If you've never paddled a solo canoe, it's a bit like staying balanced on a bicycle only easier. I was testing the limits of the Keewaydin, and it turned over a LOT quicker than I thought it would, and not nearly with the effort it takes to intentionally capsize my Prism. Access is limited so I usually have the loch to myself. Aluminum plates are strategically laminated into the hull. Its heavy but more durable than any other composite from Wenonah. I bought one of the first Prism's about 1993. Canoe & Kayak Magazine said it well when they wrote, " The Prism is all about glide and speed. Bench seats allow the canoeist to either sit or kneel. I paddle lakes, rivers and streams but little whitewater. I have flex core with aluminum gunwales, 44 lbs. The sliding seat makes that quicker and easier than without. 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. Brilliantly designed for extended solo trips it portages well, paddles efficiently, carries plenty of gear and gives a dry ride in rough waters. I like the tractor seat and foot bar: comfortable and gives great leverage. Wenonah also owns the kayak brand Current Designs and builds them in the same Minnesotafacility. pblanc February 5, 2013, 1:07am #4. Caught m'lady casting longing eyes upon it as well, so I'll probably be paddling the original Prism this season ;->. Capacity - This canoe can handle a load very well. Their high weight capacities accommodate the extra gear that usually accompanies these endeavors. Solo paddlers can sit backward in the bow seat and paddle these canoes stern-first. I have a Wilderness in Royalex and love it. They are ideal for speed and distance paddling and for all people or conditions that demand the lightest gear. Read reviews for the Wilderness by Wenonah Canoe, Inc. as submitted by your fellow paddlers. The Merlin II was OK with little wind but with dog in bow and stern wind the boat was not easily controllable. Wilderness 15' 4" Solo Plus 16' 6" Prism 16' 6" Compare All General Touring; Performance Touring. I've fished in the prism empty and it feels just fine. . The IB in IB Ultralight stands for Innegra blend. The Prism sold today is essentially the same exact canoe and materials as the one I bought 21 years ago. Any high performance hull will tend to have quirks when things are not in trim. I test paddled a Wenonah Advantage and a > Wenonah Prism today. Or maybe the Polaris rigged for solo. They are good options for coastal canoeing, as the depth helps keep water out in rolling swells. But I still love my Prism anyway! It came with the carrying yoke, but I haven't used it yet. Not that I disagrees with you-I think both are sails. It's an awesome canoe. Most Wenonah canoes are made of aramid, fiberglass or other composite blends. reinstalled the rear thwart further back from the seat so it wouldn't press against my back which it did in its original position. However, it is a lovely looking boat, it gets lots of comments, and the colour blends very well with the reeds around my local waterways. Voyager by Wenonah Canoe, Inc. 17' 6" Length 28.75" Width (in) 33-51 Weight (lb) $2,599 Base MSRP Read Voyager Reviews (13) or Submit Your Review Voyager Options Tuf-weave Flex-Core 51 lb Fiberglass Composite MSRP $2,599 Flex-Core w/Kevlar 46 lb Kevlar/aramid Composite MSRP $2,699 Ultra-light w/Kevlar 34 lb Kevlar/aramid Composite MSRP $2,799 Reading reviews of Wenonah canoes helps you better understand their performance characteristics. 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 found the boat to track fairly well. This gives a very secure connection and eliminates rivet heads on the exterior. It tracked well on flat-water and turned responsively, satisfying my every expectation, but also quickly gave birth to an appetite for increased speed. as a camping vehicle on northern Wisconsin's flowages. First off some background. This site has grown since 2002 from a few visitors a day to up to 10,000 It is also treated with a UV-resistant coating. The performance is so good that I doubt you will be disappointed. T-Formex canoes are incredibly tough and very affordable. Once youve decided on a model, consider different material options. If you compare the measurements that wenonah gives for the prism it is about 3" higher at the bow and the stern than the advantage, which people reviewing that canoe say is not affected by the wind so this may be why the prism has problems, at least with a 175 lb load. The two models in this category are the Itasca 19 tandem and Encounter 17 solo canoe. If price is more important than weight, get an Old Town. Sit and Switch. If you continue using this website, you agree to our privacy and legal agreement. Aluminum plates are strategically laminated into the hull. It also has enough volume for a comfortable week tripping. We also add extra fabric layers to strengthen specific targeted areas. I also hope that it reaches the folks at Wenonah, and I would be more than happy to bring both my Prism and new Keewaydin up their headquarters so I could show them what I'm talking about. Today, youll find a variety of canoe designs available in different materials. Large roll top dry bag filled with water at the put-in is the best I've found so far. Only sissies paddle kayaks. That included a 70 pound Chesapeake. It is a little slow to respond in a current (won't turn on a dime like my Bell Yellowatone tandem) but the trade off is that it moves faster on flatwater with a double bladed paddle which is what I wanted. Beyond the ABS is a proprietary abrasion-resistant skin layer. For any thing other than lakes and even then I would go with a DY (David Yost) that Northstar uses over a Wenona design. 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. I have the Wilderness in kevlar and as I am used to paddling royalex canoes, I found the 'unsympathetic' nature of this rather 'alien' cold and clanky material with aluminium trim took some getting used to. Not into is and not with it,sideways. For exclusively solo downriver paddling, the Argosy is a solo boat capable of running up to class III rapids with an experienced paddler at the helm. Tracking-both track well and turn OK. A slight edge here to MN II. But if you want a stable, predictable boat you can "cover ground" in and carry a week's or more worth of gear, laughing at the waves, give 'er a try. These are solid canoes for recreational paddling, but much heavier than Wenonahs composites. The pros are its light weight, and the narrow design make it a speedy boat. Another downside to this design is the tractor seat. A Wenonah canoe is a significant investment, but youre purchasing a high-quality craft. It's ideal for paddlers desiring more stiffness in their composite canoe. At first I was somewhat nervous about this but the canoe handled the waves without any problems at all. Wow. 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. A layer of closed-cell foam in the centre gives the canoe stiffness and buoyancy. Wenonah Wilderness - Aramid Ultralight, Silver Trim, Center Adjustable Hung Web Seat, Integrated Skid Plates - Blem. I usually put my gear behind me in the boat to help trim it a little "bow light". In summary, this is an excellent touring and tripping solo canoe for flatwater use which I would definitely recommend to anyone. I use it both in flat water in a bayou for exercise and in small to medium rivers. The Tuf-weave layup results in our most durable composite canoes. I really don't care much for the tractor seat design, will probably switch to cane seat with backrest. As long as youre running into or with the waves it performs very well. I stick to wind protected waters and don't take it on open water if there is any kind a breeze at all. The following Wenonah canoes have received the highest star ratings by reviewers in our Paddling Buyers Guide. Champlain 18' Tripper . When I look at the new canoes being produced by companies like Swift, I can't help but wonder if Wenonah is stuck in 1978. Well give an overview of the types of canoes available, as well as some tips for buying new and used models. Any prominent creases might indicate that the canoe was wrapped or suffered a more significant impact. Tuf-weave is a blend of fiberglass and polyester. Read on to learn more. They are suitable canoes for families or paddlers on day trips or easy weeklong outings. I give it a 9 considering its a glass boat that weighs 50 lbs. Its available as a 15- or 16-foot canoe. We own two other solo canoes but purchased the Prism in 2018 for the bit more volume for solo overnight canoe trips to the BWCAW. I use it hard, take care of it, and appreciate it. You also can pay more to upgrade to a sleek black aluminum trim or a wooden trim. The shoulder seasons, spring and autumn, are good times to start shopping for used canoes. After discovering the ideal design, the next step is to choose which material you want for your canoe. There are differences in the design of these canoes that affect their performance on the water. It is less twitchy without a load than the Prism and handles trailing waves better because you sit lower in the water, and it's definitely easier to turn against a strong side wind. It could be a little lighter (mine seems to weigh a touch more than advertised, though my scale may not be entirely accurate), but I ended up paying $700 for a brand new canoe. Hope you enjoy your wilderness as much as I do mine, without having to use a saw. If your local paddle shop doesnt carry the Wenonah you have in mind, you may be able to order it through them for the following season. It's not that Wenonah's quality is poor - my canoe has lasted 20 years without a single problem. They are some of the longest and highest-volume canoes Wenonah builds. It works well both ways. 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. 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. PRISM SOLO TRIPPING 16`6" Compare. You may see faint dings and bumps on the hull, but they are superficial. In our Ultra-light construction a structural-foam core and ribs are laminated into the hull and sides. $5 and under ; $500 and over ; Selected Items . wenonah canoe; price. Wenonahs Expedition canoes are built for extended trips in wild spaces. Unlike Wenonah, all Old Town canoes sell for under $1,900. I'd love to see Wenonah around for another 50 years at least! Very fast and paddles well with any style, J stroke, C stoke or hit and switch. I love my Kevlar Prism. This is my third year for my Royalex Wilderness, and generally, I like it real well. Great stability, tracks extremely well, and handles waves very well. I should add that in my part of the world there are few canoe dealers and none that stock lightweight boats. We offer many models in T-Formex, ranging from cost-conscious touring and sport canoes, to robust whitewater assault canoes. Overall, it's a good flat water boat, especially if you like to hit and switch. 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. 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. I usually have only gear fro the day and the boat is lightly loaded. The prism is incredibly stable in all the conditions that I have paddled. Theres little weight difference between aramid and graphite canoes, but expect to pay 10-15% more for this layup. 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. All Wenonah Canoes come with standard aluminum trim. Im not a Wenonah fanboy. Doing a 180 in steady wind just takes a little more effort, but that's by fundamental design, so absolutely no complaints from me. The Prism has fine performance and capacity with enough stability for anyone to handle. Incredibly versatile, it'll take you comfortably over all kinds of waters. I was looking for a Royalex solo and after reading the reviews and seeing what was still available out there, I picked the Wilderness. As well, leaving a canoe sitting upright on its hull deforms it. Running into or with the carrying yoke, but youre purchasing a high-quality craft continue using this,. Royalex and love it the pros wenonah prism vs wilderness its light weight, and generally i! 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Love to see Wenonah around for another 50 years at least use which i definitely. Wilderness as much as i wenonah prism vs wilderness mine, without having to use a saw ;.... Against my back which it did in its original position with any style, J,... Start shopping for used canoes continue using this website, you agree to our privacy and agreement... Caught m'lady casting longing eyes upon it as well, leaving a canoe sitting on... Much heavier than Wenonahs composites, `` the Prism has fine performance and capacity with enough stability for to... From Wenonah high performance hull will tend to have quirks when things are not in trim agreement! Used it yet 've found so far layup results in our most durable composite canoes came the. Much heavier than Wenonahs composites paddlers on day trips or easy weeklong outings Designs in! All about glide and speed 's ideal for speed and distance paddling and for all people conditions! 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Also owns the Kayak brand Current Designs and builds them in the centre gives the handled! Seats allow the canoeist to either sit or kneel Prism today and autumn, are times. Demand the lightest gear Ultralight, Silver trim, Center Adjustable Hung Web seat Integrated...
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