I’ve considered a swift boat. I would like to try with a trolling motor setup. You control the motor with foot controls. I like the canoe for the reason, no government fees or stickers on my future boat.
Hi Matt, love these pack boats, your right they are a great hybrid, basically a kayak with easy loading of packs! Glad the vid was helpful, thanks for watching!
So happy I found your vid! I'm debating between the Cruiser 14.8, new 15.8 and Keewaydin 14 myself. I'll still go for test paddles somewhere, either at a rental place or demo. And I'm a big guy like you, so it was interesting to hear about the stability and seat options too! I'd be interested to hear your options of the 2 boats after a trip when fully loaded for 6-7 nights. Cheers !
Hi Brian, absolutely test paddle them if you can (and bring a weighted bag with you to simulate gear). I have done lots of trips in my key14 and am happy with it. We just did a 9 day Algonquin trip and traded off boats for half a day so I got a couple hours paddling the 14.8 against the current going up a twisty creek. It paddled very similarly to me, turns required the same effort, might have been a little faster in a straight line but only very slightly. Paddling station felt a little smaller to me, narrower, front thwart was closer to me but above all else, the standard seat that is lower and gives you a little more initial stability made my ass sore within an hour. My "tall and wide" seat in the key14 is all day comfortable, this was 7 days in to a trip with 15-25km per day of paddling...Cant speak to the 15.8 I have never got the chance to try it, I wanted a shorter boat for storage reasons (anything longer then 14f is hard to get in my lower garage). I had tried the key15 before buying my 14, its more suited to my weight according to specs but trying both back to back the 14 was just so much more nimble.
Perfect first impression video! I'm thinking about getting a cruiser. Might make it out to Algonquin next year. Looking forward to watching your trip videos!
Great comparison video! Thanks for sharing. I'm making the same decision right now, Keewaydin or Cruiser? Both are amazing boats. If you had to do all over again would you favour one of the other?
Thanks! If I am being honest, if I was buying today I would go cruiser, on our first trip this year towards the end we traded boats for a day of paddling, aside from the seats feeling completely different(because my key has the tall/wide special order seat) and honestly they felt essentially identical going up a twisty creek. Manoeuvrability, stability speed were all almost identical. But I suspect the cruiser would have the edge flat out on a calm lake.
Thanks Jonathan. Really appreciate your insight. I took the Cruiser 14.8 for a test paddle on Georgian Bay in 40 km/h winds and (big surprise) found it hard to handle. LOL. Didn't get to try the Keewaydin yet so will compare boats in more reasonable conditions. Thanks again.
@@jeffmensch My friend Marc used to have an Osprey solo canoe and the keewaydin handled wind way better that that. With the cruiser they handle it very much the same honestly.
Jonathan Mullin Took both boats out for a test paddle this morning. The Keewaydin felt more stable and roomy, a great choice for fishing. The Cruiser tracks very well and really moves when you push it. It was a tough call but I ended up ordering the Cruiser. The narrower paddling station actually felt more comfortable for my paddling style. Now... the agonizing wait until mid-September delivery. Thanks again, hope to see you in the park sometime.
I know for a fact there has been... after a flood one year there was a rotting fish corps left behind (couldn't tell the species) but I am ashamed to admit I have never caught anything out of it, Ive only cast a line a couple times, its a really dirty muddy river with horrible muddy banks that make for unpleasant angling IMHO. But I really should give it a serious try one day. I have caught fish in the lake it empties into. Hope you guys are doing good! The siren was hilarious... like I don't remember ever hearing one in this area... the one time I film here...
Hey Dan, hope all is well with you! I hear ya man and not diminish the seriousness of this whole situation but Ill be really depressed if the parks aren't open for Ice-out... I live for the May trips!
@@jmullin Agree, I have a May trip planned that I would be shocked if it still happened.The park might be open for you lucky guys but I'm sure the border will still be closed. Still hopeful for my August trip though.
@@schultzoutdoors8799 Didn't consider the extra layer of the border crossing difficulties! I had heard on one of the Canoehound podcasts you, he and Avid were planning a trip.. that's too bad if it doesn't happen!
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Nice job Jon . Thanks 👍🇨🇦
Thanks Tom!
I’ve considered a swift boat. I would like to try with a trolling motor setup. You control the motor with foot controls. I like the canoe for the reason, no government fees or stickers on my future boat.
How did I not know about these pack boats before?? Really seem like the best of both worlds between canoe/kayak.... great little vid, thanks!
Hi Matt, love these pack boats, your right they are a great hybrid, basically a kayak with easy loading of packs! Glad the vid was helpful, thanks for watching!
So happy I found your vid! I'm debating between the Cruiser 14.8, new 15.8 and Keewaydin 14 myself. I'll still go for test paddles somewhere, either at a rental place or demo. And I'm a big guy like you, so it was interesting to hear about the stability and seat options too! I'd be interested to hear your options of the 2 boats after a trip when fully loaded for 6-7 nights. Cheers !
Hi Brian, absolutely test paddle them if you can (and bring a weighted bag with you to simulate gear). I have done lots of trips in my key14 and am happy with it. We just did a 9 day Algonquin trip and traded off boats for half a day so I got a couple hours paddling the 14.8 against the current going up a twisty creek. It paddled very similarly to me, turns required the same effort, might have been a little faster in a straight line but only very slightly. Paddling station felt a little smaller to me, narrower, front thwart was closer to me but above all else, the standard seat that is lower and gives you a little more initial stability made my ass sore within an hour. My "tall and wide" seat in the key14 is all day comfortable, this was 7 days in to a trip with 15-25km per day of paddling...Cant speak to the 15.8 I have never got the chance to try it, I wanted a shorter boat for storage reasons (anything longer then 14f is hard to get in my lower garage). I had tried the key15 before buying my 14, its more suited to my weight according to specs but trying both back to back the 14 was just so much more nimble.
Nice little canoe! I've been eyeing up solo canoes.
They are great boats, both around or just under 30 pounds, helps make the portages go little easier too!
What’s the difference in cost between the two .? Thanks
Looking at the swift website, current prices start at 3695$ for the Keewaydin 14 Pack, while the Cruiser 14.8 Pack starts at 3495$
Perfect first impression video! I'm thinking about getting a cruiser. Might make it out to Algonquin next year. Looking forward to watching your trip videos!
Cruiser is sweet no doubt about it! Thanks for the comment!
Looks like you guys are all set for a trip, it’s a shame there’s nowhere to go :( lol
Sorry for some reason YT wasn’t sending me notifications... finally did get out on a trip :)
Great comparison video! Thanks for sharing. I'm making the same decision right now, Keewaydin or Cruiser? Both are amazing boats. If you had to do all over again would you favour one of the other?
Thanks! If I am being honest, if I was buying today I would go cruiser, on our first trip this year towards the end we traded boats for a day of paddling, aside from the seats feeling completely different(because my key has the tall/wide special order seat) and honestly they felt essentially identical going up a twisty creek. Manoeuvrability, stability speed were all almost identical. But I suspect the cruiser would have the edge flat out on a calm lake.
Thanks Jonathan. Really appreciate your insight. I took the Cruiser 14.8 for a test paddle on Georgian Bay in 40 km/h winds and (big surprise) found it hard to handle. LOL. Didn't get to try the Keewaydin yet so will compare boats in more reasonable conditions. Thanks again.
@@jeffmensch My friend Marc used to have an Osprey solo canoe and the keewaydin handled wind way better that that. With the cruiser they handle it very much the same honestly.
Jonathan Mullin Took both boats out for a test paddle this morning. The Keewaydin felt more stable and roomy, a great choice for fishing. The Cruiser tracks very well and really moves when you push it. It was a tough call but I ended up ordering the Cruiser. The narrower paddling station actually felt more comfortable for my paddling style. Now... the agonizing wait until mid-September delivery. Thanks again, hope to see you in the park sometime.
Even the police sirens in Quebec have an acceént lol nice video. Any fish in that creek there ?
I know for a fact there has been... after a flood one year there was a rotting fish corps left behind (couldn't tell the species) but I am ashamed to admit I have never caught anything out of it, Ive only cast a line a couple times, its a really dirty muddy river with horrible muddy banks that make for unpleasant angling IMHO. But I really should give it a serious try one day. I have caught fish in the lake it empties into. Hope you guys are doing good! The siren was hilarious... like I don't remember ever hearing one in this area... the one time I film here...
100 subs way to go bro , Milestone next stop 1000 and adds on your vids lol
hehe thanks man.
I think my boat had so much dust on it , it actually made your muddy river more dirty LOL
Ya when a boat comes out of that river looking cleaner then it went it... something is off!
Social distancing, schmochial distancing! Sometimes you just have to get out and paddle!
Hey Dan, hope all is well with you! I hear ya man and not diminish the seriousness of this whole situation but Ill be really depressed if the parks aren't open for Ice-out... I live for the May trips!
@@jmullin Agree, I have a May trip planned that I would be shocked if it still happened.The park might be open for you lucky guys but I'm sure the border will still be closed. Still hopeful for my August trip though.
@@schultzoutdoors8799 Didn't consider the extra layer of the border crossing difficulties! I had heard on one of the Canoehound podcasts you, he and Avid were planning a trip.. that's too bad if it doesn't happen!
@@jmullin Yep, that's my trip. Was heading out with those guys.
Put two super expensive canoes into dirty water, ummm, nice!
Hehe, at the time was just happy to be paddling again!