Wanted - Bell Magic

[nibi mocs]

FWIW... my impression of the Voyager is that it's a very "lively", tender boat that will fly across the water, if you can keep the open side up.

Most true solos that I've been in feel a bit tippy to start with. With the Voyager, I never lost that tippy feeling. The Magic also felt tippy to start with but, I was able to "meld" with it and feel comfortable very quickly.

I tried both boats empty. Each would, of course, stabilize when loaded. But, I think most people need a boat they feel comfortable in both loaded and unloaded.

Of course, each person has their own perceptions of tippiness so, it's always best to try -- and, if possible, to try both with and w/o a load.

my $.02 for tonight

[PG]

I went to the canoe review site at:

www.paddling.net/Reviews/ Canoes.phtml

One thing mentioned in reviews of the Voyager was problems with wind. When I've soloed with my 1936 Oldtown - the only real problem I've had was wind.

Not really interested in paying that kind of money and having the same problem.

PG

[Ragamuffin]

Hi PG!
I own a Magic and love it. My first trip out in it (I met Beaglefur on Little Gabbro), it had me holding the gunwales and praying for a soft landing. I got blown to the end of the lake and put the first scratch contributions from me on the hull. Since then, I've gotten used to the feel, and paddling it fully loaded is pure joy. Quite different than empty. Even empty, with a footbrace & backband installed I'm completely comfortable in it now (my knees don't allow me to kneel anymore). I'm possibly interested in selling it (I do alot of business with Bell, and need to see what my "new" one will cost me), but Jim Balow has first "dibs" on it. It's white gold with green gelcoat. I haven't seen any reliability issues with it at all.
What I've heard on the Voyager is that it also has a "lively" feel to it, and the gunwales are so narrow that the larget packs (#4) won't fit.
Hope that helps - if you ever get near Rochester, talk to Nibi - we'll head to Chester Woods and give you a chance to paddle it (the best thing to do, of course!)

[PG]

Rags:

Well. I'll certainly take you up on that if the opportunity presents itself.

Let me know, too, if Jim looses interest.

PG