The Slipper started as a collaboration between Cliff Jacobson and Bob brown, a canoe/kayak designer. Both lived near Minnesota's twin cities.
Their first solo tripper was the CJ Solo, which was sold to Old Town, their second was the lady Slipper, sold to MRC. Both were early- mid 80's designs.
Slipper was 4" shorter than the CJ, but both were arched hulls with straight sides and zero rocker. Kinda wide, with L/W ratios around 6, they weren't particularly fast, straight tracking or maneuverable. Their importance was that two major manufacturers were interested in offering solo canoes.
Jim Henry had designed earlier MRC solos and designed Liberty as Slipper sales started to slip. Indy was longer, V'd and had a little rocker, so it is better tracking, faster and more maneuverable.
Paddling is, sometimes, a modern, skill intensive sport. The better one does it the greater the reward.
And better gear enhances that performance too.
Paddlers discussing 25 year old designs is kinda like cross country skiers sitting around the table discussing the 3-pin binding. It may be fun with a full glass, but on the skate course we have Salomon or NNN binding on our skis, 'cause they perform way better. |