I was wondering if anyone has experience with a kevlar Wenonah Wilderness solo, it's 15'4 with ash trim. I'm looking for a solo canoe to take in the BWCAW, but I'll also be taking it flat water fishing in SE Wisconsin. Has anyone on here done much fishing with this boat or taken it on a solo BWCAW trip? I just found a used one for sale that I'm interested in, but not sure I'll be able to test it out with the frozen lakes and all! Thanks in advance!

I have not paddled one, other members have and liked it.
Just wanted to point out another option in SE WI, CharlieLoons Prism
Have paddled an example, nice lake traveler, stable solo. I did own a 15ft 6inch Wenonah Moccasin somewhat similar to the Wilderness and enjoyed many years of use.

butthead

Nice little solos that are good at a lot of things, but not great at any one thing. There are quite a few solo trippers on here that use and love them for their general purpose use.
They are a bench seat vs the pedestal/tractor on the Prism. I prefer the bench myself. I'm fixing up a Prism for a friend to sell. I paddled it....paddles nice....but I hate the tractor seat.

Buttheads Moccasin lives on.....another good, general purpose boat that is not made anymore.

I have one and really like it. Fishing out of it empty takes some getting used to but when loaded it is very stable. But I think that is true of any empty canoe and maybe more-so with solos. I would recommend this for what you are looking to do.

I have the Wilderness in Royalex, not Kevlar (but with the wood trim). I'd second hobbydog's comment - it's designed to be paddled loaded, so performs very well then, but can feel a smidge odd empty (or with just a tackle box). Sometimes I'll do the trick of filling two dry bags with water and putting them in the bow and stern as ballast if I'm not carrying other gear.

Agree with hobbydog and tony when empty they are a little tippy, I add weight about 30# when I have no gear, I really like it and even bought a 2nd, I use 1 at the Mississippi and the other in the BW.

I have a Kevlar one with alum trim. I have never found it to be tippy, I am a kneeler 99 percent of the time. I have the adjustable seat, which allows me to drop the seat if I use it in a sitting position. My opinion its has great initial stability, fishing from it would be a breeze. I have taken it on many BWCA adventures.

Spring Creek had one that I paddled (empty) and really liked it. Before I could pull the trigger to buy it someone else bought it and haven't seen another like it since.

Love mine, I have one in royalex great little canoe !

Did you get it?
I want one. Gotta sell one of my canoes before I can add another canoe.

I had one, and it was very comfortable paddle and fish from. Stable, but not all that maneuverable if need be in wind/waves.

Haven't gotten it yet, I'll be looking at it next Saturday, pretty pumped to check it out!

Have had a Wilderness for 3 years, using it on 4 trips so far.
I concur with all comments about handling loaded and unloaded. It is no tippier than any others when unloaded, and I have found that all solos are tender when unloaded. I am 5'10" and weigh 180 lbs. I think it could feel a little small for a big person. I have never tipped it over, but I think you would want to be careful with balance due to it's smaller size. I have successfully avoided big waves and wind so far, but it tracked very well and was stable in what I have been in.
The bench seat is very comfortable, and I made a portage yoke that fits onto the seat that works very well. It is the wooden thing sticking up in the back of the canoe in the attached picture.
The canoe is big enough for good sized packs. I use Granite Gear's largest portage pack and it fits in in the aft area fine. Food pack and day pack fit in the forward area with some room to spare on both ends. Does everything a solo traveler would need. This one is made of the Tuff Flex material and weighs 43 lbs - easy to handle. Would recommend this canoe to anyone.

I have been paddling my RX Wenonah Wilderness for five years. Before buying it, I talked to a guy from Wenonah at Canoeocopia. He described the boat as being designed for "small guys with big loads or big guys with moderate loads".

I own a Sawyer Autumn Mist, a Blackhawk Starship, and a Mad River Courier , am 6'2", weigh 250#. I bought the Wilderness as a general purpose boat based on other "big guys" advice.

I find it quite stable, with flexible sitting choices, and able to keep up with my friends high performance boats. I would love to add a Kevlar version to my stable....


hmmm?