Well give an overview of these materials and their strengths andweaknesses. Canoe & Kayak Magazine said it well when they wrote, " The Prism is all about glide and speed. The workmanship is not high-performance but very good for an industrial crafted boat, especially in big waves (Rhine River). For a hit and switch paddler there is nothing better, beginner or expert. As a result, maneuverability is the trade-off, but I haven't had any trouble turning. Unfortunately this 44 pound canoe is harder for me to lift than it was when I purchased it 9 years ago. I can stand in it and paddle with just a little balancing effort. 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. A recent solo trip demonstrated the boat's speed, which surprisingly was almost as fast fully loaded. In the wind it really helps to be properly trimmed. Caught m'lady casting longing eyes upon it as well, so I'll probably be paddling the original Prism this season ;->. You can also source epoxy or gelcoat from marine suppliers, and there are many good articles explaining these fixes online. After paddling tandem for 18 years the past two years I have been focusing more on solo paddling after buying my first solo, Mad River Guide two years ago and completing a 7 day trip in the BWCA area. Seats, footbraces, and all hardware is then riveted into these plates. This is an easy fix with repair kits available from Wenonah. as a camping vehicle on northern Wisconsin's flowages. They provide tons of initial stability for anglers, hunters or families paddling casually. The prism is a little shaky on primary stability. 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 Yup, the Prism is sleek, fast, a great tripping boat, and pretty to look at. Great boat! Theres little weight difference between aramid and graphite canoes, but expect to pay 10-15% more for this layup. The Wilderness has turned out to be perfect for me in every respect. 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? 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. 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. In this process I change between straight shaft and bent shaft paddles. PRISM SOLO TRIPPING 16`6" Compare. This site has grown since 2002 from a few visitors a day to up to 10,000 Since the seat is in the midpoint of the canoe, it is rather difficult to hold over your head unless you purchase the optional carrying yolk system. Fast upstream. Due to its light weight I was very careful to tie in to a tree every night, something I never felt necessary with my Grumman canoe! This boat was fast, larger, but still lacked the boat ability for fishing and big water. There are differences in the design of these canoes that affect their performance on the water. JavaScript is disabled. I recently acquired a Wenonah Prism in ultra-light Kevlar. My experience is like AndySG's - I prefer a Wilderness to a Prism. Are there any quality differences between the Northstar and the Wenonah? It's not that Wenonah's quality is poor - my canoe has lasted 20 years without a single problem. 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. Specifications. I'm a late starter, having waited until my early 60's to buy the canoe that I'd put off for 30 years, so I use it all I can. Weighing the canoe on an accurate (balance beam) scale it weighs 35 pounds. It has good speed and glide. Lifting the canoe is essential, as you want to understand how it feels to portage. Tuf-weave canoes offer improved impact resistance and are a great compromise between light weight, performance, and price. 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. Aluminum plates are strategically laminated into the hull. I took the canoe to the BWCAW in late September. Kevlar is: strong but susceptible to scraping wounds. 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. If you're on the fence about buying one, buy it. I purchased the 16'6" Wenonah Prism in the flex-core Kevlar layup with optional footrest in March of 2007. The gunwales are stronger; its better to rest the canoes weight on them. 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. T-Formex is a stiff, durable material consisting of distinct layers. The Prism is our most popular composite solo canoe. Come up and try them out, or our kayaks and paddle boards, for $20/ 4 hours (Poplar Lake only). Even ask the seller if you can take a lap around the neighborhood with it. Rick: Canoes are like shoes. I have the wilderness 15'4" from we-no-nah in royalex. So with that said the Northstars will handle the rivers and streams easier. Incredibly versatile, it'll take you comfortably over all kinds of waters. All include a closed-cell, rigid foam core providing structure and buoyancy. Wenonahs bench seats can be either cane or webbing. They are some of the longest and highest-volume canoes Wenonah builds. We also add extra fabric layers to strengthen specific targeted areas. It makes up for this minor fault by tracking straight and is very fast. If you're looking for a smooth ride this is it. So much so, that she stole the sucker, leaving me to paddle my beat-up ol' C1W. The Wilderness is lighter than any kayak of . If you want more model options to choose from, and youre willing to pay a bit more, Wenonah canoes are the better choice. 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. 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. It also has enough volume for a comfortable week tripping. 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. They are organized under Ultralight and Flexcore categories. As for speed, my Etrex indicates that it does about 3 mph. Wenonahs Flexcore canoes weave a core into the laminate, adding durability to the performance of a composite. I should add that in my part of the world there are few canoe dealers and none that stock lightweight boats. More weight might help with the wind problem but I haven't tried that yet. Stability - The Prism has exceptional initial stability and seamless secondary stability. I may get an Advantage someday simply because of the wind issue, but I just hate to give up that wonderful stability. this great site and online community alive by contributing your financial support. Wenonah and Northstar have different design philosophies. It paddles efficiently, portages easily, carries plenty of gear for extended trips, and grants a dry ride in rough waters. 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). With the rowing rig and 80-100 pounds of gear I can usually smoke the tandem paddlers, averaging 3.5-4 mph, even with a quartering wind. Ultra-light hulls are stiff and incredibly light. Its pretty stiff, so its more responsive than T-Formex. ESCAPE PERFORMANCE 17`6 . That included a 70 pound Chesapeake. We support this high volume of visitors The boat handle pretty well. Wenonah canoes are made with T-Formex plastic or composite woven materials. Choose to sort the canoes and narrow your selections by type, size, or material. That is where you will notice a cross section difference that might help others You must log in or register to reply here. So often, reviews are just written by groupies of a particular brand that will only view a product through rose colored glasses. But is best on the lake. Copyright 2020 www.bwca.com | Legal Notice | DMCA, Help keep the flying moose flying by supporting BWCA.com Not that I disagrees with you-I think both are sails. They are ideal for speed and distance paddling and for all people or conditions that demand the lightest gear. Any high performance hull will tend to have quirks when things are not in trim. Day-tripping canoes like the Heron are intended for two paddlers and a small amount of gear. Advantage 16' 6" Voyager 17' 6" . All this being said, I think the Prism is the most well-rounded solo canoe that I've ever used when it comes to stability, capacity, tracking, and overall performance. These scratches are superficial and harmless, although they are unsightly. 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. Well give an overview of the types of canoes available, as well as some tips for buying new and used models. I usually put my gear behind me in the boat to help trim it a little "bow light". 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. Brilliantly designed for extended solo . Product descriptions may help give you an idea, but hearing other users experiences gives you valuable insight into where these canoes excel. 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. (Of course since its a sliding seat with an adjustable foot brace, it is very handy for trimming the canoe for a different wind situations) It removes the option of kneeling while paddling. Its a good material for building canoes that are easy to carry. Wenonahs Performance Touring canoes are fast-traveling cargo haulers for the dedicated canoe tripper. I did slow down going into the waves just so that I wouldn't spear them, with unpleasant results. It tracked well on flat-water and turned responsively, satisfying my every expectation, but also quickly gave birth to an appetite for increased speed. Kneel exclusively, hopefully with straight? It is also treated with a UV-resistant coating. All in all I have been very satisfied with this canoe. If you run every rapid you can, look at getting a T-Formex canoe. I have the Flexcore version in Tuf-weave. You may recognize the trademarked name Kevlar, which is an aramid fiber. Her absolute favorite was a Mohawk Blazer tandem. Wenonah Minnesota 3: 3: 20-0 . The other thing that I have a real problem with is that it always wants to go sideways to the wind. I'd highly recommend it. Capacity - This canoe can handle a load very well. Wilderness 15' 4" Solo Tripper . The company founder, Mike Cichanowski, still owns Wenonah canoe. Over time, the canoes weight puts pressure on the unsupported hull. In general I don't think the We-no-nah canoes are quite as well finished as the Bell canoes but they are satisfactory. This is a good option for a resilient canoe that compromises well between price, weight and durability. It simply is not a replacement for a tandem canoe when it comes to versatility. Deciding which category best suits your needs is a good place to start when choosing a canoe. I also disagree that this canoe is a good fishing platform, or used as a stand up option. Seats, footbraces, and all hardware is then riveted into these plates. This canoe is very easy to paddle fully loaded for a week long trip or just a couple of hours at Town Lake, Austin, Texas. Because of their shallow sides, these canoes are best used for day outings if they arent being raced. This gives a very secure connection and eliminates rivet heads on the exterior. I guess to summarize this boat I would say that she is a sweet boat that paddles very well light and loaded. I have not paddled the NW solo form a kneeling position, or from a elevated sitting position that would be required after replacing the drops to kneeling drops. 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.". My max speed was over 6 mph. Many companies have their own takes on the Prospector model, but Wenonahs particularly sharp entry lines lend the canoe better glide. Sorry about my poor English folks. I do have some gripes, but it's difficult to complain about a product that has performed so well for so long. 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. wenonah canoe; price. Then I purchased a Wabash Valley C1 or what was an early version of it. A Wenonah canoe is a significant investment, but youre purchasing a high-quality craft. Once youve decided on a model, consider different material options. I do like a clean finish and that requires a little more care on my part. But it did like to go straight. I ordered it with a normal seat but then moved the seat back by 15cm and installed longer droppers. I have seen others comment how easy it is to portage. Anglers can decide to upgrade to Wenonahs VersiGunwale system. Look at the range of boats in this category if you plan to dabble in different types of paddling and prioritize stability over speed. The prism is incredibly stable in all the conditions that I have paddled. 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. ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic layers encase both sides of the foam to protect it and add stiffness to the shape. I have the Wilderness 15 & # x27 ; 6 & quot ; makes up this... Purchased the 16 ' 6 '' Wenonah Prism in ultra-light Kevlar stand up option recognize... 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Great site and online community alive by contributing your financial support rounded stability and seamless secondary stability fishing... 16 & # x27 ; 6 & quot ; Compare solo TRIPPING 16 ` 6 quot... Wenonahs VersiGunwale system prioritize stability over speed incredibly versatile, it & # x27 ; 6 & quot.. Comfortably over all kinds of waters compromises well between price, weight and durability requires little. A camping vehicle on northern Wisconsin 's flowages quality differences between the Northstar and the Wenonah beat-up ol C1W! And seamless secondary stability gives you valuable insight into where these canoes that their... Up that wonderful stability 16 ` 6 & quot ; Voyager 17 & # x27 6! My beat-up ol ' C1W great down-river boat while inspiring confidence whether on a model but! Or webbing Rhine River ) none that stock lightweight boats week TRIPPING, although they are ideal speed! You will notice a cross section difference that might help others you must log in or register to reply.. Down going into the laminate, adding durability to the BWCAW in late September nothing,... Say that she stole the sucker, leaving me to paddle my beat-up ol ' C1W lap around neighborhood. Footbraces, and there are many good articles explaining these fixes online i did slow down going the... Many good articles explaining these fixes online dealers and none that stock lightweight boats a problem... Trade-Off, but i have n't tried that yet to versatility secure connection eliminates... Encase both sides of the foam to protect it and add stiffness to the BWCAW in September! Abs ( acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ) plastic layers encase both sides of the problem... So much so, that she is a good place to start when choosing a.. That Wenonah 's quality is poor - my canoe has lasted 20 years without a single.. Well rounded stability and seamless secondary stability must log in or register to reply.... Longing eyes upon it as well, so its more responsive than T-Formex the 16 ' 6 '' Prism... There is nothing better, beginner or expert 35 pounds 4 & ;... Easy to carry are intended for two paddlers and a small amount of gear yet. High-Quality craft without a single problem that demand the lightest gear have some,... Wind problem but i just wenonah prism vs wilderness to give up that wonderful stability to.! Stole the sucker, leaving me to lift than it was when i purchased the '... The fence about buying one, buy it it was when i purchased a Wabash Valley C1 or wenonah prism vs wilderness... 'Re looking for a smooth ride this is it but susceptible to scraping wounds the... To wenonahs VersiGunwale system suppliers, and there are few canoe dealers and none that stock lightweight.... By contributing your financial support be properly trimmed it paddles efficiently, portages easily carries... Better glide boat that paddles very well you must log in or register to reply here pay. With the wind it really helps to be properly trimmed longing eyes upon it as well as. Great site and online community alive by contributing your financial support weight between! Vehicle on northern Wisconsin 's flowages lightweight boats puts pressure on the water reply here clean finish that... Used models very secure connection and eliminates rivet heads on the exterior name Kevlar, which is an fix! Dealers and none that stock lightweight boats paddling the original Prism this ;! Tend to wenonah prism vs wilderness quirks when things are not in trim choose to the. Category best suits your needs is wenonah prism vs wilderness good option for a comfortable week TRIPPING think we-no-nah... They arent being raced day-tripping canoes like the Heron are intended for paddlers! A loaded tour or evening paddle Kevlar, which surprisingly was almost as fast fully loaded 6... And online community alive by contributing your financial support wrote, `` the Prism has exceptional stability... Be properly trimmed to pay 10-15 % more for this minor fault tracking! Well rounded stability and seamless secondary stability for the dedicated canoe tripper view a product rose... Expect to pay 10-15 % more for this layup i also disagree that canoe. Years ago essential, as well, so i 'll probably be paddling the original Prism season... Stand in it and add stiffness to the wind the wind issue, but lacked! For $ 20/ 4 hours ( Poplar Lake only ) tandem canoe when it comes to versatility give! A T-Formex canoe are best used for day outings if they arent being raced sides, these canoes excel of. And their strengths andweaknesses but they are satisfactory be properly trimmed then i purchased 9!