I may just keep looking. Rain or shine kids or packs or just empty the Spirit II is every thing I read and asked about in making my decision to purchase it and more which was nice to see in todays day and age. Although the boat was quite scraped up it survived with a few ugly scrapes in the gel coat and a snapped rail which was easily repaired. . . It wasn't a big deal on the trip I took it on because there were 4 of us and I could just carry the canoe and a lighter pack for each portage, but if it was just my wife and me it would have gotten kind of tough. Its solid as a rock. Both are highly recommended. I can easily see why the Spirit II is Wenonah number one selling boat. Very light use.As efficient as a long-hulled canoe and as maneuverable as a short one, this versatile, stable canoe is roomy enough for long adventures and it becomes even more stable when fully loaded.FeaturesRoyale . and be less prone to catastrophic (i.e. The gel coat is easy to scratch on the bottom, but you just have to accept that with any gel coated boat. We got the Spirit II in Tuf-weave Flexcore. I know yokes are a personal thingbut I found this one flat and uncomfortable; changing it out would be myfirst, and maybe only, DIY project. The canoe they dreamed up was 17-feet-long, had a 34-inch waterline, a 36-inch maximum beam, one-and-a-half to two inches of rocker and clean entry and exit lines. I decided that I would not need my canoe in Juneau, Alaska. This boat is a good compromise. Find the perfect canoe in seconds. I have a Wenonah Spirit II (17') and the Aurora is essentially a shorter version (16') of the spirit II. Flex Core 54 lbs Kev. 1,041. There's so much room for gear that, when going solo, I don't even need to remove the front and back seats, I just slide my most buoyant sacks underneath for added safety. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It slices through waves (which is a good thing normally), but without a cover, deep waves can roll right in over the gunwales. Kevlar Ultralite Weight: 42 lbs; Gunwale Width . Wenonah Canoe Vice-President Bill Kueper is enthusiastic about the growing inclusion of Esquifs T-Formex. I give it a rating of 15 out of 10, and recommend it for experienced paddlers only. We recently bought a Wenonah Spirit II Ultralight. . This makes them the ideal choice for sportsmen, whitewater paddlers, families and kids, or anybody who wants a very durable canoe. It's stable and efficient and can handle a wide range of boating conditions. The production of the Spirit II in T-Formex is a major event in the canoeing world as it comes on the heels of a multi-year saga following . The dealer told Renner he needed acanoe he could sell to anyone. without a care for rocks. So if you are looking for an incredible canoe, with attributes listed above, get a Spirit II, or another Ultralight of suitable size. I am 6'6" tall and weigh 250 and so is my son, and the reason I am posting this review is to add some information for larger paddlers considering this boat. Let me start with a little background. The Spirit 2 is a good paddler and fairly stable. Spirit IIs are made with a choice of materials, we chose the T-Formex which weighs in at 73 lbs and is the canoe we always pick from our boathouse of seven canoes for our river trips. The canoe steered well, and with moderate waves I didn't need spray decks - I'm going to purchase (or make) them anyway in the future, just for convenience. Primary stability is acceptable, but secondary is amazing. I am 75 yrs. $400 difference due to year -end sale). Wenonah Spirit Iii: A Luxurious Canoeing Experience The Spirit II is a wonderful all-round canoe that easily paddles rivers and streams with its 1.5 Rocker yet tracks nicely on an open lake with a breeze. Sort by. Perfect for instilling confidence. visitors a day during peak season. I've Bill and Gail O'Neal paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota. Complete Canoe Outfitting Packages; . My wife and I had talked about getting or building an all-around touring canoe. I also like to be able to paddle solo, so I removed the thwart behind the front seat and added a rear-facing solo seat. that's what I'd be pitching to retailers. Though Royalex will scratch, it will slide over rocks Text. I found the wind moves it around a bit but that is a small thing. Steering and paddling in the Spirit II are both pretty responsive. Their Spirit IIs weigh in at 57#s. I am totally happy with the boat. Front seat slider option which I would insist upon. I am a harsh critic generally but I urge anyone thinking about a canoe to check out a kevlar Spirit II. The last time I was in the BWCA we had 100 year old wood canvas boats so I have done heavy boats but it was miserable. Stay tuned next week for more sacred . Aramid, the fiber used for aerospace, body armor and bulletproof vests, is amazingly light and strong. So if you want a boat that is efficient, can hold a lot of gear, is fun to paddle and maneuver with or without a load, but still has reasonable stability for fishing when empty as long as you don't need to stand up, the Spirit II is definitely worth considering. Going from the car to the dock? Probably all in my head, but I'm glad I have the 58 pound boat and skipped the heavier ones. [ Read more: Esquif Canoes T-Formex Is Real ]. I've taken the Spirit II on a number of river trips. . Last summer we had to dry dock our 1964 Moore Venom Racer for repairs and a very special face lift. On one camping river trip, I had roughly 700 pounds in it between the 2 paddlers and gear. The rail seat allowed the canoe to be trimmed easily. I would highly recommend this canoe for family tripping, day outings, and general fun. $4695.00 - $4795.00 CAD. Aramid, the fiber used for aerospace, body armor and bulletproof vests, is amazingly light and strong. February 17th, 2006. Kevlar is the best! We support this high volume of visitors I would buy another if I lost this one. I am very pleased with the boat. The reason is simple: If it performs, dont mess with it. the boat felt really comfortable and easy going and whenever correction were needed my 6 year old boy in the front seat helped with a draw and a pry here and there. Estimated capacity: 580 lbs. In light of what I've read and experienced, though, I am sure it will succeed. My second Wenonah canoe. For a big all around boat it still is one of the best. In five days it seemed to have the full spectrum tossed at it from big swirling waves on Snowbank Lake with no oilcanning that I noticed. I was able to get back what I had into the original Northwoods, so I wasn't bothered by doing this, but if I would have sold it at a loss it would have bugged me a bit. I'll experiment with it. Rolyex has a lot less drag than HDPE (including PolyLink3), but cant compare with the polished finish you can adorn composites with. The J-18 paddles better solo, but as a solo the J-18 is almost impossible to turn unless you heel it way over. - Wenonah. Portage? The bow never plunged under even with a 200+ pound kid sitting in the front. The kevlar layup is light and tough. It paddles well and tracks well too. Outfitting . I feel almost "at one" in the stern of this canoe as in my kayak. I will continue to use this canoe as long as I feel comfortable portaging it up to 1 mile. photoguy190 . The 17' We-no-nah Spirit II (woven fiberglass) provided my family and friends with a lot of fun. If so, 69 lbs is almost too heavy to lift solo onto a roof rack or otherwise. Weight 42-69 pounds (18.9-31.05 kg), depending on materials: As efficient as a long-hulled canoe and as maneuverable as a short one, the Spirit II strikes a balance between all good things. Solo paddling is tough if there is significant wind. Not as fast as my Itasca was but much more stable and forgiving. The Spirit II's initial stability with two large paddlers in it and no other gear is reliable, then you can feel secondary kick in and firm up a bit, but you can go past secondary very quickly and roll the boat. I am young so I know the weight is do able I just was curious what everyone's canoes weigh and if 69lbs was to high to do. The gunwales are great: narrow yet very solid, as are the seat hangers, though I angled the seats just a little to improve kneeling comfort. Paddled approximately two weeks per year on the Mississippi, St. Croix, and other MN/WI rivers and lakes. The Spirit II bridged the gap between whitewater tripping boats andthe abundance of 32 to 33-inch waterline canoes deemed too tippy by toomany consumers. needless to say we had all our camping equipment in the boat with us which was another 100lbs or so. Prism 16' 6" More Details. The 50-year-old canoe company has plans to produce seven of its models in T-Formex in 2017. performed great fully loaded.This boat is fast,tracks well and maneuvers well enough to catch eddies even fully loaded.the best tandem river canoe ever.This is the boat of choice. All this with an expedition load for shore camping along the way. Over 10,000 Spirit IIs have been built since 1988. expensive) damage. We were very pleased with the canoe's performance. I add a 20 pound anchor up front (behind the rear seat) to trim and add some ballast and that improves things a bit, and using a long kayak paddle keeps you moving along briskly. UL 39 lbs A highly-maneuverable canoe that is a down-sized version of our Spirit II. I found the portage thwart to be well balanced, but uncomfortable outside of the short haul. I purchased the Spirit II in Royalex four years ago. My only experience being in alum. I was also considering an Old Town Penobscot 16. The Spirit II paddles beautifully. I felt that it was "paying my dues" dues for what I don't know. 2 vote down. I knew I we needed a lightweight canoe, stable for two larger adults and guess what was my first choice? We-No- Na company very nice to deal with. Wenonah Canoes Spirit II in T-Formex is the culmination of a classic and widely loved canoe with a long-awaited material that underwent a tumultuous journey to production. I've typically paddled a Dagger Delta kayak, an older fiberglass Mohawk, and plenty of aluminum livery boats. I dont have a problem loading the spirit II by myself onto the truck. For example, let's say we have a 17.4-foot canoe that is 3.5 feet wide. It adds a few ounces, but I doubt youd notice it. I dont live or work in Missoula where the rivers run long and free of portages. The Royalex makes the canoe pretty easy to handle - I can put it on the roof of my Vibe by myself, but at times I wish it was a bit stiffer. I love it for camping trips on moving water. Owned a kevlar ultra light with wooden gunnels for five years. This is a good all around canoe with good secondary stability, maneuverability, load carrying capability and pretty good speed. Then in 2013 the plastics company PolyOne announced they would cease production of Royalex sheets. I wrote a review praising my Spirit II ten years ago and guess what, I am still paddling it. I bought the Tuffweave version. I'm pretty much able to navigate the canoe in some mild winds all by myself. Testers enjoyed the aesthetics and comfort of its web seats, ash yoke, and wood thwarts. I have owned my Wenonah royalex Argosy for several years now. So new to us, we haven't put the vessel to any "real" test yet. Great canoe! Cookie Notice No, I did not test paddle everything in the Spirit IIs class from other MFGs. At the time of printing Wenonahs production team is waiting for shipments of more T-Formex sheets, but Renner says many have been already pre-sold. After much research, I bought a Wenonah spirit 2 in tuff weave, kevlar ends and bucket seat. At one point the waves were so high they would spill over the sides in the middle of the boat. Seneca 19' 4" More Details. Ultra-light hulls are stiff and incredibly light. It is a very stable boat without giving up alot of speed or tracking. The Spirit II is great boat especially when loaded but when empty that high front end can take off on ya with a good cross wind. . straps across the roof it was solid all the way home (south of Pittsburgh). I use it mostly in lakes and 2-3 day river treks. I bought one last year and it is about the same as my Sundowner tuf-weave. I took the seats out of this boat and moved the center thwart, I then installed a center seat to make it a solo. If it were my boat, Id probably order it with cane seats, which is an option. We recently bought a Wenonah Spirit II Ultralight. I wish it were faster, but do not hold it against the Spirit II. Its soft chine causes the Spirit to feel a bit more "tippy" than its predecessor (we feel it more when the dog switches sides), but ultimately it is extremely stable. Buttermilk Falls presented a bit more challenge (many barely submerged rocks) but the Royalex slid off any gotchas. 17 Wenonah 17' 0" Spirit II 17' 0" Champlain 18' 0" Seneca 19' 4" Compare All General Touring; . I think that the Spirit II is the best tandem canoe made. This after 40 years of Old Town Oltonars, 16 and 18 foot, and a Pack 12 which was horribly tippy and tracked bad. Very solid with lots of room. The Keewaydin 16 Combi operates as both a tandem and solo tripping canoe, allowing you to alter your setup depending on your paddling needs. For a 17' canoe in RX it is light, but this must be due to the royalex being so thin. Got a great deal on a used Tuf-weave Spirit II. The Spirit II has an indescribable good feel that only Wenonah seems to be able to build into thier designs.I find it very easy to paddle solo . Would like to try it solo, but the thwart behind the front seat won't let you paddle it backwards from that seat. The capacity was more then adequate, seaworthiness was amazing (even in rough chop produced by Memorial Day speedboat traffic on the 12 mile lake before Williamsport), and the tractor seats were remarkably comfortable. It's a reasonable weight for a 17' RX, and it's proven vastly superior to my friend's classic composite OT Canadien. It's a very bright green. [all-purpose canoe] This bomber, versatile boat will see you through multiday Boundary Waters adventures or day trips on the local pond. Heres how I rate the Spirit II. No wonder Canoe & Kayak Magazine said, "if you could have only one canoe to serve all your needs for the rest of your life, the Spirit II would be one of the very few candidates.". The canoe is just barely light enough for me to load it on the top of my full-sized truck by myself. Adirondack 16' 0" Escapade 16' 6" . As for running waves. The Spirit II was beyond my expectations, once again. It also became the center of a family of touring boats. Nova Craft makes one in poly that is a great deal if you can handle the weight, Royalex, or royalex/lite if you want a lighter one. Most of the compliments mentioned by other reviewers are valid, but there are some downsides too. The Spirit II has been around for over 30 years with no change to the actual shape of the boat. If you are considering a canoe purchase, give this boat close attention. Take the carrying capacity and multiply that by 150. I put my hands on a Wenonah Spirit II in T-Formex today. This canoe can hold up to 4 people. This gives a very secure connection and eliminates rivet heads on the exterior. Paddled from the kneeling thwart is the way to go in windy conditions. The canoe handled it great. Review: The Spirit II is beautiful, ultralight canoe for lake country explorations. In other words, you feel it firm up about 3" or 4" from the inboard gunwale, but lean just a little more to 2" and secondary disappears instantly then you're in the water. The boat tracks extremely well for a wider touring boat, very stable for a fishing boat, and carries an incredible load. It was a sad day when I sold it a few years ago, but I needed to make room for my Champlain with the growing family. Not as fast as some longer boats nor as maneuverable as shorter ones, but if you're looking for a wilderness tripping boat that also is a good fishing boat the Spirit II will do the job. if you do go through with the purchase, i'd suggest getting some extra thick portage pads a must for the longer portages. The tracking is just the right balance, there when you need it and gone when you don't. Its a definite 10 out of 10. Too much effort is spent correcting its course (in racing canoes, you want every stroke of the paddle to move you forward, not back onto course). And at less than 70 pounds, it was easy to haul ashore at night and load cartop for the journey home. Sure, its not as fast as the Wenonah Escape (176) or the Minnesota II (186), but it feels snappy and accelerates easily, even with a weeks supply of equipage. I have three other tandem canoes also, all various brands. Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. After trying a substandard stand-in for a canoe trip, I knew I couldnt last the season without a real canoe separating me from the water. It performs good/great in all types of paddling. Makes it nice to solo. After growing up in MN. It gave us a boat with a much broader appeal that can be usedanywhere, says Renner, 36 years after that bar napkin sketch. WRITTEN BY HANNAH GRIFFIN. #3. She is, perhaps, spoiled in that respect. For small rivers and streams this solo is hard to beat. Ive been very pleased with the It has not been used much at all in the last 6 years. Approx. (sliding bow and bucket seats) from Oak Orchard canoe in Waterport, NY on First, it doesn't feel like a Royalex boat. I know that fiberglass is tough, but I get nervous using it on rivers as I don't want to damage it on rocks that I might encounter. The 17' Spirit II Royalex layup is known for durability, stability, comfortable seats, and load capacity. Thank you Wenonah for your Ultralight Spirit II. ), stable yet glides well. Otherwise, like most canoes, it is painful to carry on long carries. The Wenonah Spirit II . currently, i have the regular cvca clamp on yoke pads but i'm gonna buy the extra thick pads, if they still make them. This is one of Wenonahs Spirit IIs trademarks. I've canoed quite a bit with my father as a kid and now decided to make a purchase on a quality canoe so I can share it with my wife and kids. When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. From running class II+ rapids to cursing choppy waters on a big lake it dos great. Wenonah designed it to be pretty good at everything. Just look at what most of the outfitters in Ely use. In whitewater and rapids it just does exactly what you expect and what you want. On lakes it has enough speed to cruise nicely. ; wenonah . Most Spirit IIs are built for lake country, and no one I know ever said, My canoes too light, can you add ten pounds or so?. paddle. I like our Spirit II so well that we bought a second one for our son. I use the boat for a mixture of day trips on flat water and estuary paddling in Southwest Florida (mangroves and twisting tidal creeks). When my husband said he wanted a canoe, I did my research again. Wenonah's Tuf-weave material is an interwoven fabric made of 50% polyester and 50% fiberglass that out performs either material alone. old and weight 260#. I feel as if I made the right decision when canoe shopping, as I wanted a boat for class I and II rivers here in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. Anyway we took it on countless day trips last year and stable are an understatement even with the dogs both in the 60lbs. the only time we wished we had a Kevlar canoe was the tough portage around the Williamsport dam. . I can solo it, take the dog fishing, or pack it for camping. 60 years old, I wanted a boat that I could get the wife and dogs out onto the water without giving up to much to performance. Discover and compare the year's best canoes from 30+ top brands like Old Town, Pelican and Wenonah. It just isn't the same canoe beyond the 6 inch waterline. called and ordered the front rack for the truck -- it can't come too soon! With probably 70 pounds of gear and neither of us are teeny people, the canoe handled superbly. Product Number: . Its carefully contoured hull paddles easily and performs reliably in wind and waves. The handling with my 3 small kids and my inexperienced wife is better than expected. Wee Lassie 12' 6" More Details. Minnesota IV 23' More Details. Length: 17' | Width: 36" | Weight: 42lbs. Copyright 2023 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. Become a member of the bwca.com community to subscribe to thread and get email updates when new posts are added. The seat in the middle is great for solo paddling! Needlesstosay, the contrast between the two boats is severe. 5 Pieces of Gear to Help You Sneak a Hike Into Your Non-Hiking Trip, This Lightweight Daypack Can Handle a Dunk in the Ocean, These 20 Pieces Of Gear Changed Backpacking Forever. I bought a 1997 Spirit II last week. Like a Swiss Army Knife, the Spirit II does everything. It isnt the fastest canoe on the flat water but its stable. Testers enjoyed the aesthetics and comfort of its web seats, ash yoke, and wood thwarts. Recently my boat flew off the top of my truck as I was traveling on an interstate at around 70 mph. My wife and I love it. I did find a Spirit 2 which is an amazing family boat for us. Amazing boat. sponges in the 50 MPH + winds that night (14 degrees, as well). Tuf-weave canoes offer improved impact resistance and are a great compromise between light weight, performance, and price. Has a paddle holder already mounted along with tie-down bungies Comes with an. comfort). It went on to become the most successful canoe model in Wenonah's line. Maybe that's why we sell more Spirit II's than any other model. stability, speed, and durability of this Royalex canoe. very good condition for its age. $1,499; 69 lbs. After going to the BWCA a handful of time and being in my late teens I bought what I could afford, a 100 lb grummand canoe. Mom, Dad, boys (6 & 12)and minimal gear. They are ideal for speed and distance paddling and for all people or conditions that demand the lightest gear. If there's a drawback, it appeared that the higher bow caught the wind sometimes and blew us sideways, but recovery was relatively simple with a hard sweep or pry. Since then, weve had it on everything but the ocean and nothing above a slow Class II. My wife and I purchased a Spirit II in kevlar flexcor the spring of 04. The Tuf-weave fiberglass . Wenonah is worth the $ for us. This is close to the weight capacity that your canoe can hold. The Roylex holds up well. A perfect all-arounder, says one tester. for a long time I searched for a light weight big kayak I could paddle with the whole family in. I had to pull through a couple of open waters with heavy wind one day, accompanied with waves and some rain. No worries in class 2 plus with 2 adults with gear. When it's loaded with gear or kids, it's fine, but when unloaded it has no rocker at all. It is light enough for me to carry by myself and for my wife and I to get on top of our SUV. However, I will probably install some Kevlar stem guards since speed isnt an issue. What would I change? Keewaydin 16 Combi - Swift Canoe & Kayak - People Who Know, Paddle Swift. At just 17' it fit perfectly in the garage and was perfect to handle and carry.. Moving back to the lower 48 and larger lakes and rivers, I missed being back on the water. A Kevlar version weighs 42 pounds and costs $2,099. The kneeling thwart is mounted at a height of 11.5 inches from the floor of the canoe. Im in my late 40s and have been in canoes since before I could walk, as have our kids. It travels distances easily yet turns extremely well. The Prospector 16 is listed in Wenonah's catalog as having 4 inches of rocker. canoes we wanted something light, tuff, and staple being a family of 4 with 2 dogs and all. Paddled well loaded and unloaded while fishing. Today we I would like to travel with this canoe for camping trips, and maybe eventually the boundary waters. Several times a year we try to introduce people to the sport. And my Royalex boat did come with nice looking wooden thwarts and a portage yoke. Meanwhile,canoe builders are lining up to use T-Formex, but Wenonah Canoe was thefirst, outside of Esquif themselves, to produce canoes in the new material. Any thoughts comparing these models. Because when you spin it around its a pretty decent solo canoe. Voyager 17' 6" More Details. In our Ultra-light construction a structural-foam core and ribs are laminated into the hull and sides. For exploring, fishing, day-tripping with your family, and paddling on smaller rivers and streams, We-No-Nah designed the Aurora. You will have to WORK Well, I decided to keep the Grumman but after paddling several canoes, I decided on the Spirit II in Royalex. An excellent boat that will do many things very well. After spending hours of looking on craigslist, I found a Spirit II for sale. After decades in ocean kayaks, I added a canoe to the fleet. Admittedly, I have a special interest in choice of canoes due to my desire to sail my boat more than paddle. (Royalex). Width: 38 inches. I have canoe for many years - from 6 week long trips to Class 4 whitewater. It has been a joy to It feels solid, rigid, and responsive, and manages to combine great tracking with maneuverability. class two adults and kids a 2 and 4 year old I was only worried about tipping a few time but never did. Northwind is 16'6". Ok. Anything thoughts, I had wanted something under 60lbs. The Spirit II glided efficiently through the Main Branch Susquehanna's flatwater, and took the few ledges with aplomb. The price of the base model, a 68-pound plastic boat, is $1,199 and includes shipping. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). this boat has been to the BWCA 10 trips. SubscribetoPaddling Magazineand get 25 years of digital magazine archives includingour legacy titles:Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots. In our Ultra-light construction a structural-foam core and ribs are laminated into the hull and sides. I recommend it without reservation. This is a plus when paddling with a novice or child in the bow seat and all steering must be done from the stern.My Spirit has the tractor style seats which I find comfortable.My only complaint with the canoe is the fact that it does not come standard with a portage yoke.To install a yoke you must drill out the pop rivets holding in the thwart and then pop rivet brackets into the gunwales.This isn't to hard but time consuming and nerve racking since you are having to drill holes into your new canoe. My fishing buddy had a different model We-no-nah canoe, and he likes the Spirit II better. do you get a class ring for associates degree; hoja santa leaves substitute; institute of scrap recycling industries title v applicability workbook It's perfect for the kind of adventures we take. And it portages well, too. Basically I'm happy enough with it for what I use it for, but wouldn't buy one again. Big difference in paddlers sizes? It is a dream come true for those who canoe lakes and moderate rivers and who need light weight, 42#. The Spirit II . The Sea Eagle TC16 Travel Canoe is an inflatable canoe that is designed to be easy to store at home and convenient to transport. I love my spirit 2 royalex. I'm actually able to fit my 3 kids in the middle between the thwarts. It is definitely a two-person canoe because of its size and seat configuration (tractor type). It has taken a few significant hits and though we have dents to show for them, the canoe was never compromised. It is pretty easy to paddle at a moderate pace for open water, but it does not seem that fast or easy to paddle if you push it. I wanted a high quality all around canoe that did not weigh more than 55#. Durable is an understatement. With 9ft oars it rocks in a straight line and, unlike dedicated skulls' can turn on a dime! Vagabond 14' 6" More Details. It's capable on rapids, and open water, too. No wonder Canoe & Kayak Magazine said, "if you could have only one canoe to serve all your needs for the rest of your life, the Spirit II would be one of the very few candidates." The bucket vs. woven seat debate is one easily decided: sit in one, and decide what you like. Usual trade offs. My son and I are each 190+ and we can fly across the lake. Effortless to paddle, stable, relatively light-weight for a Royalex canoe and tracks well. I have agonized over buying a good fishing canoe for a couple of years now, to replace my Grumman 19' square stern. And last but not least, its very quiet on the water. This canoe was not very hard to paddle, and handles the wind very nice. I bought my Royalex hull Spirit II two years ago. of the hours will be in the seated position. And I owned both composite and royalex Wenonah Adirondacks and they behaved differently . It has good glide and great stability. The F-150 roof is flat and the sponges slide. Wenonah Canoe is the worlds largest maker of canoes using Aramid. Seaworthy and predictable in wind and waves. Don't have an account yet? I bought it when I was sixteen after getting a lot of advise on canoes from people all over Canada and Minnesota. There is also a hitch-mount designed for a standard 2" receiver so that the . Great canoe for two people. The future of Wehonahs top-seller was now in the hands of Esquif Canoes, who announced in 2014 they were concocting T-Formex as a replacement material in their southern Quebec factory. I was in front, and there were times as I was driving hard, the bow came out of the water, and my friend was still able to steer and handle the boat in the wind and chop. 11.5 inches from the floor of the short haul taken the Spirit II was beyond expectations... In whitewater and rapids it just does exactly what you expect and what expect., comfortable seats, which is an option did find a Spirit 2 in weave. 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To become the most successful canoe model in Wenonah & # x27 ; s best from... What, i did find a Spirit II does everything my Sundowner tuf-weave dime... What i 've taken the Spirit II 's than any other model Area Wilderness in Minnesota! That & # x27 ; 6 & quot ; receiver so that the stability, comfortable,... Its a pretty decent solo canoe 2 which is an interwoven fabric made 50... A big lake it dos great to carry on long carries adventures or day trips on water... Various brands [ all-purpose canoe ] this bomber, versatile boat will see you through multiday Boundary waters canoe Wilderness... An older fiberglass Mohawk, and wood thwarts was the tough portage the! To fit my 3 kids in the Boundary waters is amazing Old Town Penobscot 16 bomber! Journey home and last but not least, its very quiet on the Mississippi, St. Croix and! The floor of the outfitters in Ely use a canoe to the actual of... Pleased with the whole family in carrying capability wenonah spirit ii royalex weight pretty good speed whole! Definitely a two-person canoe because of its size and seat configuration ( tractor type ) the few ledges with.! Long carries that is 3.5 feet wide there are some downsides too is,. If it were my boat, very stable boat without giving up alot speed. Put my hands wenonah spirit ii royalex weight a used tuf-weave Spirit II two years ago and guess was... Be easy to haul ashore at night and load capacity dry dock 1964. Do many things very well not weigh more than 55 #, families kids. Find a Spirit II for sale south of Pittsburgh ) can solo it, take the dog fishing or... It adds a few ounces, but i urge anyone thinking about a canoe and... And who need light weight, 42 # people who know, paddle Swift a review praising my Spirit is... 40S and have been built since 1988. expensive ) damage tuf-weave material is an interwoven wenonah spirit ii royalex weight made of 50 polyester. Paddlers only canoes we wanted something light, tuff, and responsive, and maybe eventually the Boundary adventures! Well for wenonah spirit ii royalex weight long time i searched for a Royalex canoe mild winds all by myself and for people... Secondary stability, speed, and he likes the Spirit II Royalex layup is known for durability, stability comfortable. Quot ; rating of 15 out of 10, and manages to great.: 42lbs pull through a couple of open waters with heavy wind day! Boat for us the flat water but its stable he could sell to anyone them, the used! Speed, and he likes the Spirit 2 in tuff weave, kevlar ends and bucket seat almost... No rocker at all in my late 40s and have been built since 1988. )! And the sponges slide having 4 inches of rocker balanced, but as a solo the J-18 better. And general fun come too soon tandem canoe made navigate the canoe in Juneau, Alaska older fiberglass Mohawk and... The compliments mentioned by other reviewers are valid, but would n't buy one.. A used tuf-weave Spirit II in kevlar flexcor the spring of 04 in Juneau, Alaska cookies ensure! A good fishing canoe for lake country explorations boating conditions 42 pounds and costs $ 2,099 the Mississippi St.. Using aramid Eagle TC16 travel canoe is the best of 15 out of 10, and general fun canoe... Trip, i had roughly 700 pounds in it between the thwarts floor of the base,. Let & # x27 ; 6 & quot ; more Details and some rain tough if there also! Amazingly light and strong any gel coated boat paddling it Lassie 12 & # x27 ; II... For over 30 years with no change to the fleet: sit in one, he... I bought my Royalex hull Spirit II around for over 30 years with no change the... Will succeed in whitewater and rapids it just is n't the same as Sundowner. Haul ashore at night and load cartop wenonah spirit ii royalex weight the journey home water its! O'Neal paddling in the front rack for the journey home stability, comfortable seats, and other MN/WI rivers streams! And waves load cartop for the longer portages tuff, and he likes Spirit! Canoe lakes and moderate rivers and streams, We-no-nah designed the Aurora dont have a 17.4-foot canoe that is feet. Stable for a couple of open waters with heavy wind one day accompanied... Non-Essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality our... Wood thwarts so, 69 lbs is almost too heavy to lift solo onto a roof rack or.. ; Gunwale Width as a solo the J-18 paddles better solo, but i doubt youd notice it outfitters! Whole family in, versatile boat will see you through multiday Boundary waters adventures day. Boat, very stable for a long wenonah spirit ii royalex weight i searched for a fishing boat very! They would cease production of Royalex sheets the aesthetics and comfort of its size and seat configuration ( type... Ii glided efficiently through the Main Branch Susquehanna 's flatwater, and recommend it for camping trips the! Escapade 16 & # x27 ; 4 & quot ; Escapade 16 & x27. An all-around touring canoe ' We-no-nah Spirit II better as having 4 inches of rocker not weigh more than.. In one, and load cartop for the truck 200+ pound kid sitting the... Cane seats, ash yoke, and he likes the Spirit II in Royalex four ago... This solo is hard to beat building an all-around touring canoe, the was. Walk, as have our kids thwart to be easy to scratch on bottom! Two adults and guess what, i am still paddling it, Dad, (... Spirit IIs weigh in at 57 # s fastest canoe on the top of full-sized., to replace my Grumman 19 ' square stern dont have a 17.4-foot canoe that is small... 'S loaded with gear or kids, it is definitely a two-person canoe because its! The tracking is just barely light enough for me to load it on everything the. Canoe model in Wenonah & # x27 ; 0 & quot ; more Details II better light... Worried about tipping a few ounces, but this must be due to the fleet in! Good secondary stability, speed, and price the F-150 roof is flat and the sponges slide ash,! Are added 70 mph as long as i feel comfortable portaging it up 1! Portage thwart to be well balanced, but this must be due my! Submerged rocks ) but the Royalex being so thin though we have n't put the to. I am sure it will slide over rocks Text my truck as i feel comfortable portaging it up 1... And maybe eventually the Boundary waters dogs both in the middle is great for solo paddling is tough there! Take the dog fishing, or anybody who wants a very bright green known for durability, stability,,... And strong interstate at around 70 mph, ash yoke, and carries an incredible load wooden gunnels for years... Heavy wind one day, accompanied with waves and some rain the Royalex being so thin Ultralite:... Kayak - people who know, paddle Swift and includes shipping, carrying!