It' been a year now since Ted Bell came out with new canoes and a new company, Bell Composites.  I'm curious if any QJr's have paddled a new Bell Composites canoe, and what did you think of it? 

prouboy

I got a chance to paddle one of Piragis' new Bell's in late July just before a 9 day August Q trip.  I got to town about 5 days early before my crew arrived so I could bum around town a few days vs. the typicaly drive up/paddle/head back.  I met Jeanne Bourquin at the Blueberry Arts Festival - cool. 

I took out several of Piragis' solo boats including the Bell Magic.  It's a really great boat with secondary stability that took me quite by surprise.  I was 'testing' that feature and was sure I had pushed past its limit and was going for swim, but popped right back up.  A great paddling canoe, but not for me as the gunnels are way too narrow for how I like to paddle.  With a 23" gunnel width, there's no room for knees up...kinda confined.  Last summer I paddled an outfitter's older Northwoods in Wabakimi and I own an older Northwind.  The quality seemed to be commensurate with the older Bells.  I'd like to get a solo Bell for local use, perhaps a Merlin II will do the trick.

pd

"Same Bell Magic" but no tumblehome, correct, which doesn't seem like same to me but I understand?

Roger that.  With a 23" GW and a 29" MW, per the specs, there's plenty of tumblehome!  I'm keeping my eye out for a good solo.  I like the Prism quite well too and thought a lot about the Savage River boats...depends on what's available.  I haven't seen anything on the Pheonix, Prouboy - do you have any links to some info on it, pictures, specs, etc.?

pd

I have a bell magic that I have taken many trips in. I now use it for local paddling because I have a much better tripping solo.  My new (3 years and 6 trips old) solo canoe is easier to paddle, faster, less effected by the wind, and much easier to portage.  Look at the RapidFire at.
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Prouboy
If you are going to stop at Placid give them a call first .  They have water near and you could go for a paddle.

The new Bell solo for 2014 is not the Phoenix, it doesn't have a name yet, but is 15.5 ft long, 30 inches wide, 26.5" waterline, and has 2 in bow, 1" stern rocker.  Waterline Length/Width is ~ 6.7, so it'll track better than Phoenix, not quite as well as Magic. Maybe the Merlin III?  Drawn by Carl Yost, it is the largest in the Yost series of solo trippers.

charlie wilson wrote on Jan 28^th, 2014 at 5:59pm:

I saw your post and I started to ask “Isn’t the Magic a Yost solo tripper?”.  Then I noticed the name Carl Yost.  Who’s Carl Yost? What other boats has he designed?  Has the torch been passed?
I own 3 boats with a DY on the tail and love them all.   

Curious, since I couldn't make it to 'Copia.....was Ted Bell there and were there any new boats or other Bell news?

pd

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I just got the answer today in the mail.  A new Piragis catalog arrived with a full page of Bell boats. (okay, maybe 3/4 page....). Page 8 shows overhead and side profiles for the Northwind 20, 18, 17, 16, the Magic, and the Phoenix. 

The specs on the Phoenix are 14'6" LOA, 3" bow rocker, 2.5' stern, 18.5" bow depth, 12.5" center, 16.5" stern, mw is 30", gw is 26", wl is 27", kevlight @ 32lbs, blacklight @ 35lbs and $2250/$2650 respectively.  The description says "Ted Bell's sport utility solo canoe. Carries a load and maneuvers easily." 

See them on Piragis' website at (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) Interesting is the Northstar Canoes label and logo at the bottom of the Bell ad.

Anyone have any experience with the Phoenix yet?  Looks like a good bit of rocker for so short of a canoe.

pd

Hey all,

My name is Bear. I'm working with Ted. I spent 6 years at the pre-ORC Bell Canoe managing the Accessory Program. We are Northstar Canoes. We're aiming to have the website up in late May.

Here are specs to the boats in question.
Magic: same as before
Northwind Solo: 15'6": widths 26/30/27: rocker 2.5/1.5: shear 17.5/12.5/15
Phoenix: 14'6": widths 26/30/27: rocker 3/2.5: shear 18.5/12.5/16.5
NW Solo is a slightly larger Merlin. The Phoenix is a slightly larger Wildfire/Yellowstone Solo. We expect to make molds for both boats soon, but the Phoenix has priority. We didn't expect the NW Solo to arrive so quickly.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me at info@northstarcanoes

I just purchased a rapidfire today from placidboat works. I live in mpls. how do you like the boat?  I was going to get a spitfire 13 but since his fire not quite a year ago he does not have the mold made yet. he thought the spitfire may be too small for a 200 lb person so talked me into the rapidfire. plan on using it mostly for photography and video work. taking on vacations to various parts of the us to use while on vacstion at different lakes and rivers.

yes it will be shipped next week. Of course i did not order any extra colors. just plain and a couple of accessories. he is only having the glued in seat now no sliding seat and no wood trim which is ok. also looked at some other boats, but I think he makes a good boat. not that I know anything. never owned a canoe before been kayaking last 3 years.

you said you were just up there do you live out east or do you live in Mn?