Why we only sell Souris River Canoes at Red Rock Wilderness Store
We're not selling Souris River Canoes just to get rich quick. In fact, it would be a whole lot easier to sell well known, name brand canoes rather than explaining all the differences between Souris River and all the other canoes out there to our prospective
customers - differences that are vastly significant and yet totally invisible to the naked, untrained consumer eye.
But, it is all worth the extra effort when you read letters and emails like these from our customers. Lightweight for carrying is a nice and important feature for any canoe but the truly important and sometimes most overlooked feature of any canoe is how it handles on the water. When our customers finally put a Souris River Canoe on the water and experience just how well a sensible, realistic hull design performs, they get a real sense of what makes a Souris River Canoe stand out from the rest of the canoe crowd. Handling, stability, durability, lightweight, and remaining freeboard with a load, is what should always comprise the list of considerations when buying a canoe. Nobody ever drowns on a portage or a parking lot. Here's what people are saying:
Quetico 17
Joe-
...the SR Quetico 17 performed beautifully up there the week of Sept 16 when it rained and rained and was windy most of the week. The other canoe, an Old Town Camper 16 ended up capsizing when we went out for a day trip on that Friday. They ended up stranded for the night on an island 1/2 mile from our campsite because they didn't want to risk capsizing again. The owner of the other canoe decided that he will never take his canoe on another BWCAW trip after watching me easily carry my SR and how it handled on the water in the big waves. So, Thanks for selling me the great canoe. It has lived up to my expectations. By the way, have you ever considered coming down to Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin to try to create awareness of the SR Canoe? I went to the show last March and people were buying the "Other Brand X Canoes" but there were no Souris Rivers there. It appears that 1000's of people attend the event and it might be worth your while. It's run by Rutabega in Madison and will be held March 7-9 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Thanks again,
David C.
Just finished a canoe trip of five days renting a Quetico 17 last week from Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters. Truly a delight. Can't say anything but superlatives about the design, comfort, or performance. I am considering purchasing a canoe, and it will be a Souris River for sure.
Frank E.
Joe,
Just wanted to drop a line and say that my new Souris River Quetico 17 that I purchased from you over the internet last December is a fantastic canoe …. Funny, it’s everything you said it would be. It’s been to Isle Royale and the BWCA so far this year. Thanks for making my search for a canoe an easy one, your web-site explains and compares your product to others better than I could have done. Thanks again … I’m telling everyone about my great canoe. I’ve even had to borrow it out once already.
Dale Hagenson - Mpls
Quetico 18.5
Hi there,
This past year I purchased a used Quetico 18.5 and I have to say we are loving it... Red Rock has been quite helpful and has offered great prices and information with all the gear I purchased this year.... Thanks for everything!
Tony B.
Shipping Canoes
Hi,
I just thought I would write to let you know the canoe made it to Wyoming without a scratch. The freight carrier said he wished more companies would pack their products as well as you did. We hope to use the canoe in a few weeks. Thanks for the great packing job!
Al
Quetico 16
Well, Joe,
The black ultralight 16 has become quite comfortable as a Southern Californian so far. I would estimate it has made 30 launch/recoveries, mostly near floats so boarding was relatively easy, but some from a bank, using the technique given for "dry feet entry" on your web page.
Has to happen once, I suppose. I got in a hurry recently and dumped everything right near the dock. Solo, so no screaming or panic, but I did get a round of applause from the bank fisherfolks. Swam it to a nearby ramp, and with footing, just poured the water out, refloated, did a better job of getting in and settled, and used the extra paddle to fetch the other and my trail of items. Nothing damaged and it was still a great day afloat.
If I had it to do again, I'd opt for a 17 carbonteq, instead of the 16, but can't really complain. My son, at 235LB in the front and yours truly at 215LB in the back did just fine, though admittedly it was near glassy water except for the flailing we did, with his rather random but powerful paddling up front. I assume that from the front position it is hard to know where the canoe is aimed, what with not much of it visible. With me shouting deprications and complaints we made it back to the dock without known damage.
I get a LOT of questions about the construction, and everyone immediately notices a 70-year-old dude just wearing it like a hat for the 150-odd feet from parking area to the bank where I usually launch. Am accumulating enough scratches and gouges by now that I'm a little less twitchy about those bank launches.
Larry McKinley
Quetico 17
I purchased a used Quetico 17 in October 2003 from you folks and finally got it wet. Due to things not worth mentioning and too complex, my Le Tigre sat hanging from the roof of my garage. Yesterday, I returned from the BWCA and it's "maiden" voyage, and have never happier in my purchase. My brother and I took the Cherokee loop from Sawbill Lake and had a blast. My brother was one of those Kevlar skeptics who would only use an aluminum canoe so he didn't have to worry about hitting anything. Well, after many a talk around the campfire, he now wants to get one of his own. So, I'm trying to get him to make the trek to Redrock and get one. Anyway, I love the canoe and am thankful I checked out Redrock and the Souris River canoes before I purchased a canoe that I would not be happy with. On a side note, of all the canoes we saw on our five day trip, 65% or more were Souris River canoes, and a lot of them were rentals. That shows just how good they are, and how much people want them. We showered at Sawbill outfitters on the way out, and they had about 60% of Souris River canoes out back. Hmmm, I think you guys are on to something, and way ahead of your time. Keep up the great website, and thanks again.
Kent O.
Fargo, ND
Quetico 17
Hi Joe,
My wife (Francene) and I (Jeff) from St. Charles, Illinois purchased a Souris River Quetico 17 LeTirgre at your Paddle Daze open house in May of 2003. If you remember, we took one for a demo on a really windy day with large waves. After we took off, you thought to yourself that you should have asked if we were good paddlers due to how bad the waves were. The Quetico 17 handled like a champ. We came back the next day, tested how well it performed on calm water, and we purchased it. We purchased the Quetico 17 as our second canoe. We have a 17' kevlar black gold Bell Northwind that we did not want to use where we could damage it as it does not flex like the Souris River. With the wood trim, the Bell is like artwork. But, we like the Quetico 17 so much that the Bell does not leave our garage. We like the contoured web Souris River seats better than the Bell cane or Wenonah bucket seats. I like the Souris River aluminum trim better than the Bell wood trim. The Quetico 17 has more stability and does not seem to give up anything noticeable in paddling performance. I wish we would have know about the Souris River before we bought the Bell, but down here we did not get to try a Souris River. I think the Bell was the best available for what the dealers down here sell. We belong to the Prairie State Canoeists canoe club which is the largest canoe club in Northern Illinois. Our Quetico 17 LeTigre has received a lot of attention on our outings, and we tell them about Redrock. Our Bell is like new, and we will probably sell it or trade it as we like the Quetico 17 that much better. This is part of the reason why I am researching our next canoe.
In August of 2004, we took our first BWCA trip with a group and guide from [an outfitter]. We were provided Wenonah Minnesota II's. Although we got along fine with the canoe, I would rate it below our Bell and much below our Souris River. I agree with everything you have said about the Minnesota II.
I find your website to be excellent and very informative. Although some may find that there is a bias toward Souris River, from my actual experience, I find that what you say is true. As an engineer, I really respect that. What may seem like bias is your enthusiasm for a good product and trying to keep things from being boring.
I am starting to think about purchasing another Souris River canoe. While using Google, I came across your Pondering web page. That page has a great deal of good information. I do not find a link from Redrock's main pages to this link, and you may want to add one or make it more apparent.
I read with interest about paddling solo from the front seat (with the canoe reversed) instead of in the center. I would like a pro's and con's comparison between using the Tranquility Solo which has a center seat verses a Quetico 16 solo with the center seat verses the Quetico 16 tandem from the front seat (with the canoe reversed). This includes the paddling characteristics of the Tranquility Solo and the Quetico 16. This would also make a good article on your Pondering web page. I am asking you this as I am thinking that my next canoe may be for solo paddling. Although I know people that use them, I do not think I would use a Kayak paddle if that influences the selection. I also paddle from a seated position. My knees do not like me to kneel, and I am out for enjoyment. I also agree with your view about sit and switch paddling not being fun. This canoe would be mainly used for day trips on large creeks up to good size rivers. Is the Quetico 16 similar to the Quetico 17 as far as how it handles?
On another topic, I have a friend who thinks he needs a royalex canoe to do large creeks and small rivers due to rocks even though he does not do real white water (once in a while a little class 2). I told him that he should consider the Quetico 16 as it should perform better than a royalex canoe, is lighter, and should withstand the rocks. He is not concerned about price. What do you think? I have watched Bill Mason's videos where he is doing some pretty good white water in a wood and canvas canoe. This could be another item for your Pondering web page. You have our permission to post any of this if you choose to.
Well Joe, I hope I have not been too long. You will see us whenever we do get to Ely.
Thanks,
Jeff A.
