I have decided to revisit this thread I started 7 years ago. Thank you all for the thoughts and conversation.
I have had 4 solo canoes over those seven years. Kept my Hemlock Kestrel because it is awesome (even though it hasn’t been used in a year). Bought and sold a Mad River Guide and a Mohawk Probe 2. Turns out I definitely wasn’t looking for a heavy boat or a white water boat.
Last spring (2019) I bought a new solo canoe. I found a boat that was good for trips up to two weeks, good with a 240 pound load, good for kneeling or sitting, efficient on lakes but still able to handle moving water and river tripping. Not too heavy. Not an eggshell. I traded off efficiency on lakes for more maneuverability on rivers. I traded of light weight for more durability. At the beginning of this conversation I said I wanted a smaller Swift Osprey or a Hemlock Kestrel with more rocker. I found an excellent compromise in a smaller package.
I bought a Northstar Firebird in IXP layup. IXP is touted as a very tough layup suitable for extended river tripping and expedition whitewater. Not sure I buy that. But it is tough and I will be taking it down some remote rivers. The Firebird is the lesser known little brother to the Northstar Phoenix. The Phoenix was a reincarnation of the Bell Wildfire. My Firebird is a reincarnation of the Bell Flashfire. Only it is a bit bigger all around. 13'6" long, 25"wl width, 29" max width. 2 1/2" symmetrical rocker. I bought this last spring directly from Northstar. I hummed and hawed over it for nearly a year until Bear Paulsen gave me a great deal and made me a very happy paddler. I have earned a reputation for going through canoes. It may surprise some of you to know this is the first brand new canoe I have ever owned.
Some people think of this boat as a dainty freestyle boat for smaller people. The Flashfire was Cliff Jacobsons favorite boat for many years. Cliff is a smaller guy. On the flip side Pknoerr at 6’3” and 180 lbs really likes the Flashfire for playing in White water. I took a real chance buying this without paddling or even having seen one. A year later it turns out the Firebird is a hoot. Not just a boat for spinning around on ponds. Sure it turns on a dime, but it also paddles quick, is easy to control, and is comfortable to sit still in while fishing. Not as fast, light or windproof as my Hemlock Kestral but better in a lot of other ways. It is so much fun as a river boat. Easily able to handle C2’s. Eddy’s in and out of current predictably. Very maneuverable and quick to respond. It is just an awesome all-round versatile boat.
