Oseetah

I was looking for a lightweight solo touring/tripping boat. The Oseetah seemed to fit the bill given my height & weight (5’9” & 155 lbs) and intended use. I ordered one from Joe during a December sale and picked it up mid-March. The sales process was painless – Joe was helpful without being overbearing, let me check out his shop and stored the canoe until I could pick it up. I’ve had it on the water 8 times now. Typical trip length has been 1-4 hours on the Saranac River, ponds and lakes, with everything from dead calm conditions to moderate (6”-10”) chop. Paddle was Werner double blade at 240 cm. Construction and finish are exceptional. The boat has great lines and the transparent tinted gel is very attractive. Despite being light (21 lbs in ultralight) the hull seems quite stiff and sturdy. Carrying and loading on to the car rack are effortless. Comfort is also very good. I own another lightweight solo from a different builder and have problems with lower back pain and uncomfortable seating. I haven’t had any issues with the Oseetah, even after almost four continuous hours in the boat, due to the combination of a good back band, padded seat and foot braces. With a max width of 26” (about 24” at the gunwales due to the tumblehome), you don’t feel you have to reach out on more vertical power strokes. Also impressed with the performance. The boat tracks extremely well but is still maneuverable. And when you really dig in with the paddle, it is fast! Overall stability is solid, and it seemed to handle the chop well. I did notice the back end was pushed around some by the wind, but that was to be expected since I wasn’t carrying anything in the stern to trim it out. I haven’t paddled with a full load yet, but don’t anticipate any problems. In summary, I haven’t found anything negative. I’d highly recommend the Oseetah to a lighter paddler looking for a lightweight cruising or tripping canoe.