Rob Roy

In 2008 I rented a Bell Rob Roy 15 from Piragis in Ely for a BWCAW trip. I liked it and at the end of the trip told the outfitter I'd buy one. He told me, "Sorry, Bell just went belly up. These 3 rentals are the last ones we will get. You might put a deposit on one, and you can pick it up at the end of our season in late September." I did and have been paddling it since on our local Minnesota lakes and rivers and it goes on our annual September BWCW trip. I do love this boat. Not sure to call it a canoe or a kayak. I can no longer easily get into a kayak with its 39 inch, or smaller, cockpit, due to long old weak legs. The 50 inch or longer cockpit is easy for me. I can pack it for a week solo trip. I use nylon military style duffle bags, a full one shoved in the bow and a slightly less full one shoved in the stern. My Rob Roy paddles so easily and is so stable. Due to the height of the coaming around the cockpit waves coming over the bow do not get into the cockpit. Only once have I gotten water into the cockpit, and that was when I was hit broadside. This boat is so stable. Mine has a kayak type seat mounted on the floor, keeping my center of gravity very low in the boat. It is nice and light. About 38#. It is comfortable and tracks and turns well. And can hold all the essentials this overpacker always brings. In my boat I am little slower than my buddies. But I think the fault is my arm/back muscles, not the boat. My one complaint: solo canoes are a pain to portage. One must attach a portage yoke on the gunnels at every portage, then remove it at next water. One repeats the yoke attachment/removal on every portage. Is there a way to have holes or a plate at the balance point on the gunnels to make each attachment a little faster and more secure?? My Rob Roy has stood up well. If I were to buy another I would avoid the wood gunnels. A friend stored his improperly over the winter, water accumulated under the tarp and rotted the gunnels in our MN winter. Bell replace them nicely, but was expensive. Also, for solo paddling for exercise, I find that my seat is several inches too far forward. This forces the bow a little too low; so it tends to plow through the water. If I could raise the bow several inches it would cut through the water better. I do want a kayak type seat on the floor, not suspended. But is there a way to have that seat adjust for an aft??? Slide on a track? or a way for there to be multiple holes on the seat so it can be moved for and aft when occasionally needed?

One of my favorite all time canoes was the Bell Rob Roy 15. Mine went with me to a myriad of places, both close and quick, and remote and long. Unfortunately back surgery and a few other ailments of "middle age" prompted me to sell mine in search of something just as nice but lighter. It was, then, with great pleasure, that David Yost showed me the prototype of North Star's new Rob Roy. I ordered the very first one on the spot.

Fast forward two months and my new canoe has arrived. I took it out today to put it through its paces. Much has stayed the same; some things have changed for the better. The original model had a foam seat and a skinny back pad that was torturous after about a half hour. I replaced it with the second generation seat, which was a great improvement. The new model has what appears to be a close relative of the seat used in some Placid Canoes. Since both are Yost designs it's not much of a stretch to figure that out. This one is really comfortable. It will hold water but that can be dealt with. The seat is a few inches higher than the original model. That doesn't make the handling squirrley as it could but lets me also use a short bent shaft paddle in addition to the double. That will be handy. The next significant change is in the deck. The front section sits a little higher and allows easier access and room for really big feet. The foot pegs are easily adjustable from the seat.

In back the deck has been trimmed to make it easier to stow packs and other gear. I had to use a tape measure to be sure but there is definitely more open space to swallow bigger stuff. A really big portage pack will fit there. Throw a smaller pack under the decks at each end and you have yourself a very capable tripper.

Also new is a small wooden deck secured between carbon formed gunwales. I'm not sure it's all that functional but it really looks nice.

Finally, there is a nylon strap across the deck. I refer to it as a Geezer Assist Strap. It makes getting in and out much easier. Performance wise, the picture hasn't changed much. It's still a fast, sweet handling boat. It heads upwind without drama and takes quartering waves on the downhill run without weather cocking.
North Star has answered every one of my issues, however minor, with this new model. It's a definite winner.