Comments on: How to Pick a Bell Solo Canoe

By: Jaakko Mäkikylä

Jaakko Mäkikylä — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:19:44 +0000

I have had Wildfire RX, Magic KL, Merlin II Black Gold, Northwind RX, Northstar KL, Northwood Ul & Prodigy X. And still have three of them. :) So far Merlin II is my favourite in any water in any conditions. I took the test & got 16 points = Merlin II. This spring it may be Prospector RX for tough paddling.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:52:02 +0000

I purchased a Northwind royalex, wood gunnels, after Ted left the business. It performs O.K. (not wonderfully) and the royalex takes a beating quite well; but I rue not having bought one in another material. Furthermore, it is a hassle loosening the wood to prevent cold-cracking when it goes into storage during the winter I wanted a less expensive version. I guess I got it.

By: Bryan Hansel

Bryan Hansel — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:16:47 +0000

I have no experience with Bell Canoes after Ted sold.

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:13:55 +0000

Bryan:

Have you noticed any difference in quality or finish since Ted sold out and isn’t making boats anymore?

Fred

By: Bryan Hansel

Bryan Hansel — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:40:01 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Dave. Hopefully, you’ll be able to try one sometime.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:50:33 +0000

Thanks for such a greatly detailed article! A new magic would suit me well. NO dealers around here though.(within 4 hours drive) We have a awesome canoe shop near by that stocks several hundred canoes and kayaks at all times and is right on a nice fast corner of a river! A polite request will allow you a test paddle of anything in stock, unfortunately no Bell canoes, but everything else nearly. I still find Bells attractive, however its not worth the uncertainty and hassle to try to see one, let alone paddle one! Very informative page though, I feel very educated now about the models of bell canoes. Too bad I dont live anywhere near anyone who sells them! Thanks again and happy paddling!

By: Bryan Hansel

Bryan Hansel — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:07:54 +0000

Nice perspective, Ben. Although, I prefer having my seat centered in solo canoes, I know a few people who want the seat mounted more traditionally. It’s nice to know that a Magic handles the change without a problem.

Your’s is a good lesson for others, too. Paddlers shouldn’t expect the “perfect” boat without doing some modification. I always modify my canoe thwarts to make them work double duty, and it takes me months and months of trial and error to get a kayak’s cockpit to the point where it’s perfect for me.

By: Bendrix

Bendrix — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:36:15 +0000

Bryan, Great article. I’ve only paddled the Magic, which is the one I own. I am about to purchase my second only because I live on a lake an have a camp on another 280 miles to the North, which I access by floatplane. Anyway…

Seat position.

I don’t like sitting in the center of any boat. A canoe does not feel right under me if I am in the center. After padling my Magic for a few days, I got out the drill and moved the seat aft.

After removing the seat, I took the Magic out and paddled it kneeling until I liked the balance. I marked that and then put the seat in that position. Now the canoe paddles and handles like a canoe, and is perfectly balanced if I put a 50lb load up front or one of my two small boys. Even with my wife (135) up front it paddles fine, if a bit low in the bow.

I also ordered a portage yoke from Bell (in walnut) and installed that so that the canoe balances perfectly. This measurement had to be done by trail and error, clamping the yoke in place with rubber grip wood clamps.

That may sound like a lot of work to go to after having paid top dollar for what I consider the BEST canoe I’ve ever paddled or owned, but it was not much trouble and made the canoe perfect for me.

Anyone who owns a Magic will quickly wish (if you portage much) for a portage yoke. It is really impossible to install one unless the seat is moved back (knees won’t clear it otherwise). I don’t like to carry clamp on yokes. One more thing to carry, hassle to put on in the right spot every time, just my preferences.

One of my favorite passtimes is to explore slow, flat streams, going upstream until they peter out. That means lots of tight turns. I’ve found the Magic to be maneuverable and clean in streams only a few feet wide. If the bend is not tighter than the length of the canoe, I’ve had no trouble making the turn.

On open water, I can keep the Magic going with most Kayakers as this canoe is so sleek and fast it calls to mind the Voyager’s Birch canoe owned by Bill Bonhome in Mosher’s Disaparences; it sometimes appears to have a motive power drawn out of the water itself. A desire to travel so strong it can do so on its own.

Well, thanks again for the writup. If you’ve not moved the seat in your Magic, try it. You will have to cut the seat width a bit so will have to purchase a replacement if you don’t like it, but I’ll bet you won’t need to do that once you’ve tried it.

Enjoy the water,

Ben

By: Bryan Hansel

Bryan Hansel — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:04:17 +0000

@chip – I’m glad the quiz worked for you. As far as websites, you listed the big three. If you’re in the Midwest, start looking for used Magics from BWCA outfitters. At the end of the year, Paragis usually has a few Magics for sale.

By: Chip

Chip — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:12:04 +0000

I found the ‘canoe selector’ quiz to be a good guide. Paddled a Magic and liked it, but unfortunately couldn’t get access to a Merlin. Am looking for a used Magic in excellent condition. Are there used canoe forums out there (beyond CraigsList, Ebay, and paddling.net) that I should be checking for used Magics?