15 would handle 300-320# loads.

That shouldn’t be a problem…

 

[ABT]

View attachment 144926
View attachment 144925

Is the far left plug in the photo the aforementioned Prospector 15 solo? Is that just like the combi version with the bow/stern seats removed, or is it a new, narrower design?

Also, I’m assuming the rounder bottom of the dragonfly was mellowed out some into more of a standard Yost shallow arch for the DF 15 based on your comments about the stability, would you say that’s accurate?

 

[BurkeJ]

Is the far left plug in the photo the aforementioned Prospector 15 solo? Is that just like the combi version with the bow/stern seats removed, or is it a new, narrower design?

Also, I’m assuming the rounder bottom of the dragonfly was mellowed out some into more of a standard Yost shallow arch for the DF 15 based on your comments about the stability, would you say that’s accurate?

The P15solo is a new solo. Prolly 32”(ish) wide, easy to do cross strokes. Flatter bottom, very stable. Gear hauler and good fishing platform prolly. Reminded me of a mellowed out StarFire (I’d like to see that boat come back into production).
DF 15 lost the rounded bottom. Really amazing how stable it is without loosing the playfulness. I’d love to try it loaded on some moving water.

 

[NikonF5user]

The P15solo is a new solo. Prolly 32”(ish) wide, easy to do cross strokes. Flatter bottom, very stable. Gear hauler and good fishing platform prolly. Reminded me of a mellowed out StarFire (I’d like to see that boat come back into production).
DF 15 lost the rounded bottom. Really amazing how stable it is without loosing the playfulness. I’d love to try it loaded on some moving water.

The DF15 is sounding more and more like my RockSTAR. I find the RockSTAR plenty playful, however I have yet to paddle it loaded. It's quick to heel which I enjoy, and locks up once you get on the shoulder.

I think the real comparison / competition in this category is between DF15, RockSTAR, and SRT (which is amazing), plus perhaps Supernova (but it has symmetrical rocker). Also Wilderness to a certain extent, but it doesn't have the rocker of the others - it does however have the advantage of being available in T-Formex. To an ever lesser extent I would also add Phoenix because it can be had in IXP, but it's got less freeboard than all the rest...

 

[NikonF5user]

The P15solo is a new solo. Prolly 32”(ish) wide, easy to do cross strokes. Flatter bottom, very stable. Gear hauler and good fishing platform prolly. Reminded me of a mellowed out StarFire (I’d like to see that boat come back into production).
DF 15 lost the rounded bottom. Really amazing how stable it is without loosing the playfulness. I’d love to try it loaded on some moving water.

I paddled a StarFIRE this summer for a couple of weeks and sadly found it very underwhelming. It was particularly depressing to me as I LOVE LOVE LOVE the WildFIRE and I have a FlashFIRE - but the StarFIRE, while very stable in rapids, felt to me more like paddling a prospector - it was hard to get it on edge. I was paddling it heavily loaded - and the boat had been beat to Hades and back - so perhaps that was part of the issue. But it did not entice me as does its smaller siblings..

 

[gumpus]

Well BurkeJ I enjoyed your review of the DF15, especially your comments around playfulness...and the high bow volume characteristic that I think it shares with SRT and DF.

I inherited a Kee15 and while it's not my favorite boat my respect for it just keeps growing. I think it would stand up pretty well to the others on a long lake cruise or in high wind yet it's surprisingly capable on rivers, I can still dodge trees on small rivers, and it can be freestyled on ponds much more enjoyably than other lake boats that I've paddled. I think the Yost magic is the broad performance envelope.

I just picked up a used Starfire set up solo. I love Starfire. Interesting to hear you call DF15 a mellow Starfire...Starfire already seems incredibly mellow( to me) as a solo.

Given your preferences I'd bet you a dollar that you'd like a Swift Osprey. Based on your description of DF15, Osprey is like a smaller version with tons of playfulness but not as much primary stability and no extra bow volume to keep you dry going downstream or to aggravate me going upstream.