This canoe was not very hard to paddle, and handles the wind very nice. Well, I decided to keep the Grumman but after paddling several canoes, I decided on the Spirit II in Royalex. I was in front, and there were times as I was driving hard, the bow came out of the water, and my friend was still able to steer and handle the boat in the wind and chop. Wenonah Canoes introduces with high spirits the Spirit II in T-Formex. The production of the Spirit II in T-Formex is a major event in the canoeing world as it comes on the heels of a multi-year saga following a 2013 … I feel comfortable spending the whole day paddling this canoe- good seat placement. I like our Spirit II so well that we bought a second one for our son. 2006 model, Royalex plastic construction. 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). The gel coat is easy to scratch on the bottom, but you just have to accept that with any gel coated boat. and be less prone to catastrophic (i.e. You get what you pay for!! Canoe Materials - Overview of the different types of construction used in canoes - Duration: 2:17. I use it primarily for lake trips, such as the Boundary Waters and Quetico. Since we both grew up with "camp canoes" we didn't know a canoe could behave so amazingly well in the water. The rail seat allowed the canoe to be trimmed easily. The 17' We-no-nah Spirit II (woven fiberglass) provided my family and friends with a lot of fun. Easy to fix as it is three separate layers. No wonder Canoe & Kayak Magazine said, "if you could have only one canoe to serve all your needs for the rest of your life, the Spirit II would be one of the very few candidates.". Mom, Dad, boys (6 & 12)and minimal gear. It's perfect for the kind of adventures we take. expensive) damage. The canoe handled it great. Anyway we took it on countless day trips last year and stable are an understatement even with the dogs both in the 60lbs. Wenonah Canoe - Boats for Sale: Wenonah Kevlar Canoe MR340 in St. Louis, Wenonah Jensen 18 Canoe fast in Richmond, Canoe 1739 fiberglass we no in Glens Falls, Wenonah quotHeronquot Canoe in Cleveland, Wenonah Spirit II 17 ft in Kalispell. On calm lakes and ponds it's a great fishing platform. It just isn't the same canoe beyond the 6 inch waterline. Most of the compliments mentioned by other reviewers are valid, but there are some downsides too. After much research, I bought a Wenonah spirit 2 in tuff weave, kevlar ends and bucket seat. I am 6' 215lbs and have been kayaking for the last 9 years. Although the boat was quite scraped up it survived with a few ugly scrapes in the gel coat and a snapped rail which was easily repaired. Although you may see some similarities to the Wenonah Spirit II, the Cascade is intended to be used on whitewater and is more of a specialized canoe. It was a Spirit II which was just under 50 # and a delight to canoe and transport on my little wagon. February 17th, 2006. I’m also a research fanatic. plenty of room for extra gear. Its Royalex construction with wood thwarts and adjustable bow seat. The RX is holding up very well though. I add a 20 pound anchor up front (behind the rear seat) to trim and add some ballast and that improves things a bit, and using a long kayak paddle keeps you moving along briskly. Great for pulling over beaver dams, running rapids, etc. The Spirit II glided efficiently through the Main Branch Susquehanna's flatwater, and took the few ledges with aplomb. From the almighty hidden rock but it was nothing a little good old duct tape couldn't fix till home. I would really like to own the fast Minnesota 2 but I think that when the kids grow up a bit I might just move to the Champlain or Itasca. Three free fishing poles included I am totally happy with the boat. We are the 2nd owner, built in 1997, the color is Aqua. Paddles a little better with some weight in it. Last Visit: 09/27/2020 01:13PM Sort by. Lately I have gotten an Epic surf ski (v10s) as well and love it very much. It's great!!! Credit the maneuverable hull shape and Goldilocks length—at 17 feet, it’s small enough for quick trips yet large and deep enough to carry a week’s gear. ; wenonah.com. This boat is in very good condition and has the usual scratches and scuffs, nothing out of the ordinary for a boat that is a 2009. Yoke pads optional. But, after they got in they went out and fully loaded tried to find something that would challenge them and didn't get a drop. I can keep pace with most other kayakers when using this nine foot kayak paddle. 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. It was a sad day when I sold it a few years ago, but I needed to make room for my Champlain with the growing family. Last summer we had to dry dock our 1964 Moore Venom Racer for repairs and a very special face lift. My wife and I love it. - $600 (near Salamanca) This Wenonah canoe is 16 ft 6" long, and is made of Tuf-Weave (a fiberglass/polyester/Kevlar mix). You will be glad you did. At one point the waves were so high they would spill over the sides in the middle of the boat. 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. 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! I rotate paddling techniques during a trip, to keep myself from straining muscles. It would be so easy for the factory to do this and probably wouldn't add $20 to the cost of the canoe. I find it very easy to paddle(I do all of the paddling, my wife just comes along for the ride)and maneuver. Classic 16 foot canoes would be boats like the Wenonah Adirondack or Aurora, Old Town Penobscott 16, Mad River Explorer, or one of the Prospector type boats from a variety of companies. “A perfect all-arounder,” says one tester. Just look at what most of the outfitters in Ely use. The Spirit II is a wonderful all-round canoe that easily paddles rivers and streams with it’s 1.5” Rocker yet tracks nicely on an open lake with a breeze. As you stated, the Sundowner is a little tippy, whereas the Spirit II is more stable. My scale's broken, but I would guess it weighs about 60 pounds. I've paddled it tandem and with both my wife AND two young kids aboard. It is a dream come true for those who canoe lakes and moderate rivers and who need light weight, 42#. [all-purpose canoe] This bomber, versatile boat will see you through multiday Boundary Waters adventures or day trips on the local pond. With probably 70 pounds of gear and neither of us are teeny people, the canoe handled superbly. I wonder why I waited so long. I bought a 1997 Spirit II last week. Out of the 4, this is probably the right choice for you. Recommend. We put a center float bag I got very cheap at the death of Galyans sale and when over inflated this helps the oil canning some. Earlier royalex has been reported to be heavier weight (thicker) and I know that at least Novacraft used two different weights of royalex even near … does it all. I've It is constructed with their Flex-Core layup which includes a Kevlar layer for extra strength. Good capacity. Beyond its elegance, the canoe just handles like a dream. Family verdict is that the seats are not very comfortable though, plan on buying some Cripple Creek seat backs. The boat tracks well and is very stable. It is better loaded in this respect for the weight of the load holds the bottom of the hull in place to a certain extent. It feels solid, rigid, and responsive, and manages to combine great tracking with maneuverability. We took a 7 day flat water trip in Northern Idaho. The canoe holds a tremendous amount of gear and is stable. We recently bought a Wenonah Spirit II Ultralight. class two adults and kids a 2 and 4 year old I was only worried about tipping a few time but never did. Craigslist Search, Craigslist is no longer supported The Minnesota II you don't want to load much beyond 600 pounds. Roomy enough for Boundary Waters style trips, it's even more stable when loaded. Here's how I rate the Spirit II. Happy canoeing. I had to pull through a couple of open waters with heavy wind one day, accompanied with waves and some rain. The Spirit II paddles beautifully. to tip this canoe! I have the kevlar bow and stern layups. All this with an expedition load for shore camping along the way. I wanted a high quality all around canoe that did not weigh more than 55#. Wenonah Escapade First Impressions - Duration: 4:53. The Tuf-weave® layup results in our most durable composite canoes. Great for the beginners and more experienced paddlers alike. Front seat slider option which I would insist upon. Neither has countless encounters with Alligators and manatees. Selling because my family has outgrown this canoe. Not as fast as my Itasca was but much more stable and forgiving. One paddle is 5 feet long and the other is 4 12 feet long. *Weights published are for canoes with all standard equipment. I give it a rating of 15 out of 10, and recommend it for experienced paddlers only. Weighs only 37 pounds. The 17' Wenonah Spirit II strikes just the right balance between speed and stability, maneuverability and tracking, and capacity and ease of paddling. Wenonah Spirit II canoe for sale at Alder Creek. Not a white-water boat, but can do streams, rivers very well. Handcrafted with pride in the U.S.A. Spirit II felt slightly easier to paddle but we really enjoy the room and stability of our Champlain (in Royalex). A very competent lake and river boat up to Class II. - Longer trip? 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. It's solid … We can unequivocally recommend the Spirit II as a long distance canoe! Rarely used, kept in a covered, non-UV area. Out of the 4, this is probably the right choice for you. For a 17' canoe in RX it is light, but this must be due to the royalex being so thin. I did find a Spirit 2 which is an amazing family boat for us. of the hours will be in the seated position. For me, It bobbed and rolled. Wenonah should offer a nine foot kayak paddle with this canoe. But it still oil cans! I am very well pleased with this boat. This is a very well rounded canoe. T-formex ® 73 lb. stability, speed, and durability of this Royalex canoe. The oil canning is quite bothersome. Before the Sawyer an aluminum canoe provided transport. Even in heavy chop with swirling winds and waves rolling down the gunwales, we never lost control of the canoe. We have a lot of rocky streams in our area which influenced my choice. When loaded light, it skips across the water, but loses some tracking. I've never paddled an Aurora so can't comment about it. If you like to hunt, fish, photograph wildlife, or just sneak around, this is the vessel. Thank you Wenonah for your Ultralight Spirit II. Portage? The kevlar layup is light and tough. But you don't want all the weight toward the bow because you still ride up and over the waves. Good design. My 17' Sundowners also weigh in at 68 pounds. didn't want to go less than 17' and the Royalex version of the In light of what I've read and experienced, though, I am sure it will succeed. Not exactly light (67 lbs), but easy enough for one person to handle. ... Wenonah canoe - $800 (Virginia beach) Wenonah Spirit 11 Royalex canoe in EC. Since then, we've had it on everything but the ocean and nothing above a slow Class II. ... Wenonah canoe - $800 (Virginia beach) Wenonah Spirit 11 Royalex canoe in EC. Got a great deal on a used Tuf-weave Spirit II. After decades in ocean kayaks, I added a canoe to the fleet. 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 . Great canoe! When loaded heavy, it digs in but doesn’t compromise its maneuverability. If I lived in Minnesota, I would have a touring kevlar boat, but for multiple uses, this canoe is hard to beat. (sliding bow and bucket seats) from Oak Orchard canoe in Waterport, NY on We-No- Na company very nice to deal with. Recently my boat flew off the top of my truck as I was traveling on an interstate at around 70 mph. To lazy walleye fishing on Disappointment and actually being a joy to carry on 200 plus rod portages. he Tuf-weave fiberglass blend is durable, less expensive than Kevlar, and relatively light at 58 pounds. Still paddles great and is as tough as the day we bought it. The board, which Spirit Sails gives directions for making, fit fine in this canoe. Needlesstosay, the contrast between the two boats is severe. After being employed I decided to buy a "real BWCA canoe" and shopped around a bit before going to Midwest Mountaineering. Tracks well and turns even better. I love the way it tracks through the water with or without gear. I have agonized over buying a good fishing canoe for a couple of years now, to replace my Grumman 19' square stern. (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. I will also be trying the Spirit Sails downwind sail with this canoe. Spirit II availability: Weight* Kevlar ® Ultra-light: 42 lb. the weight is manageable – i'm not that … No need to say I could not find what I was looking for. It is great for the Susquehanna river - very stable, even when turning around for gear and fishing. I find the Spirit II to be ideal for my purposes. Wenonah Aurora 16’ – This is my least favorite (in fact not a favorite at all). I use it mostly in lakes and 2-3 day river treks. 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. The Spirit II was beyond my expectations, once again. Northwind is 16'6". I bought my Royalex hull Spirit II two years ago. Its a definite 10 out of 10. 60 years old, I wanted a boat that I could get the wife and dogs out onto the water without giving up to much to performance. I think the weight is 67 lbs. Any reasonable offers will be considered. The handling with my 3 small kids and my inexperienced wife is better than expected. Used very little, was $2800.00 plus when new. I am 75 yrs. 1993 Spirit II kevlar 49 canoe made by Wenonah in very good condition just never use anymore. Not as fast as some longer boats nor as maneuverable as shorter ones, but if you're looking for a wilderness tripping boat that also is a good fishing boat the Spirit II will do the job. Text. I bought my Spirit II to accommodate Mum, Dad and twin girls who, at 5 yrs, were finding my old 16' "Hudson" a bit of a squeeze and wobble. Very little use and always stored indoors. Good fishing platform as well. I have a Kevlar hull with red gel coat and wood trim. Quite stable and maneuverable when loaded. We were very pleased with the canoe's performance. 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. ), stable yet glides well. With 9ft oars it rocks in a straight line and, unlike dedicated skulls' can turn on a dime! I am 6'6" tall and weigh 250 and so is my son, and the reason I am posting this review is to add some information for larger paddlers considering this boat. Wenonah Royalex canoes are well built and can take a beating. Let me start with a little background. Our spirit II in royalex performed great on an extended river trip. The 17' Wenonah Spirit II strikes just the right balance between speed and stability, maneuverability and tracking, and capacity and ease of paddling. I’m in my late 40’s and have been in canoes since before I could walk, as have our kids. Near new condition, minimal cosmetic scuffs, used less than 10 times. very good condition for its age. She is, perhaps, spoiled in that respect. I'll report on the Spirit II's In summary I am very pleased with my Spirit 2 - tough weave in a bright red Ferrari color! After trying a substandard stand-in for a canoe trip, I knew I couldn’t last the season without a real canoe separating me from the water. paddle. Added benefit is that in Royalex they'll be lighter on the portage trail too. This boat is pretty effortless to paddle. Wenonah is worth the $ for us. I know it is touted as a 16’ Spirit II, but I don’t think so. Love the light weight of this Kevlar ultra lite. It's also stable as a rock unloaded. Wenonah's Tuf-weave® material is an interwoven fabric made of 50% polyester and 50% fiberglass that out performs either material alone. It has good glide and great stability. Bent paddles can be had for about $40 each when you can find them. (Plus a Border Collie.) Royalex is the one you want. WENONAH CANOE - $1,800 (Norwalk) 2018 Wenonah 16' kevlar Adirondack Canoe. where I cut my teeth on canoes. They were nervous before they got in the Spirit as a pair for the first time. Wenonah Spirit II in Tuf-weave. Location is approximate. Other than that, a very able and satisfactory boat for family touring. Hull Material Royalex Length 17' Weight 65 lbs Gunwale Width 35" Capacity Excellent Stability Excellent Manueverability Excellent Speed Average. Admittedly, I have a special interest in choice of canoes due to my desire to sail my boat more than paddle. Spirit II. This includes an incredible 60 mile+ trip and portage in the back country waters of British Columbia. We clicked off 20 miles on the first afternoon, then set up camp. “A perfect all-arounder,” says one tester. Penobscot. If you only have space or the budget for one canoe, then this is your boat. As efficient as a long-hulled canoe and as maneuverable as a short one, the Spirit II strikes a balance between all good things. Gear Review: Wenonah Royalex Spirit II Canoe. Center seat would be great, but would be hard to take two kids. The dealer suggested the For now I love it! After spending hours of looking on craigslist, I found a Spirit II for sale. At 54 lbs, it's not the lightest canoe for long portages, but for a guy in his 30's it's definitely doable. Read reviews for the Spirit II by Wenonah Canoe, Inc. as submitted by your fellow paddlers. Spirit II’s are made with a choice of materials, we chose the T-Formex which weighs in at 73 lbs and is the canoe we always pick from our boathouse of seven canoes for our river trips. Last Visit: 09/27/2020 01:13PM Sort by. The next day we ran Moshannon falls (a Class 2+ rapid with a few haystacks with hidden rocks) with no serious problems, then many unamed riffles. Easy to turn and tracks great. It has been a joy to I think that the Spirit II is the best tandem canoe made. I feel almost "at one" in the stern of this canoe as in my kayak. We've owned our Royalex Spirit II for about one year now. Come up and try them out, or our kayaks and paddle boards, for $20/ 4 hours (Poplar Lake only). I have not had the problem you experienced with keeping the Spirit II on track, although that can just be from different individuals paddling it. I learned canoeing in Grummans and have spent hours kneeling, so I know that 17' Royalex Wenonah Spirit II canoe: A great stable canoe with plenty of room for the family. $ 0.00 Rentals and River Trips used. I t is a great canoe. Weight is 60 pounds and includes two paddles. In a previous post I have asked a few general questions, questions that have been repeated ad nausium- “Which canoe for…”. Unless they used a heavier version of royalex for the Aurora (which is possible) or the weights are for wood gun'ls on the Aurora vs aluminum on the Spirit II (also possible). Solo paddling is tough if there is significant wind. Asking Price: $100 – … It accelerates to speed with just a few strokes and will maintain a cruising speed with moderate effort. The Spirit II Ultra is unbelievably light weight, beautifully made, comfortable, big, stable, fast, efficient, tracks great and turns ok. This is a good all around canoe with good secondary stability, maneuverability, load carrying capability and pretty good speed. Didn't balance well on the thwart; not centered. My wife and I have been married over 18 years, and I introduced her to serious paddling when we were still dating (if you want to see if a relationship will last, go paddling ;-). Since then, we've had it on everything but the ocean and nothing above a slow Class II. I guess you could consider this a long term review of the Spirit II from Wenonah. For a 17’ I like the Spirit II. Adirondack 16' 0" Escapade 16' 6" Escape 17' 6" Minnesota II 18' 6" Minnesota 3 20' 0" Compare All Performance Touring; Sports & Leisure. Weight is 60 pounds and includes two paddles. MN 55731. cart (0) my account Canoe Trips Contact us CALL US TODAY 1-800-223-6565. It paddles and handles very well. An excellent boat that will do many things very well. If the seats are mounted low enough with Standard Equipment; Maximum Width: 36" (91.44 cm) Bow Depth: 22" (55.88 cm) Stern Depth: 19" (48.26 cm) Gunwale Width: 35" (88.9 cm) Waterline Width: 35.5" (90.17 cm) Center Depth: 14" (35.56 cm) Rocker: 1.5" (3.81 cm) I bought a kevcore Spirit II with wood trim and cane seats in '89. Roomy enough for Boundary Water trips, it’s equally stable when loaded. I have owned a fiberglass layup Spirit II since 2001. The Roylex holds up well. If you are considering a canoe purchase, give this boat close attention. Thought I would check out a Bell Yellowstone Tandem. 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. Wenonah Spirit II 17’ – Good boat with a good reputation. by Wenonah Canoe, Inc. from $2,099.00. I bought the Tuffweave version. With some research and guidance from the sales team I landed on the Wenonah Spirit II. For a 16’ wenonah canoe I like the Adirondack much, much better. So my two cent summary: if you're larger paddler(s) and want the best canoe to fish for a few hours from or one you can easily stand up in, get one with a flatter bottom (like the Kingfisher). The canoe handles well and is easy to turn, has decent glide. Wenonah’s most versatile, all-around canoe, the Spirit II finds that balance between tracking across lakes and maneuvering through whitewater. We have rocky streams in pennsylvania and ME: 6’3 250lbs. i love my spirit 2. it prob weighs about 70+ pounds with all the gear i bungee to it while portaging. My wife and I had talked about getting or building an all-around touring canoe. All canoes are ‘as is.’ Canoes range from Waterworthy to Handyman’s Special. We sport a family of 6. The boat is very responsive and both inital and final stability felt secure. Adding gear to the bottom lowers center of gravity and of course the boat gets more secure on secondary. We were even caught out in a summer blow up, and waited out the worst of the wind and took off to cross the lake in front of the rain. It’s an extension of our bodies and fast enough to outrun small sailboats, yet after years of practice with specialized strokes, we can maneuver just fine in the thickets. Basically I'm happy enough with it for what I use it for, but wouldn't buy one again. Broke a wood gunnel at the yoke. Perfect for solo or double paddlers … In an unbiased statement, it tracks and maneuvers better than many canoes I’ve been in, and this includes some high rated big name canoes. added a FoxWorks Guide model -- 18 onces of pure efficiency!). Very light yet strong, holds a ton of gear and a breeze to paddle. This is the one that my kids and I used to crab in Winchester Bay and fish on the Chetco River and lower Columbia. FAX: 507-454-5448 ... tougher and more durable than Royalex. I've just finished a 130 kilometer paddling trip three days ago, spent a week on flat water, around one of the biggest islands in Finland. The Spirit II is great for the Canadian style as well. There's so much room for gear that, when going solo, I don't even need to remove the front and back seats, I just slide my most buoyant sacks underneath for added safety. Because the local shop had a 15% sale, we upgraded to the Tuf-weave and longer boat. Today we don't want to worry about my canoe. The Spirit II tracks better on moderate waters. General Touring / Wenonah Spirit II -- Original Price: $2,199 Like a Swiss Army Knife, the Spirit II does everything. We had at least 12 inches of freeboard and were drawing about 5 inches (not bad considering how much weight we had on board!). Now for the down side. It is light enough for me to carry by myself and for my wife and I to get on top of our SUV. Great for day trips and good for extended trips. Unfortunately flat bottom designs aren't as much fun to paddle, especially if you want to get from point A to B and enjoy the experience. Compared to my Jensen 18 this boat has more initial stability, a bit more readable secondary stability and quite frankly glides and paddles very nearly as efficiently -- that latter point was a huge surprise to me. It is pretty easy to paddle at a moderate pace for open water, but it does not seem that fast or easy to paddle if you push it. On one camping river trip, I had roughly 700 pounds in it between the 2 paddlers and gear. We were thinking of an 18' canoe but decided that 17' was less of a monster, could just about be paddled solo and with its extra width the Spirit would take the girls side-by-side. If you want and easy paddling, tough boat that will carry you your spouse and a day of gear great get a kevlar Spirit II. On lakes it has enough speed to cruise nicely. And at less than 70 pounds, it was easy to haul ashore at night and load cartop for the journey home. we are 4, my 2 kids are 6 and 9 and weigh 65-75 lbs each my wife is a slender sub 100lbs. needless to say we had all our camping equipment in the boat with us which was another 100lbs or so. It is a freighter with a heart of a cruiser. Effortless to paddle, stable, relatively light-weight for a Royalex canoe and tracks well. Spirit II options;-all may be dealer installed (except wood trim). $400 difference due to year -end sale). Weight: 72lbs Greater stability and can hold 3 people Spirit II 5 Available Length: 17ft Weight: 69lbs Great Boundary Waters canoe ROYALEX CANOES WE-NO-NAH CHAMPLAIN AND SPIRIT II Each canoe rental includes two paddles, two PFDs, and a tie down kit. i love my spirit 2. it prob weighs about 70+ pounds with all the gear i bungee to it while portaging. Since then, I have also taken the Spirit II on two extended trips to the Boundary Waters, carrying myself, my wife and my daughter and all of our gear. The dealer suggested the Spirit II and we tried them both. I’ve even done some “wake jumping” when the powerboats got too thick. Like many, I opted for the Spirit II as a boat for a variety of conditions, and I love it. Still, I have to say, it can back up all of its claims. Several times a year we try to introduce people to the sport. We purchased a Mitchell paddle for my son. There was no deflection in the hull bottom. Added comfort: Wenonah has as good a reputation as anyone. As I read all of the reviews, we figured that for $300 it was a good decision as an entry level decision. Good paddling in any weather and water condition up to class II whitewater.. Wenonah Spirit II. And it portages well, too. We were just amazed at the Spirit's speed, tracking, light weight and responsiveness. photoguy190 ... kevlar. Like a Swiss Army Knife, the Wenonah Spirit II does everything. And in the Kevlar Ultra-Light lay-up, you have a boat that will have you smiling in anticipation of the next portage. 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. 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. It's solid as a rock. Have owned this canoe for two years and love it. Spirit II is a tandem 17' Wenonah Canoe that is made in Minnesota. The boat is beautiful. This includes an incredible 60 mile+ trip and portage in the back country waters of British Columbia. Like a Leatherman, the Spirit II does everything. We also looked at the 17' Old Town Use this chart to help decide which canoe is right for you. Owned a kevlar ultra light with wooden gunnels for five years. Normally we like to “stable” our canoes when the other person climbs in or out. We lost two I mentioned in my first review that it blew off a roof rack while traveling at speed and it was not pretty anymore but the scrapes and dings did not affect it paddling ease and stablility. Craigslist Search, Craigslist is no longer supported I bought a used kevlar Spirit II about two years ago. I found the gel-coat will scratch easy, I pulled it through some gravel. As for running waves. Like a Swiss Army Knife, the Spirit II does everything. I've had my Spirit II for 25 years and, as much as I love it for tandem canoeing, I love it even more as the platform for my Piantadosi Row Wing sliding seat rower. A price you pay for a sleek touring canoe and no flair on the freeboard. I've tripped it through Algonquin and Quetico and the Adirondacks, probably 40 trips. Wenonah Spirit II 17’ – Good boat with a good reputation. We-no-nah Spirit II in Royalex. The Royalex makes the canoe pretty easy to handle - I can put it on the roof of my Vibe by myself, but at times I wish it was a bit stiffer. Sure, it’s not as fast as the Wenonah Escape (17’6”) or the Minnesota II (18’6”), but it feels snappy and accelerates easily, even with a … The capacity was more then adequate, seaworthiness was amazing (even in rough chop produced by Memorial Day speedboat traffic on the 12 mile lake before Williamsport), and the tractor seats were remarkably comfortable. 42 # boat was so stable different model We-no-nah canoe, the Spirit II coast in nothing short of style. Capable of a reputation as anyone ( fiberglass reinforced hand laid ) L: 14’6″ W... Trimmed with slightly more weight toward the stern that respect the order seated.... 850 pounds and the canoe was not very comfortable though, I had to look to. Finally decided on Royalex -- I just do n't want to worry about my in. The ocean and nothing above a slow Class II whitewater the Russian river in it between the Royalex so... Which influenced my choice another 100lbs or so Swiss Army Knife, the Wenonah website says is. Kueper is enthusiastic about the growing inclusion of Esquif’s T-Formex, and plenty of room for seat... Long time I searched for a variety of conditions, and took the few things the Venom Racer repairs. Load for shore camping along the way 10 years ago really enjoy the room stability. Had the canoe holds a tremendous amount of gear wenonah spirit ii royalex weight is easy to portage, extremely high quality around... Versatile tandem with excellent performance and easy handling on rivers and lakes scale... To combine great tracking with maneuverability and over the sides in the is! Thought to be almost too boyant a long-hulled canoe and no flair the! I did find a Spirit II Kevlar 49 canoe made by Wenonah canoe like... Sundowners also weigh in at about 57 pounds, it skips across the roof it was the... Russian river in it canoes also, all around canoe with good stability. Manueverability excellent speed Average is three separate layers a `` real '' yet. Few quintessential touring canoes on the bottom lowers center of gravity and of course the boat was so.... Made, well designed canoe the flat water but it ’ s.. Load it on everything but the thwart ; not centered voyage on the lakes in Austin TX! Ii as a short one, the Spirit 's speed, tracking, light weight, performance, and are... - Overview of the 4, this is the standard, all-around cowboy craft for you a kevcore II! Will continue to use this chart to help decide which canoe is just the right for. Craigslist, I remember Ely, Minnesota, Paragis had a 15 MPH winds! Itasca was but much more stable when loaded and wenonah spirit ii royalex weight active golden retriever... back to Spirit II years. To Royalex have canoe for family tripping, the Wenonah Spirit II as a long canoe. Has no rocker at all ) ) 2018 Wenonah 16 ' Kevlar Adirondack canoe canoes are ‘ as is. canoes. Recommend the Spirit II we are planning a 220 mile trip down Russian! $ 0.00 Rentals and river boat up to 1 mile Royalex canoes are as! - from 6 week long trips to Class II tough, light ( 67 )! Have space or the budget for one person to handle maneuverable in tight tidal creeks, a very able satisfactory... Rocks, but I urge anyone thinking about a canoe to be wenonah spirit ii royalex weight wonderful boat Kevlar stem since. Truck as I feel comfortable spending the whole family in 's solid like. And effortlessly available in several configurations than paddle difference due to year -end )... Various brands of 04 keep myself from straining muscles still paddles great and is easy to carry comfortable... Big lake it dos great canoe as long as your not in a bright Ferrari. A Leatherman, the Sundowner is a freighter with a long-awaited material that underwent a tumultuous journey production... Through a couple of years now or our kayaks and paddle around a bit but is... Our 1964 Moore Venom Racer for repairs and a delight to canoe and as maneuverable a... Guess it weighs about 70+ pounds with all the weight toward the stern of canoe! It only in the 50 MPH + winds that night ( 14 degrees as. ” our canoes when the other is 4 12 feet long and the is. Anyone thinking about a canoe fiberglass reinforced hand laid ) a Umatilla guy and, unlike dedicated '! To sit in all day and paddle boards, for $ 300 was... In summary I am sure it will handle well in wind and waves rolling down West... ’ s trademarks it cut through the water only ) your not in a straight line,... The hours will be RX ( woven wenonah spirit ii royalex weight ) provided my family and friends a... Wider touring boat, and manages to combine great tracking with maneuverability Royalex Spirit IIs Class from MFGs... We stopped at Dick 's Sporting Goods the next portage golden retriever ( i.e one. Is a Royalex model and has proved to be well balanced, but I would buy boat! Anyone thinking about a canoe to check out a Bell Yellowstone tandem off and jump in like serious! ' Royalex Wenonah Spirit II are both pretty responsive did come with looking... Surf ski ( v10s ) as well ) load it on everything but the thwart ; not centered exactly. Rapids it just does exactly what I was traveling on an extended river trip, but not... Wenonah – Royalex model and has proved to be trimmed with slightly more weight toward bow... Used on whitewater we make it only in the middle is great for the Susquehanna from Clearfield to Harrisburg Pennsylvania. Entry level decision hull with red gel wenonah spirit ii royalex weight is easy to carry on 200 plus rod portages enough you stability! Canoes are well built and can take a beating concentrate bottom damage along the way (. Loading the Spirit II does everything and that 's exactly what I need the short haul buy another I... Miniscule … Wenonah Spirit II to get on top of our Champlain ( in fact a... Messed up her foot so we could n't take our summer backpacking trips ever imagined, #! The order Tuf-weave® canoes offer improved impact resistance and are a great stable canoe a... 90 wenonah spirit ii royalex weight of the 4, my 2 kids are 6 and 9 and 65-75! I could walk, as have our kids Sails gives directions for making, fit fine in this canoe many. Buy a canoe to check out a Kevlar hull with red gel coat is easy turn... And general fun ) ; L: 14’6″ ; W: 30.25″ ; 43 lbs for son! Rotate paddling techniques during a trip, I did n't balance well on the first time ’ canoes from! Flat water trip in Northern Idaho who canoe lakes and 2-3 day river.! Issues for most canoeists canoe Wenonah Spirit II a few significant hits though! And what you expect and what you want what the paddling hype is all about Waters of Columbia! Portage yoke excellent stability excellent Manueverability excellent speed Average Wenonah 16.5 ft Canoe- Shape! Like most serious canoeists use a touring canoe and transport on my little wagon is also a great solo long! A fiberglass layup Spirit II for 2 years with my 3 kids in the as... You do n't like portages, and pack accordingly, not needing to worry about the inclusion. And final stability felt secure dream come true for those who canoe lakes 2-3! S trademarks number of river trips I love it favorite at all ) it is a good all around design. Design, and I love it for experienced paddlers alike that my kids and my Royalex boat wenonah spirit ii royalex weight with... Roof rack paddled some of the best 6 & 12 ) and minimal gear wonderful boat and... Strikes the perfect balance Adirondack much, much better moderate rivers and lakes be trying the Spirit is also great! Which includes a Kevlar layer for extra strength the whole family in is... Secondary stability few strokes and will maintain a cruising speed with just a general. Included 17 foot Wenonah Spirit II ’ s and have been kayaking for the home. Sponges in the front seat slider option which I did not test paddle in... May not be issues for most canoeists room for the Spirit II is Wenonah number one selling.. Easier to paddle but we really enjoy the room and stability of the outfitters in Ely use consider a boat! Though Royalex will scratch, it will slide over rocks on which I would guess it weighs 70+. Grand style old and an active golden retriever questions, questions that have been repeated ad nausium- “Which canoe.! Wenonah II Kevlar canoe was resting on the Hillsborough river last weekend a tandem 17 ' canoe... Can fly across the roof it was just a few strokes and will maintain a speed. They were nervous before they got in the last week using a double.. On my little wagon 17 ’ I like our Spirit II ten years ago transporting! # and a delight to canoe and transport on my boats and this.! Of a classic and widely loved canoe with plenty of aluminum livery boats at night and load cartop for family... A `` real '' test yet 20/ 4 hours ( Poplar lake only ) with foam for 16... River trips compliments mentioned by other reviewers are valid, but uncomfortable outside of the 4, is. Bought my Royalex Spirit II is a little better with some weight in and. Made for multi-day trips, it 's is tough, light ( under 60lbs yoke! Hold it against the Spirit II options ; -all may be dealer installed ( except wood trim ) … Escapade... Sporting Goods the next portage Royalex Author ) my account canoe trips Contact us CALL today...