I find it very easy to paddle(I do all of the paddling, my wife just comes along for the ride)and maneuver. It adds a few ounces, but I doubt youd notice it. higher seats provide more flexibility (kneeling for stability, seated for
It has good glide and great stability. If you like to hunt, fish, photograph wildlife, or just sneak around, this is the vessel. Single-owner Wenonah Spirit II purchased new from Midwest Mountaineering 04/2014. I decided that I would not need my canoe in Juneau, Alaska. Aluminum and royalex canoes are nice to fish out of but are on the heavier side. Like a swiss army knife, the Spirit II does everything - and if you needed one canoe to serve your needs for the rest of your life, this would be a top contender. We have been able to continue our canoeing at ages 60 and 80, respectively with the right canoe. tripping capabilities after that trip, but I am expecting to be just as pleased
Id also go for black anodized gunwales. The store person said they've had it for about a month, and that the jury is still out. Then in 2013 the plastics company PolyOne announced they would cease production of Royalex sheets. Rain or shine kids or packs or just empty the Spirit II is every thing I read and asked about in making my decision to purchase it and more which was nice to see in todays day and age. Wenonah bakeda sheet, formed a Spirit II and shipped it here to Canoeroots. (R-84 Royalite). When I get older (& have more money), I will probably replace it with a lighter Kevlar canoe. Wenonah Canoe is the worlds largest maker of canoes using Aramid. Widths: max. Front seat slider option which I would insist upon. It is light enough for me to carry by myself and for my wife and I to get on top of our SUV. It also had to look good to the eye. It felt like one of the fastest canoes in the bunch, and along with the Cronje, consistently pulled ahead slightly if we increased the pace of the group. Solo paddling is tough if there is significant wind. One of our Best Sellers! Wenonah Canoe Vice-President Bill Kueper is enthusiastic about the growing inclusion of Esquifs T-Formex. The future of Wehonahs top-seller was now in the hands of Esquif Canoes, who announced in 2014 they were concocting T-Formex as a replacement material in their southern Quebec factory. As I read all of the reviews, we figured that for $300 it was a good decision as an entry level decision. Prism 16' 6" More Details. Their Spirit IIs weigh in at 57#s. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community! Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. I have never had a canoe that was so flexible (mine is RX) and it oil cans so severely that when in the water its hull shape is nothing like the factory spec!! I've paddled it tandem and with both my wife AND two young kids aboard. without a care for rocks. My second Wenonah canoe. The Spirit II has an indescribable good feel that only Wenonah seems to be able to build into thier designs.I find it very easy to paddle solo . It is definitely a two-person canoe because of its size and seat configuration (tractor type). There are lots of specialized canoes available that will do different tasks better than the Spirit II (straight line speed, load carrying, turnability) but none will do them all as well as this boat. I found the portage thwart to be well balanced, but uncomfortable outside of the short haul. The Spirit II we tested had a foot brace for the stern paddler, effectively providing a way to transfer more power from the paddler to the hull a very nice option. I feel comfortable spending the whole day paddling this canoe- good seat placement. Problem solved. The Wilderness is lighter than any kayak of . We look forward to many years of pleasure with this canoe. Tuf-weave canoes offer improved impact resistance and are a great compromise between light weight, performance, and price. Bay area. T-Formex canoes are manufactured from multi-laminate sheets, painstakingly designed specifically for each model. I find the Spirit II to be ideal for my purposes. After moving to Alaska three years ago. Aluminum plates are strategically laminated into the hull. Wenonah's Tuf-weave material is an interwoven fabric made of 50% polyester and 50% fiberglass that out performs either material alone. It has minimal rocker, and tracks wonderfully and has a nice glide. Admittedly, I have a special interest in choice of canoes due to my desire to sail my boat more than paddle. We can unequivocally recommend the Spirit II as a long distance canoe! Owned a kevlar ultra light with wooden gunnels for five years. Before the Sawyer an aluminum canoe provided transport. to tip this canoe! I don't like portages, and pack accordingly, not needing to worry about the amount of weight versus stability. Not as fast as my Itasca was but much more stable and forgiving. The Spirit II tracks beautifully, and manages to be steady and stablewithout being sluggish. When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. Outfitting . I'll experiment with it. Buttermilk Falls presented a bit more challenge (many barely submerged rocks) but the Royalex slid off any gotchas. Broke a wood gunnel at the yoke. This canoe does everything and that's exactly what I need. Bow chair is adjustable for balance. My only experience being in alum. It also is maneuverable in tight tidal creeks, a must for us. Follow the "Live Social Media" Feed from bcg scar hurts years later; sydney sweeney black lives matter; used wenonah spirit ii for sale; used wenonah spirit ii for sale. Big difference in paddlers sizes? Sort by. Notify me when new ads are posted. 1: Sea Eagle Travel Canoe TC16 (best overall) Length: 16 foot. It was equipped with a third seat which I thought to be a little funny at first. We-no-nah Spirit II in Royalex. Why? And at less than 70 pounds, it was easy to haul ashore at night and load cartop for the journey home. I'm actually able to fit my 3 kids in the middle between the thwarts. Speed is not its strong point. For example, let's say we have a 17.4-foot canoe that is 3.5 feet wide. The gelcoat took a beating witch I know it would and I managed a small hole in the gelcoat on the keel not the kevlar behind it. But with larger paddlers any canoe loses some of its initial stability -- we are both heavier and sit higher, so generate a higher center of gravity than an average pair of paddlers. Aramid, the fiber used for aerospace, body armor and bulletproof vests, is amazingly light and strong. We tested the Kevlar Ultralight model, because why wouldnt we? An excellent boat that will do many things very well. Durable is an understatement. We finally decided on Royalex -- I just
I bought a 1997 Spirit II last week. Royalex, which is not made anymore, is considered the sweet spot for weight vs durability. . . Beyond its elegance, the canoe just handles like a dream. I wish it were faster, but do not hold it against the Spirit II. Will I regret the extra weight if I go Wenonah? While we felt pretty special paddling our pre-production model of the Spirit II in T-Formex, we know well be seeing many more of them shortly. Weave Flex Core 58 lbs Kev. I guess you could consider this a long term review of the Spirit II from Wenonah. Tuf-weave canoes offer improved impact resistance and are a great compromise between light weight, performance, and price. It is great for the Susquehanna river - very stable, even when turning around for gear and fishing. We have also went down the Russian River in it and plan many more such trips. I use it primarily for lake trips, such as the Boundary Waters and Quetico. You have entered an incorrect email address! The Spirit II Ultra is unbelievably light weight, beautifully made, comfortable, big, stable, fast, efficient, tracks great and turns ok. I am totally happy with the boat. but I would be hard pressed to believe there is better. Product Number: . One that would go and do the few things the Venom Racer wasnt capable of. The Spirit II is 17' long, which is a good compromise between the performance of a longer hull and maneuverability of . Family verdict is that the seats are not very comfortable though, plan on buying some Cripple Creek seat backs. The bow seat is on a slider with a quick release clamp so you can easily adjust your trim while underway, should the wind change. It is a freighter with a heart of a cruiser. The Spirit II glided efficiently through the Main Branch Susquehanna's flatwater, and took the few ledges with aplomb. I finally got my Spirit II in royalex out on the Buffalo river in NW Arkansas this weekend for a 10-mile float after some heavy rains. Today we
From running class II+ rapids to cursing choppy waters on a big lake it dos great. Probably all in my head, but I'm glad I have the 58 pound boat and skipped the heavier ones. It's stable and efficient and can handle a wide range of boating conditions. . $400 difference due to year -end sale). The canoe holds a tremendous amount of gear and is stable. As efficient as a long-hulled canoe and as maneuverable as a short one, the Spirit II strikes a balance between all good things. Spirit ii is a very nice boat though. Have had the canoe down a couple of local rivers. At 14'6" and rocker with a 27" water line it is easy to weave around what ever the water throws at you. The canoe handles well and is easy to turn, has decent glide. We found it in the California Canoe and Kayak shop in Sacramento while returning from a canoe trip near Lake Tahoe. Hull Material Royalex Length 17' Weight 65 lbs Gunwale Width 35" Capacity Excellent Stability Excellent Manueverability Excellent Speed Average. Weight: 64 pounds. (sliding bow and bucket seats) from Oak Orchard canoe in Waterport, NY on
Aluminum plates are strategically laminated into the hull. Renner sees the Spirit II as providing a much-needed respite in the canoe market for something versatile, tough and durable. It slices through waves (which is a good thing normally), but without a cover, deep waves can roll right in over the gunwales. Thought I would check out a Bell Yellowstone Tandem. My girlfriend and my sister took on a very stiff northwest wind on Bailey Bay of Basswood lake comming off the Burke Lake portage heading for Prairie Portage. Wenonah is worth the $ for us. Cookie Notice Kevlar Ultralite Weight: 42 lbs; Gunwale Width . First, it doesn't feel like a Royalex boat. If you are larger, keep that in mind when choosing a canoe based on reading online comments as initial stability is probably going to be somewhat less for you than an average person's. So you could say it also has good aerodynamic stability too. To lazy walleye fishing on Disappointment and actually being a joy to carry on 200 plus rod portages. The gel coat is easy to scratch on the bottom, but you just have to accept that with any gel coated boat. performed great fully loaded.This boat is fast,tracks well and maneuvers well enough to catch eddies even fully loaded.the best tandem river canoe ever.This is the boat of choice. Since it still makes me happy every time my wife and I use it I haven't found a reason to replace it. We-No-Nah Spirit II in flexcore layup (fiberglass reinforced hand laid). I'd trade weight for a stiffer hull. However, it won't get lighter like your food pack. The seat in the middle is great for solo paddling! We purchased a Wenonah Spirit II Royalex, Alaskan ivory with performance package
My fishing buddy had a different model We-no-nah canoe, and he likes the Spirit II better. The price of the base model, a 68-pound plastic boat, is $1,199 and includes shipping. 17.4 X 3.5 = 60.9 / 15 = 4. Wenonah finds the right formula. Added comfort: Wenonah has as good a reputation as anyone. $4695.00 - $4795.00 CAD. At just 17' it fit perfectly in the garage and was perfect to handle and carry.. Moving back to the lower 48 and larger lakes and rivers, I missed being back on the water. It was a major blow to the canoeing community and kicked off a canoe material soap opera. To see if its truly the kind of canoe a dealer in Missoula could sellto anyone we paddled it in a variety of conditions. I guess it depends on your age and condition. Effortless to paddle, stable, relatively light-weight for a Royalex canoe and tracks well. That said, I've sold the J-18 and I really need to demo a Solo-Plus Back to Spirit II and stability. Wenonah Spirit II #3 in Touring Canoes vote up. We carried the majority of gear for four people on our 5 day British Columbia trip. It paddles and handles very well. The Spirit II paddles beautifully. I have three other tandem canoes also, all various brands. Great canoe for two people. A diamond-shaped core with hand-fitted ribs makes for an extremely stiff boat. UL 42 lbs A Versatile tandem with excellent performance and easy handling on rivers and lakes. 'Wenonah Royalex Spirit II (Courtesy Photo)'. The Spirit II comes standard with bucket seats. Approx. I love my Spirit II - Tufweave 17' 67 Lbs, its paddle well, handles well on flat water and the class 1 rivers near by. After going to the BWCA a handful of time and being in my late teens I bought what I could afford, a 100 lb grummand canoe. The construction is meticulous. We put in near Shawville, PA, after loading up with about 175 pounds of gear. Im in my late 40s and have been in canoes since before I could walk, as have our kids. Keewaydin 16 Combi - Swift Canoe & Kayak - People Who Know, Paddle Swift. Great for day trips and good for extended trips. Complete Canoe Outfitting Packages; . I can easily see why the Spirit II is Wenonah number one selling boat. Gunwale Width . Help keep the flying moose flying and Unloaded there is a tendency to oilcan just a bit (between my wife and I we make about 400 pounds of cargo, thus increasing the likelihood of oilcanning). Light and maneuverable. Most of the compliments mentioned by other reviewers are valid, but there are some downsides too. Recommend. Last month it went on its first BWCA trip and I would give it an A. I've canoed quite a bit with my father as a kid and now decided to make a purchase on a quality canoe so I can share it with my wife and kids. Testers enjoyed the aesthetics and comfort of its web seats, ash yoke, and wood thwarts. Northwind is 16'6". I know that fiberglass is tough, but I get nervous using it on rivers as I don't want to damage it on rocks that I might encounter. A Kevlar version weighs 42 pounds and costs $2,099. We do lots of portage and lake tripping, the canoe is great fit for all our needs. If you only have space or the budget for one canoe, then this is your boat. I've also switched on-and-off with a Penobscot, and find the Spirit II just seems to do what I want it to more effortlessly. Because the canoe has no pigmented gelcoat, you can see every layer in the construction by holding it up to the light. Otherwise, like most canoes, it is painful to carry on long carries. We've had the Spirit II out twice since we brought it home (we've had a long
We also looked at the 17' Old Town
We set off onto the river in a slight rain. Location. She is, perhaps, spoiled in that respect. Paddled well loaded and unloaded while fishing. Some may ask what happened to the Spirit I. After growing up in MN. I am young so I know the weight is do able I just was curious what everyone's canoes weigh and if 69lbs was to high to do. canoes we wanted something light, tuff, and staple being a family of 4 with 2 dogs and all. I love it for camping trips on moving water. we are 4, my 2 kids are 6 and 9 and weigh 65-75 lbs each my wife is a slender sub 100lbs. Im also a research fanatic. There is also a hitch-mount designed for a standard 2" receiver so that the . This is one well made, well designed canoe! This site has grown since 2002 from a few visitors a day to up to 10,000 I have the older model Tuf-weave and the weight is about 63lbs. We were just amazed at the Spirit's speed, tracking, light weight and responsiveness. It isnt the fastest canoe on the flat water but its stable. We also add extra fabric layers to strengthen specific targeted areas. If you want a stronger boat and if youre willing to pay a little more, wood gunwales are available. Lately I have gotten an Epic surf ski (v10s) as well and love it very much. [ Read more: Esquif Canoes T-Formex Is Real ]. My limit is 60 pounds too - for whatever reason, lifting 58 vs 65 was noticeable to me. The yoke is just too light weight, I exchanged mine for a deep dish type, more comfort, more strength, more weight, more cost. It's is tough, light (under 60lbs. For now I love it! photoguy190 . Have owned this canoe for two years and love it. Their initial stability is almost as good as a flat bottom, but they retain a good secondary stability. It has not been used much at all in the last 6 years. This is a plus when paddling with a novice or child in the bow seat and all steering must be done from the stern.My Spirit has the tractor style seats which I find comfortable.My only complaint with the canoe is the fact that it does not come standard with a portage yoke.To install a yoke you must drill out the pop rivets holding in the thwart and then pop rivet brackets into the gunwales.This isn't to hard but time consuming and nerve racking since you are having to drill holes into your new canoe. . paddle. (Try comparing hull stiffness with, say a NovaCraft 17') The RX also seems very soft, as is wearing at an alarming rate compared to my other boats. It is a dream come true for those who canoe lakes and moderate rivers and who need light weight, 42#. Very light use.As efficient as a long-hulled canoe and as maneuverable as a short one, this versatile, stable canoe is roomy enough for long adventures and it becomes even more stable when fully loaded.FeaturesRoyale . Both are highly recommended. Seaworthy and predictable in wind and waves. On our last camping trip to lake Sonoma CA, led the 4 of us paddled it (with an old Town detachable plastic mid-seat) to the boat only campgrounds 3 miles from the launch in an Hour, fending of some serious mid-afternoon winds. The Minnesota II you don't want to load much beyond 600 pounds. If the seats are mounted low enough
I bought my Royalex hull Spirit II two years ago. Once cresting a wave side-to in a heavy wake, a 20 to 30 mph cross wind gust lifted the entire canoe out of the water (weve never flown a canoe before). Width: 38 inches. 16% X 15' = 28.8 (minimum width at 4" waterline using 16% rule) . No wind and paddling, beating into a 3 foot swell, running in 12 foot ground swell in 20 knots of wind, this boat never made me feel like I was in trouble. Need any addional help? She would buy this boat brand new, and so would I. On lakes it has enough speed to cruise nicely. I also like to be able to paddle solo, so I removed the thwart behind the front seat and added a rear-facing solo seat. CANOE RATINGS. Easy to portage, extremely high quality fit, finish, and design, and it paddles effortlessly. This one weighs in at about 57 pounds, so not an ultralight, but not a heavyweight either. I have owned a Spirit II for about 9 years now. 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