Looking to buy a used ultralight (42lbs.)Wenonah Minnesota II canoe. Any words of advice/caution? How is the initial and secondary stability? I have heard the bow is tight. I am 6' 2" and my canoe buddy is 6' 1".

I paddle a Wenonah 2 and love it (compared to my old Grumman) but you are right about the tight leg space in the bow and I am only 5'10". On the other hand I comfortably fit 2 adults, 1 dog, three packs, misc. junk and still have room to spare. When fully loaded it is still light and fast. Only problem is maintaining the kevlar. After two years (5 trips) I needed to do some minor patching and fill. I need to clean-up the bow and stern soon too.

While the Minn II/III are great boats and get a lot of press here, I actually prefer the Boundary Waters, shorter, not as nimble or fast but more stable and more room. A much better fishing platform, IMHO

We love our MN II. My husband is 6ft 1" 240# and is in the back. I am 5ft 3" 140 and am in the front with tons of leg room. The canoe is amazing in the wind, very stealth! We can get some great speed goin when we want. We also like how much room there is for 2 big packs, the dog etc... The weight is so nice even I could carry it- if Ed would ever let me.

The drawbacks are that the canoe is narrow and initally seems unsteady- but you adapt pretty quickly. With all our gear, the German Sheppard and us- we do sit pretty close to the water. The price you pay for the Kevlar weight- is the need for Kevlar repair.

If you are not dead set on a wenonah, how about the
Souris River Quetico 17? Souris River

It's a nice boat. Go to a shop and check it out before buying.

I did a trip in a MNII with a 6'-3" guy in the front. If I remember correctly, the front seat was a plastic chair type seat, minus the back, that was adjustable and he had it back as far as it would go. He didn't complain and did he provide some power, but it was his first canoe trip, so maybe he didn't know any better.

I think one important fact is what the outfitters use; Look at what the boat-of-choice is in the BW for outfitters to rent to their clients. Its Wenonah as a brand and the MN II as a boat, the most popular. Its interesting that the Wenonah Spirit II is the second most favorite boat for rentals. I asked why and the guy at Piragis said they rent the MN II for speed and efficency; they rent the SP II for stability and comfort.

I have to say this again folks, when someone asks about opinions on a specific brand/model of canoe, I think it is tacky to try to suggest their choice might be wrong based on our own bias and brand loyalty.

humm?

quote GrampaMike: "I did a trip in a MNII with a 6'-3" guy in the front. If I remember correctly, the front seat was a plastic chair type seat, minus the back, that was adjustable and he had it back as far as it would go. He didn't complain and did he provide some power, but it was his first canoe trip, so maybe he didn't know any better."

The front seat does adjust but only by a 6 inches or so. Even when the seat is fully extended my legs still need to be stretched. Lean back and stretched legs over the bow, ah.

quote Winemaker: "
I have to say this again folks, when someone asks about opinions on a specific brand/model of canoe, I think it is tacky to try to suggest their choice might be wrong based on our own bias and brand loyalty."

I would welcome alternate suggestions for equivalent gear - on the off chance I hadn't considered them, etc. When I ask for an opinion, I'm OK hearing various answers.

I don't endorse any Wenonah canoes but the MN II is a fantastic boat.

I will probably never own a Wenonah. Everyone has one and that's why I won't. Besides, I only paddle wood canoes. I think a kevlar canoe is disgusting in the wilderness.

I have paddled a lot of canoes, studied designs, understand stability, freeboard, rocker, flair, tumblehome and so on. The Wenonah canoe is probably one of the best designed tandem canoes made. If I were to ever own a kevlar canoe (I won't) it would be a MN II.

Tom

quote Winemaker: "

I have to say this again folks, when someone asks about opinions on a specific brand/model of canoe, I think it is tacky to try to suggest their choice might be wrong based on our own bias and brand loyalty.

humm?
"

I can tell your post was directed at me, and I have say this.... If you were to look at my profile it shows that I own BOTH a souris river 17 and a MN2. So to suggest brand loyalty is a bit presumptuous is it not? The reason I posted about the SR17 is not because I feel it is a better boat, the two are on par, but because with the issues he was stating, I felt the SR17 would work better IN THIS SITUATION. I said nothing in my post about one canoe being better then the other. I think it is tacky to try and suggest my previous post was based on brand loyalty.

I also own a MN II and like it. As far as room in the boat for paddlers, I would say it is more an issue of girth than height. If you tend to be a "wide glide", I would make sure you are comfortable with the width at the seats. The fact that they are narrow at the seats is also what makes it so easy to get a paddle to the water.

quote Ghandi: "

quote Winemaker: "

"

I can tell your post was directed at me, and I have say this.... If you were to look at my profile it shows that I own BOTH a souris river 17 and a MN2. So to suggest brand loyalty is a bit presumptuous is it not? The reason I posted about the SR17 is not because I feel it is a better boat, the two are on par, but because with the issues he was stating, I felt the SR17 would work better IN THIS SITUATION. I said nothing in my post about one canoe being better then the other. I think it is tacky to try and suggest my previous post was based on brand loyalty. "

The only "issues" he stated were the heights of the people who would be paddling the canoe! He asked about stability of a MN II; There is no way you can turn what he asked into, "Is there another boat I should consider?"

I have no problem with people responding with opinions incorporating different brands when asked, this person asked about a specific model and brand.

I was not specifically talking just about your post, although it was the trigger, but it must be said what you wrote was not a comparison of the two boats; What you said was "If you are not dead set on a Wenonah...". Tell me that sounds like "I own both boats but prefer the SR when a person 6'1" and 6' 2" are paddling either".

On this BB and others, there are many posters who push a favorite brand. On one BB they describe them as being "red-rocked" and its has been said that in a few cases the poster is suspected of being employed by or selling the particular brand. I do not accuse you of any of this, its was just my interpetation of your brief comment.


humm?