Hip issues not with standing and looking for a used kevlar prospector tandem model in my canoe rich environment not having happened yet, within this month of May a Swift Keewaydin 15 popped up on my local craigslist. I've been wanting to upgrade from my little barge that could--Old Town Pack for some time. But, I was sure I was going to buy used and have had the tandem priority. Been squirreling away canoe money since selling off the Souris River a few years ago so enough slush fund monies have been available for a while. One only has to watch and wait.
So this canoe is a 2019 model first purchased in 2020 popped up on craigslist in early May. It was priced at about 70% of a brand new today Swift with the same features. Well I know I am not going to buy a brand new Swift but the price is still a little too high for me. So I watch and wait. Day after Memorial day the price drops to about 58% of new----time to move. I reach out and make a deal to meet yesterday.
So yesterday morning I drive to the other side of the metro and meet a fine older gentleman who is now living in a upscale senior housing development. He's been unloading his stable of canoes over the past year and is down to his last one or two. He says storage fee's are starting to get to him. This guy has paddled---knows and has paddled with a lot of the big regional canoe people. Just a joy to speak with. Spent some time swapping stories and just a pleasure.
The man says he always did wet water entry and never dragged the canoe up onto the shore and I believe him. Sure there are a couple of marks on the upper hull and inside but I couldn't fine barely as scratch on the bottom of the hull. WOW--Condition!
My state requires canoes to be registered the first time in person and get a 3 year sticker. There after one can update their 3 year sticker electronically. I'm due to renew my drivers license next month as well so I just made two back to back appointments to cover driving license renewal and canoe registration and sticker. Between work this week and a MN DNR licence system shut down it will be late the following week before I can to the state paperwork. Kind of wonky--the MN DNR covers watercraft licensing but yea have to go to a county licensing center to take care of any state motor vehicle or watercraft registration or licensing need. And the DNR system is doing an upgrade over the next couple of weeks.
Came with a few accessories as well.
I'll be keeping my Old Town Pack--it's too useful of a canoe--but now I should be able to glide is style and keep up with tandem canoes when we go on group outings. Planning a day trip on a local river with a friend. Which canoe will I take??
So here is the canoe:
So this canoe is a 2019 model first purchased in 2020 popped up on craigslist in early May. It was priced at about 70% of a brand new today Swift with the same features. Well I know I am not going to buy a brand new Swift but the price is still a little too high for me. So I watch and wait. Day after Memorial day the price drops to about 58% of new----time to move. I reach out and make a deal to meet yesterday.
So yesterday morning I drive to the other side of the metro and meet a fine older gentleman who is now living in a upscale senior housing development. He's been unloading his stable of canoes over the past year and is down to his last one or two. He says storage fee's are starting to get to him. This guy has paddled---knows and has paddled with a lot of the big regional canoe people. Just a joy to speak with. Spent some time swapping stories and just a pleasure.
The man says he always did wet water entry and never dragged the canoe up onto the shore and I believe him. Sure there are a couple of marks on the upper hull and inside but I couldn't fine barely as scratch on the bottom of the hull. WOW--Condition!
My state requires canoes to be registered the first time in person and get a 3 year sticker. There after one can update their 3 year sticker electronically. I'm due to renew my drivers license next month as well so I just made two back to back appointments to cover driving license renewal and canoe registration and sticker. Between work this week and a MN DNR licence system shut down it will be late the following week before I can to the state paperwork. Kind of wonky--the MN DNR covers watercraft licensing but yea have to go to a county licensing center to take care of any state motor vehicle or watercraft registration or licensing need. And the DNR system is doing an upgrade over the next couple of weeks.
Came with a few accessories as well.
I'll be keeping my Old Town Pack--it's too useful of a canoe--but now I should be able to glide is style and keep up with tandem canoes when we go on group outings. Planning a day trip on a local river with a friend. Which canoe will I take??
So here is the canoe:
Last edited:
