Field Test THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL, BUT
THE PADDLING IS STILL DELIGHTFUL. PHOTO: KAYDI PYETTE
[ CANOE TREE ] Expedition Ready
CLIPPER’S MACKENZIE 18’6 IS A HEAVY-DUTY LONG-HAULER The first thing I notice about Clipper Canoes’
MacKenzie 18’6 is its size. I could go on a very, very long canoe trip
with this canoe. And I could bring many, many things. When I pick up the 18’6 at Jenda Paddles-
ports (
www.jenda.com), I can tell owner Jason Kirby is a fan of this design—he’s also Clipper’s Eastern-most dealer in the country. The canoe’s 37-inch width is just beyond the
width of my factory roof rack—and almost as wide as the roof of my Subaru wagon. It’s the perfect boat to take on a late fall canoe
trip, and has more than enough space to carry a couple canoe packs and a canvas tent with wood stove. Clipper claims the 18’6 will carry 1,400 pounds while maintaining seven inches of free- board. This factor makes it a favorite among ex- pedition paddlers as well as big game hunters, according to Clipper. “This is one of the only boats I’d feel comfort-
able flipping over and standing on,” Kirby tells me as we’re tying it down. “We can even both stand on it,” he offers. Strength and design durability are character-
istics Clipper canoes are known for. Named af- ter Canada’s longest river, the MacKenzie series was designed by the late canoe designer James van Nostrand. The first offering in the series
54 | Canoeroots
was a 20-foot monster version; this 18.5-foot family truckster followed in 2004. “The MacKenzie series came from the desire
for a bigger, more seaworthy design that could be paddled by two and carry a lot of gear,” says Marlin Bayes, co-owner of Clipper Canoes. “We recommend the 18’6 for a family with
two kids on extended trips or on the ocean,” he adds. Clipper also manufacturers the MacKen- zie design in smaller sportsman models, and also with square sterns. Approaching its 40-year anniversary, Clipper
Canoes remains a family-run business. In 1976, Bayes and wife, Mary, founded the company in the basement of their Abbotsford, British Columbia home. Since then, they’ve become the largest manufacturer of canoes in western Canada—their catalog includes boats from 14 to 44 feet long. On the water, the performance of the
MacKenzie 18’6 is impressive. With such width, its stability feels endless. I’m pleasantly sur- prised by its speed; minimal rocker combined with a long waterline makes it track true and fast. I’m used to kneeling, but the MacKenzie’s
molded bucket seats are placed low, so I don’t feel like I need to kneel for stability, even in moderate waves.
A stable five-point brace can be achieved for
rough water paddling by adding thigh foam pads and bracing feet in standard foot braces or on the bow tank. “You almost have to throw yourself out of the
boat to tilt it very far,” says Bayes. The bow seat features Clipper’s friction-fit
system, which allows the seat to be adjusted forward and back while on the water by simply lifting my weight, then sliding the seat along two parallel bars. When sitting, my weight keeps the seat firmly in place. The 18’6 is also available in Kevlar
(70 pounds) and fiberglass (78 pounds). KAYDI PYETTE
Clipper Canoes MacKenzie 18’6 As Tested Length ......................................................18’6” Width............................................................37” Depth ............................................................16” Weight ...................................................62 lbs Material .........................................Ultralight MSRP ......................................................$2,916
www.clippercanoes.com
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