Canoe for Solo Trip

[dwksooner]

Would a Wenonah Voyager be a good canoe for solo on the BCWA?

[VoyageurNorth]

It depends on where you are going, how many days & your size (weight & height).

Ooops, did you mean the Vagabond?

I think for a solo, the Prism is very nice and easier to keep straight than the Vagabond. I have taken out both on solo trips, in the fall.

[BWCA Blog Lady]

When I have paddled on solo canoe trips I have used the Wenonah Prism or the Canak by Wenonah. Both are terrific canoes for the Boundary Waters for paddling and portaging. I'm not familiar with the canoe you mentioned. The type of canoe you paddle will depend upon how much paddling and portaging you are planning to do. Some people will take a tandem if they have alot of gear.

Hope you have a great trip!

[Koda]

I used to use my Wenonah Prism (16'6") but got tired of switching every few strokes. I might use it again for a big-water trip, but I prefer my Mad River Independence. It's 15'8" and has a bit of rocker, but it's easy to lean, which makes it easy to paddle on one side for as long as I like. It also turns a lot better than the Prism, which is great on smaller rivers.

[VoyageurNorth]

Oh Koda, you know that you paddle well enough to use just about anything!

[Koda]

Gosh, Lynn, thanks. You're making me blush!
The truth is, I like to see lots of scenery, and the more my boat's path loops and curves, the more I get out of the trip. But I'm not completely nuts - I mean, I could use a whitewater playboat. Then I'd never get off the first lake!

[RaisedByBears]

I have a Bell Magic solo and a Bell CJ solo. For trips, I prefer the Bell CJ as it is a little roomier and better able to take packs. I don't care to use tandem canoes for solo trips as, while they are fine in calm water, they can get to be somewhat hard to handle in high seas.

[valeria]

I think it depend where are you going because location decide that it expensive or not. If you tell that where are going then we can give you better replies.

[VoyageurNorth]

Koda just got back from his solo trip today (staying overnight here tonight). Didn't get a chance to talk to him yet, but perhaps he'll post something about his trip here & help advise you? (hint, hint Koda/Dave).

[Koda]

Gee, thanks for "outing" me, Lynn!

I'm of no help since my solo trip turned out to be tandem (my son went along) and we traveled only three days due to having rain on seven of the eight days we were out. But I can tell you that a Wenonah Sundowner (18-foot freighter) is a great tandem as long as the waves are less than 18 inches high. Then it tends to take on a little water over the gunwales amidships.

My comments below (from last April) still reflect my thinking about solo boats in the BWCA.

Dave

[VoyageurNorth]

Comments below?

[Koda]

Hi Lynn,

If the most recent post is on top, then my comments would be below. Otherwise they'd be above. Now doesn't that make just total sense?

I'm looking forward to seeing you in mid-September when I return to do the Moose Lake to Lake One trip my son and I started in May.

Dave

[VoyageurNorth]

Nope! Cause I have them set ascending.