Submitted: 01-28-2002 by JP Took the Champlain for a 14 day spin through the Quetico last summer. My Minnesota II came along as well. In careful head-to-head comparisons, the Champlain demonstrated slightly superior initial and secondary stability when loaded, greatly superior stability when empty, and significantly better turning responsiveness. The MinnII was slightly faster, though the difference was unnoticeable at loaded cruising speed. The champlain is an extraordinary wilderness tripping craft-- without the sleekness of the MinnII or Bells, perhaps, but with a rock-solid utility beyond compare. |