Bell Canoe Northshore

I haven't mentioned much about canoes lately as they have been out of my business life since last August. I was reading some thread the other day on some other chat board and someone was asking about this boat. I don't know how many people own one but I'm lucky enough to and it is the s#%!

You can solo it, paddle with 3 or 4, load a ton of gear in it and still feel like you are in a Bell Canoe and not a barge. I hear that they are doing great work these days so that makes me happy. Hopefully they are churning out more of these.

Basically, it is a Northwoods with 2 feet added in the middle (20.5 ft). Empty, it is still a joy to paddle. Like any high shouldered boat, it responds to leans effortlessly and presents a lot of different "feels" depending on the load you have in it. What does that mean? The more you put in it the wider the boat gets. So, when it is empty it is sporty and quick and when it is loaded the stability increases with the added width by sinking the boat into the water. This is the David Yost/Bell thing and once you try it you should be hooked. Now you just have to figure out where to get the $4k from!!! I wish I had the money all the time but come summer time you won't be able to get me to stop talking about the NorthShore. Mine is NOT FOR SALE!

If you have any questions about this boat I'd be happy to talk. If you don't see the need for one you should go away...

Pickin'

messin' around...the theme song of my head somedays...

What the road looks like

The 32nd hour of road trip. Who needs friends when you can have this much fun by yourself?



I was losing my mind at this point...20 hours straight driving...MT is way too long to be by yourself. Especially when your truck burns 40 cents/mile of diesel fuel. The irony of burning this much fuel to promote PADDLESPORTS!

Eddyline Equinox Review

The “instant gratification” boat from Eddyline Kayaks. If you are looking for a boat that is stable as you are learning but will allow you to develop your skills later then you should take a close look at the Equinox. At 14’ and 25” wide the Equinox is long enough to glide but still easy to manage in rougher conditions. The boat features a multi-chined hull which presents a very stable primary surface and predictable edging with a little effort. The stern rides low to reduce windage and provide good tracking. The Equinox represents that popular class of boats that fall somewhere between light touring and performance recreational.

Just because a boat is recreational doesn’t mean that it can’t be efficient. In my opinion, this is where the Equinox, and any of Tom Derrer’s designs really shine. They are just really efficient. 30 years of design experience! What makes a good wine? A good meal? A good engine? It is the people involved in the design and production. This should factor into your decision and unfortunately the magazines out there can not fit this into a column of numbers. It is not just about weight, width, length and price. Tom Derrer likes to ask customers, “how do you like a boat to feel”? When you can answer that question you are ready to make your own decision. The Equinox is a good place to start.

Eddyline uses the larger sized cockpit on the Equinox. This cockpit is easy to get into but still has thigh braces for bracing and edging. If you are looking for even more room you can have Eddyline custom install the large cockpit without thigh braces. The Equinox can be outfitted with the adjustable backrest for a lot of support or the back band for a more mobile back support. The seat is padded with a removable seat pad. Many paddlers will add extra foam under the removable seat pad to adjust their height in the boat. Any good paddling shop should offer to outfit your boat with additional padding so that it fits your body just right.

Compared to the Merlin LT, the Equinox has much more room and is more stable for the beginner. If you are looking for a smaller package with a similar feel to the Equinox you might take a look at Eddyline’s 12’ Skylark.

Poor Man's Loop

Bending Branches Factory Tour

Made in the USA! Everything all the way down to the raw materials. And they know what they are doing after 30 + years. Many of the employees at Bending Branches have been there for close to 2 decades. Building paddles is both an art and a science and these guys have PHDs in both. Wow! The beginning of a paddle...well actually it starts with trees but I figure you know what a tree looks like.
The lamination is grooved for Bending Branches "Rock Guard" tip to be poured in.

Paddles are hand beveled. This is where the "Art" part comes into play...

Post varnish paddles. These have been dipped several times and are now drying before being boxed.

A composite blade is formed from compression molds and serious attention to detail.

Moonlight Basin/Big Sky

Montana has been tough on me over the years. The weather can come up in a hurry and I seem to always get my share of wind and cold when I visit. This week on my way to Emotion Kayaks and Bending Branches in Wisconsin I was able to spend a couple of days at the new largest ski resort in the US--Big Sky/Moonlight Basin. Step aside Vail...this place kicks your overpriced behind!

Years ago I had been to Big Sky with more typical Montana weather but this time we got fresh snow and then blue skies to follow it up. Just to the North of Big Sky, linked by several runs and lifts, lies the new Moonlight Basin Resort. Moonlight offers good cruising down low and the advanced terrain of the Headwaters above it. The hike to the chutes of the Headwaters will get your heart pumping and the various chutes and cliffs that you can drop into are the real deal. You can also drop into the chutes on the other side of the Headwaters that lead you to the Lone Peak Tram on Big Sky. The Sky is the limit on top of Lone Peak. If you have the skills and equipment you can hike right off the back side of Lone Peak. Just looking down there was enough for me!

The groomers off the Ram Charger lift at Big Sky are a ton of fun and big enough to lay down some high speed super carves. We put our name in at the lodge at the top for lunch and then took a run instead of waiting in line. By the time we got back to the top our table was ready. We were staying at Moonlight so we took a nice cruise home across all 2 resorts. Moonlight is just getting started but I really enjoyed the lack of lift lines and attitude.

The one down side is night life. Locals were adamant that they get some good shows but I think you go to Big Sky/Moonlight for the terrain and beauty of the Northern Rockies. After a day of riding there I didn't need to go any further than the hot tub.

Eddyline Merlin LT

Lightweight and sporty, the Merlin LT is one of my favorite boats for light tripping and play. At 13.5’ and 42 lbs, the LT is easily transported from the water by one hand as you would carry a suitcase! I especially like that the LT will fit into my truck camper for stealth boat transportation when I want to be sure no one will take the kayak from my vehicle when I’m hiking instead of paddling.

The low profile is unaffected by wind and I find it easy to control in even the roughest wind. The cockpit placement is slightly back of center which helps drive the stern deeper into the water. A lot of boats under high winds have a tendency to have their sterns pushed down wind causing the kayak to turn into wind. With slightly more stern in the water the LT will not be pushed off course and the boat had no problem tracking. In following seas, the seat placement gives easy paddle reach to the stern for draws and prys. The relatively short LT can be “teeter-tottered” to weight the bow or stern by leaning forward or back. One fun exercise on a windy day is to lean forward in the boat so the stern slides downwind and then lean back to have the bow blow down wind. You can literally go in circles without paddling!

At 6’ and 170 lbs I fit quite snug in the Merlin LT. I have size 10 feet and have to be careful what footwear I use with the LT so that I can still move my feet around. The LT is a favorite for smaller paddlers because the deck is low enough to allow for an efficient stroke. The paddled seat is comfortable. Eddyline offers two seat back options either a back band which is great for movement or a backrest which offers more support and height. If you are wondering weather the LT is for you, I recommend that you pay the most attention to the thigh brace region. The low deck can make for a nice fit but if you have Lance Armstrong legs you might not be comfortable.

The LT will reward beginners as they improve and will satisfy advanced paddlers looking for a sporty ride.

The LT has front and rear bulkheads so there is not a problem taking it into bigger waters where you might want flotation. Less weight and less windage make for great control in rough water and on rivers. When “less is more” the LT is the boat I grab.

Hibernation Ends...The Season Begins

OK...I disappeared for awhile...

Well not really. I've been getting the vehicles ready and the new website http://www.happypaddlin.com/ .I also snowboarded the great snow at Mt Bachelor and checked to make sure Hawaii was still there. The month of February is about charging the road warrior batteries.

And now the first trip of the season:

Bend OR--Seattle WA--Spokane WA--Missoula MT--Bozeman MT--Bending Branches Factory Wisconsin--Emotion Production Facility Milwaukee WI--Back through MT and then Idaho--Bend OR.......5000 miles!

I wish I had Bamboo's responsibilities on the road...