While canoes like the Kingfisher 16 wont be winning any races, they have enough stability to stand in and ample space for larger paddlers to feel comfortable. $19.95 USD Laminated Yoke with Pads Contoured yoke has adjustable pads for comfort. I cured this by widening the pedestal base 9" and lowering it 5/8". We've used it for more than 30 years to construct extremely light and tough canoes. I do have some gripes, but it's difficult to complain about a product that has performed so well for so long. However as a smaller paddler at 150lbs it does require more energy to keep it moving than other boats that Ive paddled. It just feels stable. Wenonah Canoe is the worlds largest maker of canoes using Aramid. I like the tractor seat, and the only mods I've made is to improve the slide system with a rope, bungee, and a cam cleat. The tractor seat is comfy for hours and hours if you use a gel yak pad on top of it. I have had the boat out without cargo (just the dog and a small day pack) in about a 25 mile per hour wind (small bay w/o significant waves) and didn't have any problems with directional control. The Jensen was fast and I really liked it for that. Predictable stability is my favorite feature of the Prism. This may not be a concern to most people, but if youd like to kneel and paddle a Canoe heeled over, this isnt the boat for you. Simply because while it is a good tracking solo for tripping it is also usable on the rocky streams here in Arkansas. That is where you will notice a cross section difference that might help others You must log in or register to reply here. Wenonah canoes have maintained a presence in the Midwest for more than 50 years. It is also treated with a UV-resistant coating. Many companies have their own takes on the Prospector model, but Wenonahs particularly sharp entry lines lend the canoe better glide. The Wilderness is a great all-around solo hull. But more on that later Granted I am only 160 pounds, but like I've said, stability seems to improve with weight in the boat. I have been a little disappointed in the performance of the kevlar/gel coat however as I have found it has scratched extremely easily right through to the kevlar as the coating is very thin (to keep the weight down presumably). Help keep the flying moose flying and I haven't done any long portages yet that would require the yoke. Compare. Used bare, this is a fine yoke for infrequent, short portages. Their high weight capacities accommodate the extra gear that usually accompanies these endeavors. Faster then any tandem boat i have paddled and will take a LOT of gear. Select canoes are available with woven graphite for a stiffer and more responsive canoe, and it also gives the canoes a sleek, dark aesthetic. It was a ultra light Kevlar canoe. If it has been kept inside and upside down on a rack, theres less chance of damage. I would prefer to have the option of kneeling, but the sliding tractor seat makes it a sit down canoe. If I won a million dollars, I'd ask Swift to build me a replica of the Wenonah Prism using their carbon construction techniques no matter how much it cost. I recently acquired a Wenonah Prism in ultra-light Kevlar. The one and only drawback I have found which I was unaware of before I bought it, is that any kind of breeze affects this canoe VERY adversely. This boat is designed to be equipped with a small two-to-three-horsepower motor. Large roll top dry bag filled with water at the put-in is the best I've found so far. Reading reviews of Wenonah canoes helps you better understand their performance characteristics. It doesn't take long in this type of paddling before you'll find yourself playing bumper pool off the banks or doing alot of back-paddling to keep the canoe pointed in the direction you want to go.". Seats, footbraces, and all hardware is then riveted into these plates. But it did like to go straight. It carries a large load or a small load fast enough for me to keep up with any tandem and that includes a Minnesota II. I had to work a bit harder to make her go straight, but I expected that. Wenonah canoes are made with T-Formex plastic or composite woven materials. as a camping vehicle on northern Wisconsin's flowages. As it is it has very high freeboard and very little draft so this translates into sometimes not being able to control the canoe if the wind gets stiff enough. Composite material is an all-encompassing term describing canoes made with woven fabrics and resins. Read on to learn more. T-Formex or older Royalex canoes can withstand repeated impacts without much damage. I had been sitting in its tractor seat for over 1500 miles of the Missouri River and had never really worried about its stability. I can usually get strokes to side before switching. I would get a lighter layup but this was my first solo and I'm quite attatched to it. Wenonah has more canoe models for backcountry tripping or paddling with more than two paddlers. Carl Yost DY's son designs for Ted Bell. and it has not failed me in any way. Rick, Quote: IMO it does have one serious drawback..If you are paddling smaller streams with lots of twisty turns, this canoe isn't for you. They are ideal for speed and distance paddling and for all people or conditions that demand the lightest gear. Bigsilver could you take pictures of your two boats from the end at ground level? Its a good material for building canoes that are easy to carry. Ultra-light hulls are stiff and incredibly light. T-Formex canoes are popular because they are worry-free. Fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness; Canoe Routes - Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters; Camping Tips; Gallery; Gallery - Guest photos; Chik Wauk Museum; Grand Marais; North House Folk School; Art Colony; The foot braces work excellent, they're very well designed, just replace the wing nuts they give you with self locking nuts or they will come loose and fall off, possibly while on your roof going down the highway which is not good. $99.95 USD Removable Yoke Kit These canoes are much lighter than polyethylene or aluminum canoes and can be built in nearly limitless designs. Don't take my word for it - go take a look for yourself. So often, reviews are just written by groupies of a particular brand that will only view a product through rose colored glasses. In our Ultra-light construction a structural-foam core and ribs are laminated into the hull and sides. A factory second-quality canoe is also called a Blem. The boat was light to portage. As mentioned before, the best way to know if the canoe is a good match is to actually paddle it. If you've never paddled a solo canoe, it's a bit like staying balanced on a bicycle only easier. I'm 5'11", 170, I think the staff felt the boat It's a great tripping boat and tracks even better when loaded. Only sissies paddle kayaks. Talking to ALOT of good folks and reps at the annual Canoecopia in Madison got me headed toward a Wenonah. Wenonah Prism Solo Canoe at The Boundary Waters Catalog An all-purpose solo with a good blend of stability, efficiency and capacity. All Wenonah Canoes come with standard aluminum trim. The secondary stability is quite good. It is a trickier affair than getting in or out of my wider canoes. A little more expensive to buy it here than in Germany but its one of the best solo-canoes for longer trips I think. Stability, wind resistance, and tracking even seem to improve with the extra weight. What You Need For A Boundary Waters (BWCAW) Trip, Boundary Waters (BWCAW) Trip Planning Guide, inReach SE Satellite Texting GPS Garmin/DeLorme, Trip planning seeing the waterfalls by car, canoe and hiking, Fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Canoe Routes Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters, Northern Lights Aurora Borealis at Rockwood. I am way lucky to live within minutes of 3 rivers, Wisconsin, Kickapoo and Mississippi, so I do mostly back water and long river runs, with a few trips each season "up North" (BWCA, etc) It's hard to argue with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but isn't that what Kodak said when digital cameras came out? I recently purchased a second canoe (one that would be more nimble and maneuverable in rivers), and looked hard at all of the Wenonah solo canoes, but ended up buying a Swift Keewaydin 14. We sell their factory second quality canoes, factory demo's and previous year's overstock. The Tuf-weave layup results in our most durable composite canoes. The wilderness seems to be my best choice. Any time the canoe rubs along the groundeven just across the sandit may show scrapes. Aramid, the fiber used for aerospace, body armor and bulletproof vests, is amazingly light and strong. I generally get about 3.5MPH when using the traditional single-blade canoe paddle. Also, I usually have only gear fro the day and the boat is lightly loaded. The T-Formex canoes are as durable as three-layer polyethylene but much stiffer, resulting in better performance. I'd give it a 10 except nothing in this world is perfect. We also add extra fabric layers to strengthen specific targeted areas. It's only when you compare it to a 14' hull with rocker that you realize what you're giving up in maneuverability, but of course a 14' hull with rocker will generally not track as straight. Coming from a Wenonah Prism, the Vagabond feels slow and doesn't stay straight nearly as easily. This is probably the boat to have if you do a lot of extended tripping, but as an over night or extended day paddles, it's great If you are lucky enough to find one, I would not hesitate to buy it. Just picking it up is a pure pleasure, the weight factor alone of an UL is going to give me a lot more years paddling as I do a lot of solo. With a small-to-moderate degree of rocker, these canoes turn readily enough and track reasonably well. These models are characterized by their flat bottoms. Paddling for 8 or more hours a day still found me feeling ready to go every morning. A Wenonah canoe is a significant investment, but youre purchasing a high-quality craft. duckhunter January 30, 2013, 9:59pm #1. I was real happy with the speed I was able to maintain. Find the pertinent dimensions of all Wenonah canoes in our Paddling Buyers Guide. I am in my late 60's and the kneeling thing doesn't work for me any more except for brief periods. It weather-veined in the slightest breeze and had no appreciable glide. We've used it for more than 30 years to construct extremely light and tough canoes. It is 16' 6", and weighs just 34 Lbs! I use it both in flat water in a bayou for exercise and in small to medium rivers. I guess to summarize this boat I would say that she is a sweet boat that paddles very well light and loaded. at a comfy paddling pace with a kayak paddle. Excellent all-around boat. Sports and Leisure canoes would be called recreational canoes by other companies. Canoes like the Minnesota are very common in areas like the Boundary Waters, where the travel is generally across large lakes. Great boat! The solo canoe Wenonah Prism in ultralight Kevlar weighs just 34-lb. Composite materials are lighter than T-Formex, but cannot match its durability. I have been paddling since I was 15, now I'm 43 and spent some of the most happy hours in this canoe, and it does everything I want it too, almost. Great stability, tracks extremely well, and handles waves very well. It's not that Wenonah's quality is poor - my canoe has lasted 20 years without a single problem. The main reason was being able to fish, explore, and travel in a boat that would stay upright when it was stopped. This content was made possible with the support of OntarioCreates. I have paddled the Prism for two years. This is a great all-around material, balancing weight and strength. An initial question would concern OP's stance in the boat: Sit exclusively, hopefully with bent paddle? My max speed was over 6 mph. This boat is designed to track extremely well, which means that it is definitely NOT suited for whitewater use as it cannot be turned quickly enough to be safe in a rock-strewn rapid, especially when loaded. Maine-based Old Town is another storied American canoe builder. It will also respond to a well executed C stroke when I want to stay on one side for a while. I've fished in it extensively. Neither of these has been a problem. They dont require much maintenance, and can withstand impacts and abrasions impressively. It's not a work horse, so do not expect to pile it over the gunwales with gear, but I can take about 100 to 125 lbs of gear and not adversely affect the handling. It tracks nicely, handles chop on a lake or light ww ok and it is faster than a lot of kayaks of the same length. Wenonah now purchases the material from Esquif. Her absolute favorite was a Mohawk Blazer tandem. As an update to my earlier review, I finally did receive the portage yoke I had ordered when I purchased the boat, six months after I received the boat. If you come across a Wenonah canoe that has been discontinued, you can learn more about it on their Retired Canoe Models page. I paddle lakes, rivers and streams but little whitewater. Like plastic canoes, Wenonah sells composite repair kits for any touch-ups needed. If I had only one canoe to choose from, weighing all factors, it would be my Prism. At 65 years old I figured it was time to let go of my 85 pound 40 year old aluminum Michecraft (bless it's dented soul), and upgrade to some form of UL. Incredibly versatile, it'll take you comfortably over all kinds of waters. Follow the "Live Social Media" Feed from Portaging them is great. Back at camp, I've played around with it plenty of times in my bathing suit, intentionally flipping it over, and I'll honestly tell you that it takes me a bit of intentional effort to capsize. MINNESOTA 2 TRIPPER 18`6` Very fast and paddles well with any style, J stroke, C stoke or hit and switch. Ultra-light hulls are stiff and incredibly light. While this may not always be possible with a used canoe, prioritize listings where its an option, like outfitters or waterfront locations. I don't get real technical about my paddling, but the biggest impression I have so far is that I'm in and have the kind of control I never had with a big monster canoe and that equals a lot more pleasurable paddling. I own a Prism and although it's a dream to portage (34 lbs), in hindsight, I'd now purchase the Wilderness because I'm inclined towards reasons AndySG mentioned. Named in remembrance of Dick Proenneke, a legendary wilderness man who spent 30 years of his retired life living alone in the wilds of Twin Lakes, Alaska, the Wilderness is a solo canoe that can take you far away from it all. After taking over an abandoned factory in Winona, Minnesota, the company exploded, associating itself with the burgeoning canoe racing scene. Read reviews for the Wilderness by Wenonah Canoe, Inc. as submitted by your fellow paddlers. Looking for opinions on a solo boat. It is comfortable to paddle, fast enough, turns nicely when heeled, has plenty of capacity, and is a stable platform for all my activities on the water. Initially (for the first hour or so - as some people had noted, I was not happy with the "tippiness" feel, but seriously, it was all me, and that just disappeared as I settled in. visitors a day during peak season. If you are buying, try them both out before deciding. I've had mine for 5 years, I beat the hell out of it and it only has one small piece of duct tape on it. I am an old man in my 7th decade and comfort is an issue as my body does not bend easily or sit for long periods in discomfort very well. I have the wilderness 15'4" from we-no-nah in royalex. Fifteen to 17 feet seemed to be the right length and somewhere between 35 and 40 pounds was a weight that I could easily handle with all of the portages and ins and outs of such a journey. I love my Wenonah. The other thing that I have a real problem with is that it always wants to go sideways to the wind. My favorite mode of travel is with a clamp-on rowing rig on big open water - about half the effort of paddling and easily keeping up with fast tandems. Solo canoes in this category include the Wee Lassie and Fusion pack boats. Wenonah makes most of their boats in a range of materials, each of which has its own merits. T-Formex outperforms single or triple-layer polyethylene plastics as it is stiffer and lighter. These are necessary adjustments for this model and now trim and stability are great, even in rough water. Copyright 2023 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. For a hit and switch paddler there is nothing better, beginner or expert. They have a range of composites available, varying in price, weight and durability. As long as youre running into or with the waves it performs very well. . The only beef I have is Wenonah's adjustable seat, it's noisy and clanks. I have since purchased and installed new thwarts and a seat, all of which I reduced in length by 15% from stock seat and thwarts. It just takes to much effort to bring back on course paddling Bill Mason style. For people who want both the freedom of a solo canoe and the companionability of a tandem, We-No-Nah designed the Solo Plus. The Prism handles well in rough water and high winds while tracking straight and turning easily. I will never sell it unless it's to replace it with another Prism with an ultralight Kevlar or carbon/graphite hull. They have a combination of primary and secondary stability, so the canoeist will feel reasonably comfortable no matter if the hull is flat or on edge. All in all I have been very satisfied with this canoe. Bench seats allow the canoeist to either sit or kneel. But in the flatwater swamps and large shallow lakes and medium rivers I paddle it's great. This gives a very secure connection and eliminates rivet heads on the exterior. 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In areas like the Minnesota are very common in areas like the Boundary,! Lighter than T-Formex, but Wenonahs particularly sharp entry lines lend the canoe better glide help you...

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