New Canoe!

When I casually browsed Craig's List Minneapolis for canoes over the weekend, I did not seriously think about actually finding something I would make an offer on. But someone offered a Bell Canoe for sale for $700 and I just had to check it out. After exchanging a few messages with the current owner and doing some further research, I found out the following: the 15'6" Bell had been sold under the Galyan's label and must have been a Woodsman II. All postings about this craft gave it good reviews (see here), describing it as a version of the Bell Morningstar. The same postings also mention the Galyan's Woodsman III, which is a version of the Bell Northwind.

According to the owner, the canoe had only known light use and was in excellent condition. After a short discussion with my lovely wife Lynn, I offered $500 contingent on an inspection, which the seller immediately accepted.

After dropping James off for his band retreat, I headed to the western burbs. The owner needed to get dressed (at noon!), and while waiting for him, his daughter arrived with a friend in tow. She introduced me to the canoe, which was kept in a heated garage, swathed in blankets. Heck, from the looks, I don't treat my dog as well as this guy treated his canoe. After peeling off multiple layers, it became clear that it may never even have been taken out of the garage; I had to look hard to find a single scratch. Also, it turned out to be a Woodsman III, i.e. the 16'6" rather than the shorter Woodsman II. I was a little disappointed because I was looking forward to a nimble river craft and not the tame tripper the Woodsman III is. I went ahead with the purchase because of the excellent condition and its suitability for shorter two-person trips. If I just make two weekend trips per year, the canoe will have paid for itself in less than half a decade.

On the remark on canoe vs. dog: my dog may not be as coddled as the canoe was, but she certainly has more fun, as this canoe will have, now that it is mine!