I am a kneeler, but always lean forward and hold both gunnels when transitioning from sitting to kneeling, helps balance and makes it a smoother switch.
@@clifffawcett trust me I’ve gone backwards many a time unintentionally of course but it floats and paddles just fine and I’d rather be on my knees in the rapids instead of saying wish I had put on my lower seat! Ha ha
Wow you did that like a duck out of water. Sometimes kneeling isn’t so much fun. And you definitely need a soft pad of something under your knees. It doesn’t look easy for sure.
Thanks for watching! It wasn’t easy at first but I have gotten better at it. I started using a pad under my knees and that really helped. I recently recorded an update video if you’re interested. Here’s the link ua-cam.com/video/CcBo2Q_jEMk/v-deo.html
I can't stand the kneeling, my feet are getting numb. I just sit, but I do have a foot brace. How did you decide between the Northwind Solo & the Magic?
I bought my Northstar Northwinds solo at Canoecopia which is an annual show in Madison Wisconsin put on by Rutabaga Paddlesports. I spent a lot of time looking at canoes and talking to the representatives from all the different companies and ended up going with the Northwind Solo based on my size (280 pounds and 6’4”) and my usual paddling locations.
Yeah that makes sense. I’m still getting used to the kneeling position. I do like the control I feel when I’m kneeling. Using pads under my knees really helps but my feet fall asleep and the tops of my feet hurt... maybe pads under my feet would help too?
@@clifffawcett Northstar sells kneeling pads that are very comfortable and extend behind the seat to cushion the tops of your feet. My feet still fall asleep but I try to alternate with one leg kneeling and the other in front of me which helps. So much more control kneeling. The paddlers who are 5'8" and 140 lbs can move their feet around more to get comfortable but those of us who are bigger, I'm 6'4" and 215 and 72 yrs kind of have a harder time with the feet. I paddle a Phoenix and an older Bell Wildfire.
@@martycuff257 I didn’t know that Northstar sold those. I’ll have to get them. I agree, I love the control I feel. The discomfort is manageable. The Wildfire is a great boat! Haven’t paddled the Phoenix (yet). Thanks for watching!
I'm also quite a big guy and I've also been struggling with my Northwind Solo with the kneeling position. The angle is killing my feet :) I started to use a board (a piece of wood) that I put on top of the gunwales (on top of the seat). I use the board under my butt when I'm kneeling. The resulting high kneeling position is much better for my legs. I can easily do the position for one hour and I can stand on my own feet after that. However, the position is so high that I have to use a relatively long paddle :)
What an interesting solution to the problem. Do you use like a 1X6 or 2 x 6 or what size board do you use? I think that would be worth a try for sure. I think my Paddle is a 54 inch so I think I should be OK there. Thanks so much for watching and even better for adding to the conversation!!
@@clifffawcett It's something like 1x5 or 1x6. Roughly. I have rounded the edge where my rear is resting. The length fits well so that it is not much sticking out of the boat. On the down side of the board I have attached small pieces of wood for stopping it from sliding sideways. The "thing" is not attached on the canoe, it's only resting on top of the gunnels. I haven't seen any pics of me using it yet so I don't know how ridiculous the high kneeling position is :D But I know it's a stable position.
@@clifffawcett Yesterday I tried another "system" by putting a wooden structure on top of the seat ( not on top of the gunnels). It's a bit lower than the gunnels. It's also OK for kneeling, but I'll do some more comparison which one is better. I think I have a bit like a love-hate relationship with the Northwind Solo. It's an amazing canoe, there's no question about it. Lightweight, fast, ... On the other hand, it feels a bit unstable for changing position kneeling / sitting, and also unstable for fishing. I have also tried a very low seat, it made the canoe very stable, but canoe style paddling was not efficient. I'll test it this summer, then who knows I might like it or change it to a light weight prospector.
@@VK-vm4xe Thanks for the update. I agree with what you said about it being unstable when changing positions. It makes sense that a lower seating position helps that. Keep me posted
@@clifffawcett Yeah, so as a good friend was fond of saying, ‘You learn something new everyday, if you’re not careful.’ You should do an updated video with a pad - it would be an interesting comparison. I know that Northstar Canoes sells them.
How about a follow-up on this? I have an Old Town Next and a Discovery 119. The Discovery makes my legs go numb in a few minutes. I don't like being on my knees and keep considering putting in a saddle. The element seat in the Next is awesome. I sell all the kids in their video's and miss the agility of youth. I realized that next month I'll will only have been canoeing 50 years! The boats I have are all in the 50# range and I am going to new places that force me to carry in and have rugged launch/exit. The Northwind solo is attractive to me and. Are you still loving the boat? Pros/Cons since its over a year later.
I still love the boat. I’ve kept the kneeing drops in. I have 1” foam stadium seat covers that I kneel on and it works just fine. I usually will alternate between sitting and kneeling. My back and hips feel better kneeling, my knees and ankles feel better sitting. The seating position is a bit higher with the kneeling drops which makes the center of gravity higher but it’s worth it to have options.
Totally right. I should have said that with the seat positioned for kneeling, the drops are shorter. This makes the seat higher and if I am sitting on the seat it’s more tippy because my center of gravity is higher. It you’re right, when I’m kneeling it’s way more stable because my weight is lower. Thanks for pointing that out. Thank you for watching 👍🏻😊
I am a kneeler, but always lean forward and hold both gunnels when transitioning from sitting to kneeling, helps balance and makes it a smoother switch.
Good tip! I’ll try that next time.
I leave the low seat in and when I kneel I just turn around and face the seat. Works great!
What a great idea. I think my canoe isn’t symmetrical paddling either direction but I should give it a try. Thanks for watching
@@clifffawcett trust me I’ve gone backwards many a time unintentionally of course but it floats and paddles just fine and I’d rather be on my knees in the rapids instead of saying wish I had put on my lower seat! Ha ha
@@markbailey2645 I’ll give it a try! Thanks Mark
Yes my son figured it out. Now you need a thick memory foam bath rug. Bet it works great.
Great idea on the memory foam bath rug! Old smokeeater 70
Wow you did that like a duck out of water. Sometimes kneeling isn’t so much fun. And you definitely need a soft pad of something under your knees. It doesn’t look easy for sure.
Thanks for watching! It wasn’t easy at first but I have gotten better at it. I started using a pad under my knees and that really helped. I recently recorded an update video if you’re interested. Here’s the link ua-cam.com/video/CcBo2Q_jEMk/v-deo.html
I can't stand the kneeling, my feet are getting numb. I just sit, but I do have a foot brace.
How did you decide between the Northwind Solo & the Magic?
I bought my Northstar Northwinds solo at Canoecopia which is an annual show in Madison Wisconsin put on by Rutabaga Paddlesports. I spent a lot of time looking at canoes and talking to the representatives from all the different companies and ended up going with the Northwind Solo based on my size (280 pounds and 6’4”) and my usual paddling locations.
@@clifffawcett That makes sense, I am 6'2" & 178 Lbs. I would probably go for the Magic.
Yeah that makes sense. I’m still getting used to the kneeling position. I do like the control I feel when I’m kneeling. Using pads under my knees really helps but my feet fall asleep and the tops of my feet hurt... maybe pads under my feet would help too?
@@clifffawcett Northstar sells kneeling pads that are very comfortable and extend behind the seat to cushion the tops of your feet. My feet still fall asleep but I try to alternate with one leg kneeling and the other in front of me which helps. So much more control kneeling. The paddlers who are 5'8" and 140 lbs can move their feet around more to get comfortable but those of us who are bigger, I'm 6'4" and 215 and 72 yrs kind of have a harder time with the feet. I paddle a Phoenix and an older Bell Wildfire.
@@martycuff257 I didn’t know that Northstar sold those. I’ll have to get them. I agree, I love the control I feel. The discomfort is manageable. The Wildfire is a great boat! Haven’t paddled the Phoenix (yet). Thanks for watching!
I'm also quite a big guy and I've also been struggling with my Northwind Solo with the kneeling position. The angle is killing my feet :) I started to use a board (a piece of wood) that I put on top of the gunwales (on top of the seat). I use the board under my butt when I'm kneeling. The resulting high kneeling position is much better for my legs. I can easily do the position for one hour and I can stand on my own feet after that. However, the position is so high that I have to use a relatively long paddle :)
What an interesting solution to the problem. Do you use like a 1X6 or 2 x 6 or what size board do you use? I think that would be worth a try for sure. I think my Paddle is a 54 inch so I think I should be OK there. Thanks so much for watching and even better for adding to the conversation!!
@@clifffawcett It's something like 1x5 or 1x6. Roughly. I have rounded the edge where my rear is resting. The length fits well so that it is not much sticking out of the boat. On the down side of the board I have attached small pieces of wood for stopping it from sliding sideways. The "thing" is not attached on the canoe, it's only resting on top of the gunnels. I haven't seen any pics of me using it yet so I don't know how ridiculous the high kneeling position is :D But I know it's a stable position.
@@clifffawcett Yesterday I tried another "system" by putting a wooden structure on top of the seat ( not on top of the gunnels). It's a bit lower than the gunnels. It's also OK for kneeling, but I'll do some more comparison which one is better.
I think I have a bit like a love-hate relationship with the Northwind Solo. It's an amazing canoe, there's no question about it. Lightweight, fast, ... On the other hand, it feels a bit unstable for changing position kneeling / sitting, and also unstable for fishing. I have also tried a very low seat, it made the canoe very stable, but canoe style paddling was not efficient. I'll test it this summer, then who knows I might like it or change it to a light weight prospector.
@@VK-vm4xe Thanks for the update. I agree with what you said about it being unstable when changing positions. It makes sense that a lower seating position helps that. Keep me posted
Are you using the kneeling seat drops?
How wide is your boat it looks like it’s tippy ?
It’s 30” (76 cm) at the widest.
If you put a roll behind your knees it’s much better. Give that a try. 🇨🇦👍
Good tip! I’ll try it. Thanks
I’m very surprised that you would even try kneeling without a pad.
Live and learn! 🤷🏼♂️
@@clifffawcett Yeah, so as a good friend was fond of saying, ‘You learn something new everyday, if you’re not careful.’
You should do an updated video with a pad - it would be an interesting comparison. I know that Northstar Canoes sells them.
@@dennisley7246 Hey Dennis! I did make an update video with a pad. Check out this video on my channel ua-cam.com/video/CcBo2Q_jEMk/v-deo.html
How about a follow-up on this? I have an Old Town Next and a Discovery 119. The Discovery makes my legs go numb in a few minutes. I don't like being on my knees and keep considering putting in a saddle. The element seat in the Next is awesome.
I sell all the kids in their video's and miss the agility of youth. I realized that next month I'll will only have been canoeing 50 years! The boats I have are all in the 50# range and I am going to new places that force me to carry in and have rugged launch/exit.
The Northwind solo is attractive to me and. Are you still loving the boat? Pros/Cons since its over a year later.
I still love the boat. I’ve kept the kneeing drops in. I have 1” foam stadium seat covers that I kneel on and it works just fine. I usually will alternate between sitting and kneeling. My back and hips feel better kneeling, my knees and ankles feel better sitting. The seating position is a bit higher with the kneeling drops which makes the center of gravity higher but it’s worth it to have options.
Try ehe swuft pack boat canoe.....seems best of both worlds....canoe with kayak seating position.
I’ve seen those. Very intriguing. Old Town had something similar a few years back
Thanks for watching
Kneeling should be more stable not less, it lowers your center of gravity….
Totally right. I should have said that with the seat positioned for kneeling, the drops are shorter. This makes the seat higher and if I am sitting on the seat it’s more tippy because my center of gravity is higher. It you’re right, when I’m kneeling it’s way more stable because my weight is lower. Thanks for pointing that out. Thank you for watching 👍🏻😊
@@clifffawcett ah makes sense. Beautiful canoe!!