Most composite canoes have float tanks; sealed compartments in the bow and stern of the canoe to give it buoyancy. Wilderness Wilderness by Wenonah Canoe, Inc. 15' 4" Length 30.5" Width (in) 30-53 Weight (lb) $1,899 Base MSRP Read Wilderness Reviews (11) or Submit Your Review Wilderness Options T-Formex 53 lb Fiberglass Composite MSRP $1,899 Tuf-weave Flex-Core 43 lb Fiberglass Composite MSRP $2,399 Flex-Core w/Kevlar 41 lb Kevlar/aramid Composite MSRP $2,499 Or maybe the Polaris rigged for solo. It is also significantly lighter. Also, I usually have only gear fro the day and the boat is lightly loaded. I did a lot of research before choosing the Prizm and it paid off in a great boat. 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. Carl Yost DY's son designs for Ted Bell. Flex 43 lbs Kev Flex 41 lbs Kev UL 32 lbs Graphite UL 31 lbs A solo canoe that defines a new standard for mid-length extended solo tripping canoes. Or a Wilderness. For a hit and switch paddler there is nothing better, beginner or expert. I purchased the 16'6" Wenonah Prism in the flex-core Kevlar layup with optional footrest in March of 2007. Talking to ALOT of good folks and reps at the annual Canoecopia in Madison got me headed toward a Wenonah. If youre ready to start shopping, use the links below to view our Paddling Buyers Guide. The outside of the canoe is reinforced in places for additional protection against impacts. I also disagree that this canoe is a good fishing platform, or used as a stand up option. The other layups would be better I'm sure. Today, youll find a variety of canoe designs available in different materials. Talk about a smooth operator! I just picked up a Prism in Kevlar ultralight. Read reviews for the Prism by Wenonah Canoe, Inc. as submitted by your fellow paddlers. With no "rocker" the boat doesn't turn as quickly as other designs. I usually have only gear fro the day and the boat is lightly loaded. Blending efficiency, stability, capacity, and finesse, it's ideal for cruising with a light load, but also has the volume needed for medium-length trips. Combination of both? I look forward to trying the canoe in heavier wind and chop to see how it feels. Day-tripping canoes like the Heron are intended for two paddlers and a small amount of gear. The Prism may be better for you if you want it for wildlife viewing and tootling around, carrying gear, etc., but if you want a fast and fun boat the Advantage is much better in my opinion. Wenonah uses five different blends of composite materials, varying in strength, weight and price. Blending efficiency . My GPS topped it out at 6.2 mph, with a cruising speed of 5mph. The northstar is a bit lighter and comes with comes with some different hull material options. Any canoe will seem tippy to a novice, but anyone even remotely familiar with performance canoes will appreciate the stability of the Prism. They are ideal for speed and distance paddling and for all people or conditions that demand the lightest gear. I'm large, 6'2" 250lbs, I traded a solo plus which is longer and heavier. Brilliantly designed for extended solo trips it portages well, paddles efficiently, carries plenty of gear and gives a dry ride in rough waters. They have a range of composites available, varying in price, weight and durability. Maneuverability is decent for a boat this long - not exceptionally quick, but smooth and predictable, and much better than I expected after reading other reviews. This is a very predictable hull design, which is a tremendous comfort when loaded up with gear and on open waters. At 6'4" and 240 the boat as it came from the factory was definitely running bow down, so the seat and rear thwart went back 5 inches. This is the idea solo canoe if you get it in Kevlar. I am not likely to part with it. How durable is ultralight Kevlar? More weight might help with the wind problem but I haven't tried that yet. Large roll top dry bag filled with water at the put-in is the best I've found so far. I may get an Advantage someday simply because of the wind issue, but I just hate to give up that wonderful stability. No matter the type of canoe youre considering, theres a chance Wenonah has one to match your needs. This site has grown since 2002 from a few visitors a day to up to 10,000 Hope you enjoy your wilderness as much as I do mine, without having to use a saw. Wenonah Canoe Canak 16' Canak (Retired) With a hull shape similar to that of our most popular solo canoe the Prism, the Wenonah Canak is great for solo lake camping when the capacity and portability of a canoe is needed, and the touring ability of a kayak is desired. The bucket seats are lower than bench seats, bringing the paddlers center of gravity down. But only, only, because of the wind problem I give it a 9 because I can't use it in places I would like to other wise. The Prism is fast -- my GPS clocks it at 4.5MPH without pressing when using the double-bladed kayak paddle, and it has exceeded 6MPH downwind in a current. I can stand in it and paddle with just a little balancing effort. A Spirit II 17-foot canoe built with Ultralight IB weighs 44 pounds, or 47 pounds with a gelcoatbottom. The bow and stern flare perfectly to deflect waves, and the (12"?) Good design with no gurgle when it comes up to speed. Wenonahs bench seats can be either cane or webbing. Turning is the compromise, but once you get used to leaning the boat, that imprves dramatically. I was really happy with the way she handled the wind and waves when loaded, and when empty in the evening while fishing. A Wenonah canoe is a significant investment, but youre purchasing a high-quality craft. A recent solo trip demonstrated the boat's speed, which surprisingly was almost as fast fully loaded. Easy to stand up in. I agree with the awful rattly seat and have now fixed it in one position so that's ok. I have the Flexcore version in Tuf-weave. Living near the Namekagon river in Northern Wisconsin I frequently paddle the nimble Prism upstream several miles before turning around after a good workout having saved a second vehicle shuttle. Now it is an excellent solo canoe for overnight and longer trips - easily takes me at 100kg and as much gear and food as needed for a week or more - but I will install a footbrace to improve its speed and efficiency further. While this may not always be possible with a used canoe, prioritize listings where its an option, like outfitters or waterfront locations. Solo canoes in this category include the Wee Lassie and Fusion pack boats. Coming from a Wenonah Prism, the Vagabond feels slow and doesn't stay straight nearly as easily. Sit and Switch. I'm so anal retentive about weight that I had mine made without the sealed air flotation tanks at the bow and stern, alleviating approx. Our best-selling solo, we recommend it to paddlers of all skill levels and for most types of canoeing. Theres little weight difference between aramid and graphite canoes, but expect to pay 10-15% more for this layup. I've had this boat for over a year now and have run multiple flat water trips and many day paddles in it. The boat handle pretty well. As a result, maneuverability is the trade-off, but I haven't had any trouble turning. I use a bending branches 240 cm wood paddle which is very light weight and has that small amount of give that is so nice about wood plus it's warmer in the winter to hold onto than aluminum or composite would be. Initial stability is diminished and I can only describe secondary stability as being different. No matter the type of canoe you're considering, there's a chance Wenonah has one to match your needs. This boat rewards good technique and a bent shaft paddle. The IB in IB Ultralight stands for Innegra blend. Kneel exclusively, hopefully with straight? Incredibly versatile, it'll take you comfortably over all kinds of waters. It would not have been my first choice if other boats had still been available, but I wanted a brand new Royalex boat and the Wilderness was the best of what I was finding and I'm glad i pulled the trigger. A 17-foot Spirit II canoe made with T-Formex weighs 78 pounds. Well give an overview of the types of canoes available, as well as some tips for buying new and used models. Aluminum plates are strategically laminated into the hull. If it wasn't for that I would rate the Prism a 10. A Spirit II 17-foot canoe in Tuf-Weave Flex Core weighs 58 pounds. In our Ultra-light construction a structural-foam core and ribs are laminated into the hull and sides. It just feels stable. I have it in the tuff-weave layup and it is more than manageable to portage. Wilderness has same bow and stern depth as prism and is two inches deeper mid-ships- So it presents slightly more freeboard to the wind albeit less overall length exposure (much greater width though). A little more expensive to buy it here than in Germany but its one of the best solo-canoes for longer trips I think. 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. Wenonah Canoe Prism Solo Touring Canoe Watch on CANOE RATINGS Efficiency 8.0 Maneuverability 7.0 Capacity 9.0 Stability 9.0 Seaworthy 8.0 DIMENSIONS Length 16' 6" (502.92cm) Gunwale Width 26" (66.04cm) Maximum Width 30.75" (78.105cm) Waterline Width 29.75" (75.565cm) Stern Depth 17" (43.18cm) Center Depth 12.5" (31.75cm) Bow Depth 19" (48.26cm) $ 3,899.00 $ 2,799.00. When I went on my solo trip I found that I did a lot more poking around off of my most direct route. Tuf-weave canoes offer improved impact resistance and are a great compromise between light weight, performance, and price. Another downside to this design is the tractor seat. With a small-to-moderate degree of rocker, these canoes turn readily enough and track reasonably well. Wow. Advice. canoes. So much so, that she stole the sucker, leaving me to paddle my beat-up ol' C1W. Composite material is an all-encompassing term describing canoes made with woven fabrics and resins. The Prism was a close second and I found a used one (44# kevlar composite) two years ago. In this consolidated catalog, you can view each canoe models specifications and prices, as well as access insightful reviews. Prism 16' 6" Solo Tripper The Prism 16' 6" Solo Tripper is an all-purpose solo with a good blend of stability, efficiency and capacity. I would get a lighter layup but this was my first solo and I'm quite attatched to it. WNY south of Buffalo (closer to Turtle than he rea, Northstar Firebird and Savage River Illusion, Solo Canoe for Ohio and Mississippi River. Sometimes they will provide more details, but they may also simply be listed as Fiberglass Canoe. Depending on how informed and thorough the seller is, you may have to deduce the model and materials from photos and check Wenonahs website. Aramid UltraLite, Black trim - $3774. 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. Speaking as a Wlderness owner, if you're doing day trips with a 60# dog forward of you, you will need to do one of 2 things: 1) 40#'s of ballast sternward; 2)move the seat sternward at least 4" ( also involves moving the stern thwart back 4-6"). Its also the most affordable composite material available from them. I had been sitting in its tractor seat for over 1500 miles of the Missouri River and had never really worried about its stability. We've used it for more than 30 years to construct extremely light and tough canoes. Kayaking the Mouth of the Columbia River's Tidal Influences, When Cities Meet The Water: Americas Top Urban Paddling Destinations, Paddling At Night - Tips and Safety Recommendations. The materials and attention to every minuscule detail with Swift is, in my humble opinion, simply better. I enjoyed the properly trimmed wilderness, but now I absolutely love my very, very fast, narrowed Wenonah Wilderness. 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. I really don't care much for the tractor seat design, will probably switch to cane seat with backrest. The width of 26" at the seat is great because it allows you to access stuff along side the seat pedastal like a water bottle or anything else that can get a little bit wet without hurting it. I have owned several We-no-nah canoes and the Prizm (Kevlar std weight) is my third solo from them. Today, you'll find a variety of canoe designs available in different materials. Wenonah Canoe is the worlds largest maker of canoes using Aramid. An advantage of these canoes is that more significant deformities will often pop back into shape, but they might be weak spots in the future. I test paddled a Wenonah Advantage and a > Wenonah Prism today. Enter the Wenonah Prism. The boat isn't that manoeuverable but then it is a trip boat after all and tracks well and fast. Quebec-based Esquif Canoes developed T-Formex to fill the hole left by Royalexs departure. If you use a J-stroke, it's so easy to paddle for a mile and not have to switch sides with the paddle. After seven uses, I am adjusting to that. I had to work a bit harder to make her go straight, but I expected that. I've also used it quite a bit on the Long Island Sound (during calmer days - I'd never take it into a four or five foot wind swell!) 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. In our Ultra-light construction a structural-foam core and ribs are laminated into the hull and sides. Sliding bucket seat is comfortable, and the spring clip that holds it in place can be adjusted quickly with one hand. Incidentally, the Prism handled like a barge fully loaded until I rearranged the gear to improve the trim, after which it was fine; the sliding seat definitely helps the trim, especially when lightly-loaded. If you plan to travel in rivers, consider models in the Expedition or Downriver categories. Aramid, the fiber used for aerospace, body armor and bulletproof vests, is amazingly light and strong. $99.95 USD Removable Yoke Kit We offer many models in T-Formex, ranging from cost-conscious touring and sport canoes, to robust whitewater assault canoes. Ultra-light hulls are stiff and incredibly light. A layer of closed-cell foam in the centre gives the canoe stiffness and buoyancy. As for speed, my Etrex indicates that it does about 3 mph. Tuf-weave is a blend of fiberglass and polyester. Tuf-weave canoes offer improved impact resistance and are a great compromise between light weight, performance, and price. I've fished in it extensively. 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