The Canak is an interesting hybrid craft that meshes a kevlar 'canoe' bottom with a covered 'kayak' top, complete with hatch covers to keep out splashing water. It's shallower than a solo kevlar like the Encounter, and thus a bit more tippy, but it is also noticeably faster, too. This is the fastest boat I've ever paddled. It also worked well as a fishing boat, and I was easily able to drift along Crystal's steep-breaking shorelines while casting, only rarely using my paddle to make corrections. I especially liked the traditionally kayak-style bungee clasps on each side of the cockpit that held my fishing pole and paddle during portages.
While the Canak paddles very much like a normal kayak, it portaged smoothly with the 'snap-in' yoke (same one as the Encounter). Coming back out of Crystal, I ran into three regular kayaks and the three people driving them. Of course, they were awkwardly carrying the boats one at a time with a person on each end, essentially triple-portages the boats and then running gear. As I breezed into Canoe Lake and put the Canak into the water, one guy in the group asked what I was paddling and commented on how "cool" it looked. I chatted with him for a bit about the new craft, working up north, fishing and the weather, and then power-stroked out into the lake, leaving a wake behind.
I highly recommend this new boat for any solo paddlers visiting the Boundary Waters. If you are interested in taking the Canak for a spin, stop by Clearwater Lodge or call 218-388-2254 for rental information. We're one of the only outfitters on the Gunflint Trail that has one on our water-front.
-am
