I own an Argosy and use it for small creeks. I agree unless you're a small guy it might be a bit small to stay dry on whitewater rivers, although Cliff J always used a Bell Wildfire (same size) on the Steel River. The Steel isn't a big river though, and Cliff is a small guy.

I'd look at Bell's Rockstar too.

Send me an email and I'll forward you to a Raven owner.

This canoe gets good reviews. A little bigger than some solo's but still responsive.

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where you at ?  Floridiana ?

I suggest you add the Wenonah Rendezvous to your list.

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I have one and use it extensively for river tripping.  Handles CII well and is good enough tracking that many people I know paddle thiers sit n' switch.

while Wen only shows the boat in Rx, you can get them in tuffweave layup or kevlar layups - they are common enough that you can likely find used ones in the 5 to 8 hundred dollar range - new, they run about 300 less than Raven.

I can think of 7 other people here who have the boat (likely there are more than that in the groups I paddle with) -only  one is Rx, the others are composite and they get used in the same CII tripping condions as teh Rx boats.  Everybody I know that has one likes the boat and I've never heard of anyone getting rid of thiers for something else - I have taken mine thru CIII on daytrips - sometimes without swimming - just a bit too long and not enough rocker for that, but doable.  The boat is fairly dry, but with its sharp entry, it helps to backpaddle in the biggest waves to give the bow a chance to rise. 

I've never seen a Raven, but comparing the specs, the 'vous is a bit longer and slimmer - I think it is the fastest of the solo "river trippers", and it is a bit more of an all round boat than the Raven.  Raven may be a tad better in technical ww - or not?

Two years ago, I had mine on a trip with 4 sea kayaks on a mostly C1 river with a bit of C11 - did 60 miles in two days, and I wasn't the slowest boat.  Have done the first 60 miles of Missinaibi from Dog Lake in 3 days - that's about 50 miles of lake and 10 river with 3? portages, with a load for 28 days.

There are usually several tandems in our groups - i never have any trouble keeping up with them.   

For CII, you will want to "bag" the boat and install knee pads so you can kneel in the bigger rapids - but you'd need to do that with the Raven or any other boat as well.

I used my boat last Satruday on the Colorado - 3? sections of CII wave train and many CI's in 14 miles, and I never took on any water. 

I do pack a lot lighter than you (one reason my knees haven't totally blown out yet - ha ha) but you should have no trouble packing a week's worth of gear or more.  Typically, I carry a large dry bag behind the seat and ahead of the floatation bag, a smallish cooler squeezed in between them; and daypack and misc ahead of the front thwart behind the bow bag- you can pack stuff under the bags and inflate to hold in place as well.

some people don't like the Rendezvous - mostly that is due to older Rx boats not being set up right ('05 and prior vintage I think - mine is '05 and I did the recommended modifications) - later boats have more flare and the seat positioned better.  You can get a sliding bucket seat if you prefer that style - at least that is what my friends all have in thier kev boats.

worth considering anyways

Thanks for taking the time Mat, I have come to have respect for your opinion.

I took a look at the Rendezvous. I too came across some of the negative reviews of the older models. For some odd reason I am not drawn to Wenonah hulls (Even though I have never paddled one!!).

I'm thinking I need decent volume. I'm not going all that way for a 10 day trip. 2 weeks would be minimum. My focus would be pool and drop type rivers such as the bloodvein and the Berrens.

Yup, I haven't a clue about the rocker (or lack thereof) in the Expedition. I know it has a foot controlled rudder. It should do nicely in the glades. Like my Magic, I bought it without ever having laid eyes on it, much less taken it for a test drive. With no dealers in Michigan I wouldn't be surprised to follow suit with the Raven. Crazy I know.........

I too highly respect M_M opinions. But I have to disagree with him on the Rendezvous, or at least repeat it's a love it/hate it boat. The people I know didn't have a trim problem, it was too much tumblehome for pushy directional waves. Though it might be better on big western whitewater rivers than it is on more technical whitewater. They seem to really push them in Colorado.

The Supernova was said to be "not a very responsive boat". This was from a river guide/outfitter who rented them. He preferred a more full blown ww boat though, i.e. Dagger Genesis, Esquif Vertige, they're slow on the flats.

The whole idea of doing rivers is running some kind of current. Eventually you'll wish you had a boat that would turn quick and dance with you in the ww stuff, even if it's slow paddling the flats.

MT, If you need ww experience and want to try the Bloodvein, look at Northern Soul. I've done several outfitted river trips, not w/NS, but I talked to them @ canoecopia and I would go with them. Somebody is always needing ww lessons during a trip. You get a trip and lessons too. You will probably get into bigger ww with they're blessings by the end of the trip than you would if you did it solo & by the seat of your pants. Just make sure you're honest about your paddling experience when you talk to them.

All just my opinion. I know the DIY urge is strong, but I'll bet you'd be glad you took a trip with a ww instructor/guide.