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Odie
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Has anyone paddled the Wenonah Canak in the BWCA? Wenonah says it tracks well in flat water and in windy conditions. However, I would like to see some actual reviews.
Also, can you fish from the Canak. It looks like it might be tippy setting the hook or landing a fish.
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maxxbhp
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Never used one myself but I saw a guy in one on Sag out by American Point, and he was fishing.
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mjmkjun
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Check out these links: BWCA.com thread and here.
Ease of loading/unloading for portaging is an important factor in choosing a canoe over kayak in any wilderness tripping adventure. I've never paddled a Canak, but I do paddle an UL Prism, as well as sit-on-top kayaks. Although the Canak has a slightly shorter, but same hull. I believe the similarities end there.
Note: I am heavily prejudiced because, for me, the low seating of kayak paddling = back pains within a couple of hours of paddling.
Just my 2 cents...
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QuietSolo
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This spring I will have saved enough cash to buy my own boat - it will be a Canak! I have been solo tripping in the BWCA for 3 years and have experience solo paddling tandem aluminum, Prism, and Canak. I have paddled with one or two other people in aluminums and kevlars, which seems frustrating after paddling solo in a Canak. My trips range from long weekends to 7 days. Total weight in the boat, including myself, for week long trip is about 300 lb. The only real downside is loading and unloading packs. I found I need to leave a little wiggle room in my large canoe packs so I can store them flat and secure in the boat. This also helps when using the hatch covers. Once I figured this out, loading/unloading wasn't much more of a p.i.a. than any other canoe. Entering and exiting the boat is slightly more precarious than entering a canoe, but not an issue in my opinion. The time it takes to fiddle with hatch covers also isn't a big deal in my opinion. Portage yoke is the same as Prism's. With 0 rocker in each, I am assuming stability is roughly equivalent, though Canak feels more stable in initial and secondary. Using a double blade paddle I fly in this thing. Canak beats Prism hands down in adverse conditions like wind. The first couple times I was on Sawbill, the lake won. This summer on a rainy, windy Sawbill morning my rental Canak and I had the upper hand.
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nctry
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Boy, I paddled a couple and thought they did well. Solo canoes or kayaks feel tipyer than they really are imo. Portaging seems like it would be a pain. Before going on a trip I'd make sure how you pack and portage is all figured out.
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amhacker22
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I have a Canak that I keep at a cabin. I've taken it out very little, which is really inexcusable, but I'm a big fan. It felt rock solid stable to me, and it was quick. I bought it to handle some big wind on a neighboring lake, and I haven't really encountered much yet.
I haven;t really had to load it up for a trip, but I can see how it may be more difficult to load. That said, I rarely close the hatches. I don't think that's a huge deal in practice, and certainly worth having the ability to close it when you need to
Despite my low usage, I think its a great boat. Thumbs up.
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Blatz
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I think if it's use is outside of the tripping realm for big windy lakes it's a solid canoe. It works well with a double blade paddle.
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AG4
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I have one and I love it. It will make it's first BW trip in September.
The Canak took time getting used to. The first time out I made the mistake of not bringing gear to load it down and it did feel pretty tippy. I still paddled and fished without any problems.
The next time out I brought my normal tripping gear. I use a 65l North Face backpack and a blue barrel in an old canvas pack. Both are easy to get in and out. I practiced loading and unloading and taking the hatch covers on and off. I've got that down and can do it quickly.
Having the canoe loaded makes it very stable and fishing was definitely easier.
This is my first solo canoe... so take my little review for what it's worth. The more time I spend with it, the more I enjoy it.
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Blatz
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I owned one and used it in the BW.The Good- It's great in the wind and waves and is certainly stable enough for fishing. It tracked well. The Bad- Loading and unloading was a pain.You have to use a slim pack like the Kondos for it to fit belly down. The hull covers only got used on big lakes with wind because they too, where where a pain. It's heavy compared to a similar kevlar canoe. The portage yoke that is needed raises the canoe up high and you scrape low branches much more than you normally would. Getting in and out is harder than a regular canoe. I sold mine.
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