A good boat, a sports car compared to the solo plus. I have the Flexcore version in Tuf-weave. The Wilderness carries additional freeboard and bow . Its also the most affordable composite material available from them. Youll have to get the canoe to the factory, and it will take some time, but this is an option for those who are less handy. The Jensen was fast and I really liked it for that. This is a great all-around material, balancing weight and strength. It has the ability to be paddled with a kayak paddle or a traditional canoe paddle. I own a Prism and like it for speed and flat water paddling. I'm large, 6'2" 250lbs, I traded a solo plus which is longer and heavier. Wenonah Canoe is the worlds largest maker of canoes using Aramid. Today, you'll find a variety of canoe designs available in different materials. at a comfy paddling pace with a kayak paddle. If price is more important than weight, get an Old Town. I personally own a Wilderness in Rx and a Northwind solo in starlite, The two boats have similar specks but are completely different in the water. It costs the same as aramid canoes. $19.95 USD Laminated Yoke with Pads Contoured yoke has adjustable pads for comfort. Become a member of the bwca.com community to subscribe to thread and get email updates when new posts are added. Excellent all-around boat. Inspect the hull for deeper cuts that might expose the cloth. I GPS'd a 3 mile paddle last night & I was maintaining 4.5 mph easily with a kayak paddle. Narrowing it down to the exact model was a challenge, but that's where the reviews really helped. Incredibly versatile, it'll take you comfortably over all kinds of waters. Their racing heritage and decades of canoe-building have given Wenonah designers the experience and time to make adjustments and modifications that result in a better boat. I do have some gripes, but it's difficult to complain about a product that has performed so well for so long. I really don't care much for the tractor seat design, will probably switch to cane seat with backrest. Product descriptions may help give you an idea, but hearing other users experiences gives you valuable insight into where these canoes excel. Compare. The Wenonah Wilderness is available in Royalex and our proven light weight composite constructions at a price for all budgets. Sorry about my poor English folks. An initial question would concern OP's stance in the boat: Sit exclusively, hopefully with bent paddle? If you are buying, try them both out before deciding. Both options have their merits, and accomplished paddlers sit or kneel on either side of thedebate. Overall, it's a good flat water boat, especially if you like to hit and switch. Canoe & Kayak Magazine said it well when they wrote, " The Prism is all about glide and speed. As a solo, it's a stable, efficient touring hull with the capacity to carry a tent, food, sling-chair, and fishing gear for a week. The Tuf-weave layup results in our most durable composite canoes. The Royalex Rendezvous is not nearly as nice. This is a very predictable hull design, which is a tremendous comfort when loaded up with gear and on open waters. I do like the tough Royalex material in our rocky Missouri rivers, and the weight is manageable, though I'm starting to see the benefit of a lighter canoe. My one complaint has been a lack of stability. This boat is designed to be equipped with a small two-to-three-horsepower motor. They are ideal for speed and distance paddling and for all people or conditions that demand the lightest gear. 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. Downriver canoes are happiest in moving water. If it has been kept inside and upside down on a rack, theres less chance of damage. As well, leaving a canoe sitting upright on its hull deforms it. Anglers can decide to upgrade to Wenonahs VersiGunwale system. Renting canoes gives you a chance to take a trial run, helping you understand how some of the differences in specifications and design that you read about affect how the canoe behaves on the water. I usually put my gear behind me in the boat to help trim it a little "bow light". T-Formex outperforms single or triple-layer polyethylene plastics as it is stiffer and lighter. 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. So far, my only concern is getting in and out of the canoe. 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. I've had this boat for over a year now and have run multiple flat water trips and many day paddles in it. Wenonah Wilderness - Aramid Ultralight, Silver Trim, Center Adjustable Hung Web Seat, Integrated Skid Plates - Blem. It turns readily, which was a bit of a surprise considering the speed & great tracking. Hope TuffStuff will prove as good when I replace my favourite solo! Now that all the remodeling is done, the boat is a pleasure to paddle. 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 versatile enough to travel through riffles and rapids while loaded, but tracks decently on lakes too. One size/model does not fit all. Aramid UltraLite, Black trim - $3774. People will be upgrading their boats or cleaning out garages and sheds. I generally use a bent shaft paddle with the sit-and-switch technique. )sweeeeeeet boat. Quebec-based Esquif Canoes developed T-Formex to fill the hole left by Royalexs departure. If you want more model options to choose from, and youre willing to pay a bit more, Wenonah canoes are the better choice. 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. I usually have only gear fro the day and the boat is lightly loaded. Have the Wilderness in Royalex for paddling and camping on a wild Highland loch close to my house. Wenonah Minnesota 3: 3: 20-0 . You are using an out of date browser. Included in this category is the flagship Wenonah 17 canoe. 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. During my training sessions on Emigrant Lake nearby my home, on the Klamath River with somewhat faster water then I thought a novice should be paddling and on the Willamette River I found that the Prism quickly inspired confidence. I have little chance to try before I buy. Matt. Look at the options here if you want an efficient canoe for long days on the water. I have added the Wenonah seat back and cushion which helped a great deal. 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. Wenonah craftsmanship is top notch. Im sure its an outstanding boat for larger paddlers. And if rock solid stability is something you absolutely need, the Rendezvous might be your boat. Want to know more? The canoe weight is cataloged at 34 pounds and We-no-nah states the wood gunwales will add about 2 pounds. It tracks very well but with an outside lean will carve a nice although not very sharp curve. Kevlar is: strong but susceptible to scraping wounds. It needs treating with UV coating otherwise the colour darkens over time, although I like the more mellow colour. Its a dream to portage and a dream to paddle both with steering strokes and with switch side techniques. 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. It works well both ways. In retrospect, I probably would have gotten a 260cm Werner (Camano), but the 240 works well using a more horizontal stroke. I use it hard, take care of it, and appreciate it. 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. Wenonah uses five different blends of composite materials, varying in strength, weight and price. After 20 years of use, I'd give it 2 thumbs up to anyone considering acquiring one. Solo paddlers can sit backward in the bow seat and paddle these canoes stern-first. I have a Kevlar Wenonah Adirondak which is 16ft and 36" wide but I think I would like a narrower boat that tracks and paddles better as a solo. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I have the wilderness 15'4" from we-no-nah in royalex. 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. I've been paddling the Prism for about four years now. But it did like to go straight. Sounds like the Wenonah's might fit my style better. Their composite canoes are lighter, making them easier on portages. Composite canoes can wear out faster than plastic ones. I plan to sell her only because I have a fear of commitment (or so they say) and just want to try out a different design. I have a Voyager in ultra light kevlar. That is where you will notice a cross section difference that might help others You must log in or register to reply here. Read the Wenonah Canoe Buying Advice below for an overview of their canoe materials. We have an old tandem Wenonah ultralight Kevlar canoe which we use frequently, the ultralight Kevlar has lasted us two decades by taking care around rocks and gravel bars and storing it in the garage after use. Aramid, the fiber used for aerospace, body armor and bulletproof vests, is amazingly light and strong. It also has enough volume for a comfortable week tripping. $ 3,899.00 $ 2,799.00. Rocker is all but gone so it tracks like it's on rails, but takes more effort to turn. the wilderness is A LOT less of a sail than the prism is. I've always carried ballast in the stern to counter act the weight of the dog in the bow. If you come across a Wenonah canoe that has been discontinued, you can learn more about it on their Retired Canoe Models page. $99.95 USD Removable Yoke Kit 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. You can also source epoxy or gelcoat from marine suppliers, and there are many good articles explaining these fixes online. ESCAPE PERFORMANCE 17`6 . 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. You may see faint dings and bumps on the hull, but they are superficial. Production of Royalex ceased in 2013, and companies began searching for alternatives. Now though I really love this boat for the weight - it is so easy to carry and even though I am a retired woman of 61, I have no trouble getting it up on top of my high top camper van on my own. The Wilderness responds well when used with a kayak paddle (such as our 260cm double blade) for improved performance on calm water or better control in inclement weather. Wenonah Kayaks. T-Formex canoes are incredibly tough and very affordable. I switch to a straight shaft when I am fishing (trolling) and paddle with a C-stroke then. If I buy another solo, which is likely. Canoes like the Minnesota are very common in areas like the Boundary Waters, where the travel is generally across large lakes. I am very impressed with the boat and excited to get her on bigger water after paddling her on the St. Croix River today in 2-3 ft pleasure craft swells. This system integrates their standard accessory rail inside the gunwale for mounting fishing rod holders and other equipment. Good boat otherwise, very stable and a joy to lug around and throw up on top of a car. 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. After lugging around my 60# tandem canoes, this was a joy. By taking one 100-liter drybag pack and placing it aft and sliding the comfortable tractor seat and foot brace all the way forward trims the Prism and gives me the ability to hike the portage trails just once. and the ultra light layup weighs 34 lbs. It is 4" or so narrower at the gunnels than at it's widest, so you don't have to worry about clunking the rails. If I had only one canoe to choose from, weighing all factors, it would be my Prism. It just blows you sideways like other reviewers have also said. These plastic canoes, made out of Royalex or T-Formex, are long-lasting. Many outfitters in Northern Minnesota use Wenonah canoes in their rental fleet. Don't take my word for it - go take a look for yourself. Composite materials are lighter than T-Formex, but cannot match its durability. Most Wenonah canoes are made of aramid, fiberglass or other composite blends. Stability, wind resistance, and tracking even seem to improve with the extra weight. 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. Look at the range of boats in this category if you plan to dabble in different types of paddling and prioritize stability over speed. A factory second-quality canoe is also called a Blem. Along with it's inherent stabillity it has the ability handle waves without any problem, in fact waves are fun in this boat, you don't feel like you are about to go over at any time and in big power boat wakes that is very re-assuring. visitors a day during peak season. The metal seat bracket arrangement is why I would only give the boat an 8 rating and Wenonah would do well to go back to a conventional wood drop system that a true canoer can easily adapt to personal preference. I agree with the awful rattly seat and have now fixed it in one position so that's ok. 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. The only beef I have is Wenonah's adjustable seat, it's noisy and clanks. Ultra-light hulls are stiff and incredibly light. It is a highly effective hull design. It is 16' 6", and weighs just 34 Lbs! I would choose again a We-no-nah Prism. This boat feels like it was built for me. reinstalled the rear thwart further back from the seat so it wouldn't press against my back which it did in its original position. Champlain 18' Tripper . Some models have the option to have the hull gelcoated for extra resilience. 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. Maine-based Old Town is another storied American canoe builder. Its well rounded stability and moderate rocker make it a great down-river boat while inspiring confidence whether on a loaded tour or evening paddle. The boat now has increased tumblehome, narrower waterline and gunwales, and it paddles and glides like a rocket. The other layups would be better I'm sure. I did have the outfitter pull out the metal seat brackets which are an abomination and put in conventional 31/2" drops. Help keep the flying moose flying and Aramid UltraLite, Silver trim - $3599. No matter the type of canoe you're considering, there's a chance Wenonah has one to match your needs. Enter the Wenonah Prism. I took the canoe to the BWCAW in late September. Now that I am a more experienced paddler and understand boat design and its effect on performance would I choose a different canoe for the same journey? I paddle lakes, rivers and streams but little whitewater. While I've only actually flipped a couple or three times, I find that I've got very little leaning leeway, and have never gotten past the point of feeling like I have to be cautious. I guess to summarize this boat I would say that she is a sweet boat that paddles very well light and loaded. In the wind it really helps to be properly trimmed. They can range from $2,000 to over $4,000. This cuts down on the number of places where I feel I want to use my otherwise fun little canoe. 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. 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