-- Last Updated: Dec-05-12 6:37 PM EST --
With all due respect, and much respect is due for sure, I think you might be a very skilled paddler and experienced tripper for whom the use of a boat like you describe makes a trip that you have paddled dozens of times if not more seem more interesting. But I really think that a big royalex boat is the preferred boat for 90% or more of the folks that paddle that trip, especially for the first time.
That mud pond carry is a bear and there is no need for it, unless again you have done the trip a gazillion times and you need to spice things up a bit. But I do agree, kevlar would be nice on that carry. I think it might land me in the hospital at my age if I tried to haul a Tripper over that carry. If you are looking for some real spice consider poling up Allagash Stream to Allagash Lake. Fishing can be real good but generally it is a spring thing. Lovely lake. Nice falls with a camp site about half way up. Plenty of sites on Allagash Lake.
Whatever the OP decides, he is in for a very sweet trip. Still my favorite of all.
If you are interested you might want to pick up the DVD Northrunner. It has footage of a fall trip on the Allagash several years ago. If you look closely you might even get a few glimpses of yours truly on that DVD here and there. One of my good tripping buddies is interviewed. Not a great DVD but it will help get you in the mood. You can pick it up here - http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/aww/video.htm.