Bell Yellowstone Solo Royalex and Northstar Phoenix IXP Solo Canoes Compared

[@jimfromoregonusa9899]

Great presentation as always.....and Brad finally pulled the trigger on a Phoenix....all good....!

[@HappyPaddlin]

Brad also bought it for his son to use who did great in it a couple weeks back! Phoenix IXP is such a great canoe for northwestern waters and lava rock!

[@jimfromoregonusa9899]

@@HappyPaddlin As I can certainly attest to!! And thanks to you!

[@michaelstout5508]

Thanks. I’m looking at getting a Phoenix and this has been helpful

[@chrisharris6037]

I have a 2002 Yellowstone Solo, so this was very informative for me. Just as you said, the ABS is beginning to show through on the ends. I was starting to think about skid plates, but I didn't know if that was a thing for Royalex boats. You didn't even bring that subject up, so I'm assuming that's not the thing to do. You said to just touch it up with acrylic paint. What happens if I do nothing? I've applied 303 to the hull like I do to my Bell Northstar aramid gelcoat. That definitely brings out the shine, but I don't know if that helps the Royalex. As always, thanks for your insights and keep the videos coming.

[@HappyPaddlin]

You can skid your canoe…Kevlar skids with resin. Or, check out gator patch UV cure skids or other heat and stick options (Rec Repair, Bullseye). Personally, I fill gouges that have no more vinyl and maybe into the foam with a little Devcon plastic welder (Ace sells) and then paint over with a little hobby acrylic paint to match. Can do that forever and doesn’t change the entry/exit lines. 303 is always good too so good job there! If you do nothing, eventually you’ll scrape through the hard ABS plastic and expose the foam inside and then that stuff can get brittle and kind of flake out. It kind of becomes a bigger mess but you can still repair as I mentioned above. I talked a lot more about Royalex in this video but edited a lot out because I felt it was just too much of me talking! But, I guess that is what happens on most KZbin channels!

[@BradBurden]

Cool comparison and great fun!

[@HappyPaddlin]

Too much fun. Had to edit 45 mins of raw footage with me talking waaaay too much. I had a lot of thoughts I guess!! Will send ya some other footage. Think you might find it helpful too!

[@NikonF5user]

I'd LOVE to see a side-by-side comparison of the (non-royalex) WildFIRE and Phoenix (sort of like your comparison of the FlashFIRE and Firebird)..

[@HappyPaddlin]

Sold my wildfire if that tells ya how I felt about it ;) Flashfire (sold that too) vs Firebird is pretty much an exact comparison so I’d just say ditto on the Wildfire vs Phoenix. Phoenix depth is a definite improvement for western waters/rivers. Wildfire is fun for freestylin’ and little rivers. IMO and I’m sure others have their take !