Canoe Colorado's Canoe Reviews:
Bell Nexus
Description
Specifications
Bell's Website
Our Review
Other Comments
Justin paddling a solo Nexus on the Colorado River at Shoshone
The Nexus is the largest of the Prodigy series designed by Bob Foote. It can
be paddled both as a whitewater tandem, and as a solo tripping boat with plenty
of capacity for large loads. Here at Canoe Colorado we use the boat primarily in
its solo capacity, as a large comfortable tripping canoe. The Nexus is
constructed out of Royalex, and is currently available in Red and Yellow.
Length 14'4"
Width Gunwale 29" Max 33"
4" Waterline 31"
Depth Bow 22.5" Mid 16"
Stern 21"
Weight 50 lbs*
Rocker Bow 5.75" Stern 5"
www.bellcanoe.com/products/canoes/nexus.html
Construction
Bell Canoe Works has been producing quality canoes for over 15 years. in 2001
Bell began producing Royalex canoes, and built a state of the art production
facility to take advantage of advances in Royalex construction. Unlike older
Royalex boats which were built out of a single density sheet, the Bell Royalex
canoes use a variable density construction that makes the boat thicker where it
needs to be stiff, and thinner where it needs flexibility. The result is a
lighter more durable canoe.
The Royalex is good quality without any bubbles or
discolorations. The sides of the canoe are slightly flexible while portaging (solo
carry with gunwale resting on shoulder, without third thwart), but the bottom was firm and did not
exhibit any oil canning. The addition of a third thwart eliminated the flex,
giving the boat a very solid feel.
The Vinyl gunwales are a one piece construction with a wide outer lip and a
thinner inner lip. The gunwales are attached to the hull every few inches
with aluminum rivets, and a small metal tie down anchor is also attached at
the rivet point, allowing for easy lacing or accessory attachment. The wood
gunwales are ash, they cover the top of the Royalex sheeting unlike other wood
trim which shows the Royalex between the inwale and outwale. At each screw point
is a small metal tie down.
The ABS endplates were large and floppy, and tended to collect water when the
boat was lifted. We drilled a 1/2" hole into the end plate of one boat to help water drain
on the ground instead of all over the truck. The Nexus also has short webbing
straps installed in the ends, along with grab handles for easy carrying. The
wood trimmed boats also uses a version of the ABS endplates, but it has been
trimmed and reinforced so there is no flop.
The Nexus comes with two thwarts, but really benefits from the addition of a
third thwart. The spacing of the factory thwarts is such that the boat can be
rigged solo or tandem, and the third thwart can be placed in the best position
after rigging.
Outfitting
The basic Nexus does not include any outfitting besides the anchors installed
with the gunwales. Hung web seats would pose an entrapment problem for
whitewater paddlers, and due to the custom nature of whitewater outfitting, Bell
allows whitewater paddlers to choose their own configurations.
The Nexus can be outfitted as solo whitewater tripping boat, a tandem
playboat, or with a 3 position solo/ tandem saddle. Bell offers all three
configurations as available options.
Performance
* Notes on Outfitting:
The base price for the Bell Nexus is for the hull only. It does not include
seats. Since this is a whitewater canoe, we strongly discourage installing hung
web seats, since they create a foot entrapment problem. All of our outfitting
for the Nexus is whitewater specific, and reduces the entrapment risk.
** Notes on Specifications:
The weight listed is the average weight for the hull of a Nexus, without any
outfitting. Actual weights will vary, and options and outfitting will add
weight.
Review by Eric Nyre
|
Canoe
Colorado