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When reading a review, it is good to get an idea of the reviewer's perspective. I have owned and paddled a bunch of canoes since I was a kid. More than 10, some great some not so great,made of everything from ABS to cedar strips. My longest river trip was 66 miles, I am by no means a guide or outfitter. Just a 55 year old with a wife that likes to get out and see lakes, ponds and slow moving rivers from a canoe. We lost 2 canoes and a kayak to an ice storm at Christmas time,(btw don't store canoes under trees) and I decided it was time to get a forever boat. We wanted something light fast and easy to handle. The Ranger Otter is perfect! Michael was a huge help through a the entire buying process. He made it easy, and the day we picked it up and it was shining away in the workshop was incredible. His advice on paddles has also made a huge difference. He got us a pair of Fox worx bent paddles. They are light and amazing to paddle with. Now to the boat itself, I was nervous about a lake canoe without a keel. Would it track well, or handle wind. Michael's design is amazing. It is stable getting in and out. Just came back from a trip with a 10 to 15 kt wind from the east, on a river that is fairly wide and meanders, so we had wind from all directions. Didn't matter to our Otter, it just went where I aimed it. Something about the efficiency of the hull that when you get going it wants to keep going. Makes everything easier. Then when I get to the ramp it is so nice to flip it onto my shoulders from the water so the bottom only ever touches water or air, don't want to scratch that incredible shine. Thank you again Michael for our forever boat.