I’m curious about the Wenonah Spirit II because I keep seeing them for sale used out here in California. I’m wondering how a couple of features compare to the MN II.

First, how does legroom in the bow compare? Is the Spirit II as tight as the MN II? I’m wondering because the shape of the Spirit bow looks closer to the MN II then to the Wenonah Boundary Waters or the SR Q17. But it is hard to tell in photos.

Second, how is the stability of the Spirit II loaded and unloaded. For comparison, I feel that the MN II feels nice when loaded but twitchier when unloaded. In comparison the SR Q17 has similar stability regardless of whether it is loaded for a long trip or being paddles on a day trip.

Thanks for any comments.

There's much more leg room in the bow of the Spirit II than the MN II. It's a more general touring boat as opposed to a performance touring boat, so a little wider throughout.

In my experience the Spirit II was stable both loaded and unloaded. I did several day trips with a 50lb dog moving side to side and only very occasionally felt tippy.

My only real gripe about the Spirit II is how high the bow is on the shear-line. In my experience it catches the wind something horrible and, if not in perfect trim, wants to weathervane on you.

Thanks. That’s just the info I was hoping for.

This would be used for day trips and so we probably wouldn’t go on days with a lot of wind. So that might be less of a problem than if I was thinking of a canoe for trips. It would also be interesting to get a cheap used one and cut down the ends and redo the gunwales and end plates.

I have a couple kevlar Spirit II and love them. As Kermit mentioned, more room and stability than the MN II - and that goes for loaded or not.

I have not had an issue with the wind and weathervaning. The higher bow does keep my wife dry when going into the wind, which she appreciates!

Thanks, Driftless. I appreciate the insights. And I agree that it is always important to keep in mind the experience of the folks up front.

I own a Spirit II that I use on rivers and streams in Missouri. Plenty of leg room, way more roomy than the MN II.

It is a very stable platform loaded or unloaded. I use it to fish, travel, run limb lines and have even gigged frogs from it and completed a 26 mile canoe race in it once with my daughter (although it was far from fast). Unloaded, if like me your wife/daughter/paddling partner is much lighter than you, then it can catch some wind if not trimmed correctly.

It is a great all around canoe that can do many things well, but nothing perfect.

Thanks, Doug. I appreciate the insights and will keep my eyes open for one near me. There was one at a good price recently but I missed out on it. For trim, I can always carry a water container on day trips.

I would recommend a Spirit II as a good all around boat. Enough rocker that you can paddle it solo kneeling behind the yoke, if needed. I have one in Tuf-Weave that has gone on several trips despite it's 60+lb weight.

Thanks, Mirth. Still keeping my eye out for a Kevlar one near me. 60+ lbs isn’t bad but as I get older I will care more and more.