PROS & CONS KEVLAR Canoes for Canoe Camping

[@johnbehling1142]

I unfortunately do not have the years enjoying the BWCAW that you do, having just completed my first solo trip there last month. I fell in love as soon as I left the launch site! I'm already planning my next trip. In my limited experience with the Kevlar, I was pleased that it did not take as much damage on the rocks as I had feared. The sounds it made were distressing, but I found that the scratches were only superficial, and none made it through the gelcoat. My old fiberglass canoe would have suffered pretty equally. I found it humorous that I could always tell I was at the correct location for a portage or a camp site by observing the aluminum smears on the rocks- no need to look for a fire grate! I do agree with you 100% on the UV effects on Kevlar. The same is true for fiberglass, carbon, and to a lesser degree the composite plastics, as it's not the cloth that breaks down, it's the resin. Aluminum is the only canoe I would store outside without a sun cover- they are definitely the workhorse of the bunch. As far as repairs, I think we owe it to ourselves and our craft to either learn how to make repairs between trips, or find someone who can. Welding aluminum is not easy, either, and TIG welders aren't cheap- but that kind of damage is a rare event. Personally I am more comfortable patching fiberglass or Kevlar, as those techniques are similar. Carbon? There, I haven't a clue, and don't anticipate a need. All in all, I like my Kevlar canoe, with the exception that my fiberglass canoe was way more stable. I could stand up in it, with care; something my Wenonah will not permit me to do. It does seem more stable with a little weight in it, though. At 42-ish pounds (I haven't weighed it to be sure), it's easy to carry. Also, I think the risk of personal injury from tripping on a rock or root during a portage becomes elevated with a boat that is heavy. If not for portaging, I would prefer my glass canoe (I wish I still had it); it was more stable, and tracked much better thanks to a keel- usually another plus for aluminum, at least the ones I have paddled in the past. Sorry so long... I think I need a canoeing buddy to share stories with- solo does get lonely at times! lol 😆 Keep up the good videos!

[@jimg6261]

Excellent points on the Kevlar/aluminum comparison. I'm still in love with my Alumacraft canoe. That often gets a side eye from other kevlar canoeists I encounter who have even gone to the point of making snide comments! (I feel that what works for them is great and they really should veiw the same for me) Like you said, the really biggest issue is weight. For my purposes however, aluminum advantages outweigh the weight disadvantages over kevlar. I did go with a lighter guage aluminum which puts my 17-footer at about 65 pounds. For that approx. 20# difference I get durability and much more flexibility to dry-foot if I choose since contact with rocks or the shoreline is not a big concern. The portages are a bit more work but they are a small enough portion of the overall canoe trip experience that I don't fret about it. When I have used Kevlar canoes, another thing I missed from my aluminum is a nice foot brace while paddling in the bow. I've jammed gear into the narrow bow opening in kevlar canoes to try and create this but does not work as well for me as when in my Alumacraft.

[@olsonoutdoors783]

I am in the market for a canoe right now and love your videos on canoes, so helpful. Thank you! Subscribed.

[@jodimiddendorf]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Crowtalking]

I have a kevlar canoe and an old town and a coleman. The kevlar is so light but doesn't glide on the lake. No weight means no momentum sink. Fast off the paddle, then dies. Also wind blows it around Easy to portage.

[@777cretbo]

I've only used Aluminum .... But I've never not scraped rocks in the BW. Seems like a very hard thing not to do, scraping rocks. The weight ... wow, can't imaging how great it must be to portage light weight canoe. Thanks for great video Jodi!

[@jodimiddendorf]

I am in awe of those who only use aluminum canoes. They are muscle builders! It is true that they are super durable though. Worth it if you want a canoe that will last and stand up to some banging around on rocks.

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

I used the old aluminum tin can at Loon Lake Lodge on a windy day. It's a tandem boat, and I sat in the rear and paddled with the wind - it was great. Coming back against the wind, with that giant front sail sitting high out of the water, it was a whippy nightmare. Every gust spun me around, almost 180 degrees. On top of that, it was about 75-80 lbs. A brute to get in and out of the water. There's just no way I wanted to portage this thing - even a short distance. But...I loved the experience enough to want to get my own boat, and get on the water a LOT. Picked up a Swift Prospector 14 Pack in the Kevlar Fusion layup in December. Weighs 31 lbs. I know there are lighter boats out there, and there are more durable boats out there - but this boat is just so....versatile. It's not super sleek, but it still paddles/glides more efficiently than one might expect. Can't wait to bring this boat up on the Gunflint Trail this summer. Hoping to get up there a couple times this year...

[@jodimiddendorf]

Strong winds are more terrifying to me on solo trips than any thunder and lightening! Definitely builds some nerve strength. Carrying aluminum canoes even a short distance is a chore. Happy for you and your new boat! That sounds like a very nice one.

[@naps3386]

How did yoour Prospector work out this summer?

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

@@naps3386 It's absolutely fantastic. I bring a LOT of fishing gear with me - three rods 7' rods, a nice sized net hip net for big pike, a big backpack filled with trays for artificial baits, plus a bag for camera gear. There is plenty of space left over in the front and back for a dry bag and food barrel. You could got out into the BWCA for a two to three week trip, easy. Joe Robinet has a 12-day trip series, "Becoming Wild in Wabakimi" with his Prospector 14 Pack. Definitely worth a watch. Swift Canoe employee Scott's take on the Prospector 14 is dead on. Versatility in spades. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZbRqKSnea6dsNE One thing they don't mention - Swift has the best kayak seat in the business. It's well padded and comfortable. I've paddled and sat in this boat for hours while fishing. If you prefer the webbed bench, they have a multi-height seat pod, where you can drop the bench to the same level as the kayak seat. I never planned to sit high, so I opted for the kayak seat with the seat back. So comfy. One of the complaints I keep reading on message boards about the Swift Prospector 14 is it's inefficiency when paddling. I have to disagree, to the point of not believing those people complaining have ever paddled this boat. This thing paddles beautifully, and it can really glide. Doesn't track perfectly straight? No. It's not a like a racer. But it's plenty straight enough. ...I much prefer a kayak paddle with this boat than a single paddle. I wish Northstar Canoes offered something similar to the Prospector 14 Pack, as I would have loved to support a US canoe maker - but they offered nothing like the Pro-14-Pack. I needed a boat that was less than 14' to fit in my garage, had solid initial stability for fishing - as I was going to sit in the water for a long periods of time - with great secondary stability, for leaning the boat. I love that when a bass/ski boat or jet ski sends a big wake my way, the waves just roll under the boat. I can't recommend this boat enough.

[@NorthWoodsWes]

Good stuff Jodi.

[@jodimiddendorf]

Thank you!

[@fatherfoxstrongpaw8968]

you almost got it right. 1: the advantage of Kevlar is Abrasion Resistance! it's also stretchy (good impact resistance depending on binder (resin, epoxy, polly etc). the gel coat isn't to save it from scraping. the point is you can Scrape it more than other materials. the downside is that it's not much better than carbon fiber in compression. both are fragile. Kevlar is best used for an abrasive layer of protection over another material, for example ballistic nylon for lightness or the heavier S-glass fiberglass (common in aviation) as opposed to the weaker E-glass (common fiberglass). but for an all-n-one product, Kevlar is hard to beat when factoring all the variables.

[@jimfromoregonusa9899]

Excellent review and spot on!!

[@jodimiddendorf]

Glad you liked it!

[@jeffshadow2407]

We still have our 16' Holy Cow canoe that has not been used since we bought it in 2006!

[@golfish8589]

The kevlar canoes are faster because of the shape of the bow and stern. The curves in these areas are "compound bends" you can not do compound bends with aluminum . The kevlar is used in bullet proof vests. Kevlar is like fiberglass and can be layed up in a complex curve. Kevlar canoes are also much quieter and cooler besides faster and lighter. It makes a huge difference when a canoe weighs 45 lbs instead of 72 lbs

[@jodimiddendorf]

Great points!

[@IanSebryk]

thank you. was looking into the kevlar canoes. think I'll look at other materials instead. my area is very rocky.

[@jodimiddendorf]

T-formex is great for areas like that. They are a bit heavier, but doable!

[@TJackSurvival]

Awesome video Jodi

[@rc3489]

Would you consider an aluminum canoe to be more stable than a Kevlar?

[@allenwilson5235]

I have been a river paddler for decades, but I want do a BWCA trip next summer. Would it be nuts to take my Penobscot 17 royalex boat?

[@gnohn9366]

i used my Pennobscot 17 Royalex for years in BWCA, and it worked great. I hated to part with it but as i got older I had to go with a lighter weight option. The Pennobscot was also a popuar canoe the outfitters commonly rented in the BWCA before kevlar took over. If you are young and strong go for it. I doesnt weigh any more than aluminum and you still see plenty of those. Just install some good portage yoke pads.

[@allenwilson5235]

@@gnohn9366 Strong yes, young meh 57. Getting a full set of cortisone before the trip. My Penobscot is much lighter than my old Discovery or a Buffalo. I have decided the weight is not that much greater and I can probably run some creeks, or line them, that get portaged by composite boats. Besides, I KNOW this boat like an extension of my body. Making my own pads, and an otter tail paddle.

[@ericvanhandel1122]

A benefit of a kevlar boat over a royalex/t-formex boat is you can always recoat with epoxy/resin whereas a plastic boat doesn't really have the option for that. Also, a well maintained kevlar boat tends to hold it's value for it's life.

[@jodimiddendorf]

Yes! Thank you for the input.

[@WolvenWeaver]

I'm actually trying to convince my folks to switch from an Aluminum Canoe to a Kevlar one. The aluminum canoe they have is great and practically indestructible, but it's a 70lb boat and they're just getting too old to be able to move it around without somebody helping them out. They can still manage it for now, but only barely! Alas, my dad especially is a notorious penny pincher. So whenever he sees that price tag, he kinda balks at the entire notion.

[@edwardenglish6919]

What are your choices of the best built kevlar canoes?

[@RealDeanWinchester]

What is that thing on your wrist?

[@jodimiddendorf]

It is a hair tie. Just a large pooofy one.

[@jodimiddendorf]

Random question. Ha.

[@RealDeanWinchester]

@@jodimiddendorf thought it might have been some kind of survival thingy like a Paracord bracelet or something??

[@jodimiddendorf]

@@RealDeanWinchester OHHH that makes sense. I do have a paradors bracelet that I like to bring camping. This however, is just a scrunchie-type thing. :)

[@naps3386]

I have wanted a Kevlar canoe for so long, they are still expensive…even used.

[@jodimiddendorf]

This is true. The past 2ish years the prices have sky-rocketed. Maybe try reaching out to outfitters and letting them know you are looking for a used kevlar. They sometimes keep lists of people to call when they need to sell their 1-2 year old canoes and get newer models. They can still be expensive, but you never know what might pop up. and honestly, Royalex or T-formex canoes will be heavier but are super durable. If I could go back I think I would look for a used aurora Royalex.

[@golfish8589]

Call every outfitter in Northern Minnesota for their used canoes. Even a $1000 dollar canoe is a great investment. It will last you for ever if taken care of. Some outfitters sell at the end of each season. Check their websites. Ask if they have any banged up canoes. We purchased a used outfitter kevlar canoe 20 years ago. After 20 years. The inside condition has barely changed. The outside we have resurfaced. No big deal

[@jeffreyerwin3665]

Kevlar canoes are fast because you get a longer length for a given weight and because this material, like fiberglass, accepts a refined canoe hull shape that is faster than what can be constructed out of aluminum. I don't think that 20 lbs of less hull weight has much to do with the speed of the boat considering that it is going to be loaded with hundreds of pounds of crew and gear.

[@Eric0778]

So when can we go camping together? Bring your kevlar

[@justadutchman5169]

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