Hey MT

You talked a little about spray covering the Bell, CCS makes fine ones from what I have heard. I am sure that you could add a skeg and skeg  box and rudder to the bell and have a boat that would be more sea worthy and one that you already know well.

marlin55388 wrote on Jan 13^th, 2011 at 2:54pm:


I've thought about it and if I ever get into whitewater tripping I think I can get by with the Bell with a spray cover.

The expedition looks like a seriously cool boat for what I have in mind. These are fairly new so the reviews are limited although the one I read was very positive. I think he has only made a dozen or so. The boat looks to be copied off the Kruger sea wind however and those reviews are almost all super positive for that boat.

My guess is that if these get some traction the price is likely to go up and not down. The sea wind is 5k which is out of reach for me. The expedition comes in $1500 less right now and if I put in 20 hours per day at work instead of 15 (I have a low hourly wage ) and be super sweet to the missus for a couple of weeks I bet one could end up in the shop suspended from the ceiling.

I am a firm believer in the old saying........"It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission".

So are you going to the get the mast option too? What is the rocker like...not spec'ed?

I believe that boat would be a good choice.  I've met the owner of Superior Canoes, and if you are anywhere near the area, he almost always displays his boats at the Quietwater Symposium at Michigan State University the first weekend of March.

The Sawyer boats that are on the website are his attempt to revive the previous Sawyer Canoe Company.  He purchased the forms several years ago and is currently making those models.  One of my canoes is an old Sawyer and they are great boats.

The Superior is very much like a Kruger Canoe.  I have put my 17foot solo up against those boats on several occasions during the Hugh Heward Challenge (an event started by Verlen Kruger).  While those boats are heavy, they are fast and efficient.  Those who have them and paddle them love them.  I do believe that the Kruger Canoes are alos still being built.

If you get a chance look up the book "All Things Are Possible."  It is a biography about Verlen Kruger and would give you a lot of insight regarding that boat design.  

Good luck and enjoy your journey!

Is the Superior the same design as the Sawyer Loon? One of the boats Kruger derived from his original decked design. I think Mad River also made one (does the Monarch sound right?).

Pictures of a loon (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)