Itasca, kevelar flex-core in white, is the most beautifully formed canoe I've paddled -- it's work of art. On the Mississippi River in December a strong south wind and 60 degrees was prducing incipient white caps and occasional sets of monsters as some of the barges went by. 460 lbs in the boat still made it susceptible to being caught by the strong wind. The Itasca took a rather doomsday looking set of waves that sidelinged a double outboard 6+ foot beam, 20+ foot long work boat with three well life jackets guys in it; the waves made it look like it was going under. Through this same unbelievable set of waves (a set of rock dikes was funneling the wind on the low river), the Itasca pasted perfectly dry. "What a wild ride" my 23 year old son observed as the Itasca slpped down from the occasional wave that put the bow in the air. That a canoe could go through this stuff, was astounding to me. After the work boat relaunched from the sand bar, they stopped to see if we were doing OK; we replied that we were OK, but I thought that I was more worried about them in their aluminum barge-like jon boat. Will never go out on the River on a day like that again as our planned 5 hour run took 9, but it didn't bother the Itasca. Once the River turned away from the wind directiont and the daylight disappeared, the Mighty Miss was placid as the Great White Itasca, conqueror of the Father of Waters, cruised the last hour undaunted, unknelled, and alone through the heart of the darkness into our home port of the Cape. An extraordinary boat for epic floats is the Itasca.
My suggestion would be to get slider seats front and rear. Love that seaworthiness.
