I just got a nw solo thanks to you! Now I need a paddle and want to support bending branches. I will probably do a mix of slow rivers and small lakes. No real canoe experience here. The beavertail and explorer plus keep popping up on my radar, would you suggest either one of these over the other? Thanks for all your knowledge

Get a used Necky or Ocean Kayak for a better kayak for half the price. Most Walmart yaks are made to accommodate plump individuals and are made so wide and flat (for stability and logistics) especially on the bottom that they have terrible tracking ( meaning they have a lot of side to side movement when paddling which means lots of wasted energy)

Thank you! Very helpful connections to using previously learned strokes

Hey Ethan, as professional or highly experienced kayaker. How high do you rank adjustable footrests on a kayak?

Thanks a lot for the presentation. Is it possible to use the 410 as a single 1 person kayak with the seat.? Is it possible to install the seat in the middle.? Thanks

Don’t waste your money on garbage go get a real kayak

A couple questions. What trim would be the quietest when you set your fishing rod down on the gunnel? I don't want to spook the fish. Can you permanently mount a portaging yoke in these solo boats and still sit or kneel or do you need removable? Seems like that could get old if you had a lot of short portages between lakes

Really enjoyed that. Nicely done!

An unbelievable day and thank you Ethan for letting us be a part of this great capture!

Picked up a Pelican Motion 100 for 150 from Walmart a couple of days ago. It's missing a few of the perks other ones have, but i figured I could probably get my money back at that price. I can't wait to take it out!

Great video Ethan, I really enjoyed your paddle. Almost like I was there. Question for you, what is the PFD you are wearing in this video? In the market.

For the sit-on-tops, isn't a hatch that "gives access to the entire boat" a swamping hazard, to say nothing of gear being able to slide to an inaccessible spot? Does it really work that way?

I feel like Lifetime hit a home run with that hull design, and price point. I feel like they use the same or similar hull design for the 10’ sit in as well.

Perfecto...

Watching from Texas. I want a canoe for my neaby lakes. Thanks for sharing

I'm 5'9", 160. Intermediate experience. Big flat water rivers and lakes. Mostly been paddling a borrowed Old Town 13' Castine and am leaning toward a Sitka. Kinda don't want a boat longer than 14' but wondering if an ST would be too tight for me?

I have the Boost, and wife has a Lifetime Spitfire which is the same boat as the Tahoma. The spitfire paddles easier, and Boost is more stable. But tahoma, tamarack, and spitfire are a better boat.

Enjoyed here in MN

Those Northstar's are so gorgeous! You should do another deep dive on the Polaris!

This video is very helpful! Thanks!

💕Canoeing is good for the soul! 💕

This was so great! Make more of these. Those shots you setup attaining and playing on the eddy lines were cool. More Canoe please.

Loved what you wrote as well my friend....

So awesome! Looked like a great day on the river with our friend JM. It's not possible to have "enough talk about canoes!" Thanks for posting Ethan!

AAAaaaahhhhh.... needed that. Thanks, Ethan

dear fishing kayakers, do you enjoy being barely bigger than the fish you're trying to catch? or is the waterskiing part of the fun?

Dose the hull warp in heat ?

That was extremely helpful! Thank you. I just purchased a Sitka St and was trying to determine if it was too small for an average sized adult. This video has clarified that.

...These boats are in the summer time fun category...they do not require a high level of skill to use, and it's easy to justify the price with only a few times out on the water... ...Also, spend a few extra dollars on a good PFD (aka. life jacket) that is comfortable enough to wear all day...

Nice, Ethan - that's what I'm striving for

I’d love to have a lightweight boat like these, if I had the money 😂

I absolutely love my BB Black Pearl II paddles and sunburst! Thinkin bout a custom 48” beaver tail. 👍👍😁🇺🇸

That’s a great video. I had both of the Ozark Trail boats, when they were made under the Sundolphin name. The sit on top was so unstable that it never got used but the sit inside wasn’t bad at all. It got me into kayak fishing.

Am I pushing the limit of this boat weighing 210? I know the capacity is 275, bit minus the weight of the boat and having some gear with me seems like I'm getting close to being too heavy. What's your opinion? Thanks!

See, that's the setup that I want! Nice!! I'm currently setting up my bike, where did you get your trailer?

I just went and looked at them a few days ago at my local Walmart. The models there are different from the ones in tbe video...2 are the same. I'm not a fisherman and won't want or need and angler kayak, because I'll never use all those fishing accessories, plus the weight is incredible at approximately 60lbs dry. Pelican has a 38lb. 10 footer RamX that I looked at. But really wanted a 120X 12' for tracking. I've paddled a bunch and have done some pretty long coastal treks in Florida and a bunch of inland waterway travels. My go-to is a 12'-13' boat. I weight about 190 and 5'10" so with camping gear and supplies the boat sits nicely on its lines...I mean the ones that I have personally owned. The thing is that I started looking around in my area for higher-line used kayaks and found that I could pick up a used but in really good shape touring kayak for roughly the same price as one of the Walmart kayaks...I found a bunch of Aquaterras 14' for $200-$500 with loads of extras, paddles, seats, bags, etc. And they're real touring designs. I'm a former sailboat builder and a cruiser. My current boat is a 1976 Balboa 26'SK (profile pic). So I'm sensitive to "ugly" designs and all these heavy, big box, blow moulded fishing yaks are UAF. I don't think that I would waste the money. There's actually hundreds of free or cheap kayak plans out there. I'm thinking I'm going to build myself a hybrid kayak/canoe like the TOTO on Duckworks, with actual watertight compartments and bulkheads...nothing over 40 lbs is my motto, making it easy to port and put up on the racks of my SUV. I know these entry level, budget boats have a place...I get it and everyone needs a starting point. But man, a little due diligence and research is worth 2 or 3 cheap purchases. Most people won't make it past the first couple of seasons if they're paddling their asses off and doing donuts on the water cause they can't get the boat to track, or if it weighs a ton and they avoid taking it to the water altogether. Just my thoughts.

Any insight on how the northwind compares to a swift keewaydin?

Note....I didn't realize there was outdoor vs. regular weldwood. What seemed like it worked fine,......I'm in Arkansas and it's hot here....came unglued and will be redoing with G-flex. I'm not sure if the outdoor wildwood would hold up to the high temps any better, but when riding on the roof of my truck and 95+ degrees....just didn't keep the "stick".

I’m primarily a whitewater kayaker, but recently paddled my first whitewater canoe and had a blast with that. I would really love to see some ocoee content. I’m searching for an open boat now while I try to get more seat time in boats and save some cash.

I am researching now for a solo canoe and have narrowed it down to the Northstar Magic or Northwind Solo canoes (in BlackLite) and the Wenonah Wilderness Solo canoe (in Kevlar UL). I'm leaning to the Northwind Solo so this video was super helpful. I would use it for canoeing trips in Temagami, Quetico and Algonquin. Any experience with the Magic or Wilderness you can lay on me? I got to paddle a Magic briefly on a trip recently and it was a rocket on the water compared to our old tandem Kevlar Mad River Explorers. The Magic is the only solo canoe I've ever paddled so any insight you have would be appreciated. Cheers, Pete

Looks like a very fun event. Cool to see all these nice canoes in one spot!

Good times ! 👍👍

Thanks Ethan. Nice to see all the various canoes on the water at the same time and be able to see the differences between them.

Nice canoes with good design.

Thanks for sharing that information. I was wondering what your height is so I can get an idea of the paddle lengths you mentioned?

YOU are a man on the move!! Another great review and video! And good to see Brad!

Good to see a B19! haven't seen to many.

Time capsule stuff.... great little family and your son is way bigger now from your latest video with the Pearl. The years flash by... enjoy every minute!

Thanks for the great time Ethan!

So all that graceful maneuvering did eventually turn into "Swan Lake"...