I am hoping to purchase either a Wenonah 17, a Souris River Quetico 17, and/or a Northwind 17. Wanting to know how these rate on the “non-tippy” factor versus other canoes and also preferences/upside to each of these canoes

I am only familiar with the Quetico 17 (own one), and the Northwind 17 (friend owns one). They are both what I would rate very high on the "non-tippy" factor, with the Quetico being a tad more stable and a tad slower. They are, of course, much less tippy when loaded. I prefer the Northwind, but the SR is extremely durable and sea worthy. It is hard to fault any of Ted Bells canoes ( Northstar), imo.

All the canoes you mentioned have some configuration of a shallow arch for the hull shape. They will all have decent initial and good secondary stability. If by "non-tippy" you mean when you first sit or stand in the canoe, you would want a flat bottom hull design like a Wenonah Fisherman. Bear in mind this hull shape will not do as well in waves or when leaned to the side in any way.
Hull Profile

I'd agree on the Q17 being slightly more stable and slightly slower than the NW17. Given that...i prefer the NW if I had only those 2 sitting in front of me for a week in the park. I'd put the Wenonah boundary waters in the same category as the Q. I've never paddled the standard "17" from them so no comment there.

The MNII would be less stable and faster than all of them for reference

As you piece together all the information, add this to the mix. My buddy and I took a 5-day, 4-night trip to the BW last August. We're both normally stern paddlers, but since we were taking his canoe, he got the back. I'm 6'3" and 250# and I paddled and fished from the bow the entire trip. I literally had no problems with leg or knee room or overall comfort. We never felt unstable and I didn't mind being in the bow for that trip.

I hear people say that the SR Q17 is not quite as fast as other canoes. I'm not sure what that really means. Faster as compared to what? Your canoe gets to the landing a minute faster? It's plenty fast, but I'm not on a canoe trip to race and neither is my group.

It's also a great fishing platform and, at 43#, it's pretty darn nice on the portage trail, too.

If there's a way to test-paddle the different options, you'll certainly find one that fits you the best.

Jackfish: "I hear people say that the SR Q17 is not quite as fast as other canoes. I'm not sure what that really means. Faster as compared to what? Your canoe gets to the landing a minute faster? "

It is in comparison to other canoes in its class. My Wenonah Boundary Waters canoe has almost a flat bottom, and flares wide quickly. Compared to the NW 17's haul that widens gradually and has more arch. The NW 17 is faster and it is perceivable in the glide with each stoke. Does this really matter? To me it does. Not so much for the speed, but rather the efficiency.

I get much more enjoyment out of paddling a responsive haul. I will admit to needing the speed occasionally when racing for the last campsite on a lake. :) To each his own, and I'm thankful for the abundance of canoes we all have to chose from.

I have to question the the idea of "stability", just what is it and how it compares with other on water conveyances first before thinking between canoe hulls. Canoes by nature are thin, long, and shallow. By very design an unstable watercraft.
Another features of the so called stability is variable between hull designs. Some feel stable at first but reach a point and then go! Others that feel tipsy stay feeling tipsy well past the point a stable hull went over.
Stability is also variable with experience, getting accustomed to the handling quirks.
I have built up years of use in several solo hulls (even livelier than tandem) and find all tipsy at first like riding a bike you get used to it and soon no longer think it unstable.

My advise TexasEx94, is do not buy till you can answer for yourself. Rent/borrow/try various canoes to learn your own limitations. No opportunity? Most rentals offer on water trial, same for points of sale, if you don't ask they may not offer.

butthead

MidwestFirecraft: "

Jackfish: "I hear people say that the SR Q17 is not quite as fast as other canoes. I'm not sure what that really means. Faster as compared to what? Your canoe gets to the landing a minute faster? "

It is in comparison to other canoes in its class. My Wenonah Boundary Waters canoe has almost a flat bottom, and flares wide quickly. Compared to the NW 17's haul that widens gradually and has more arch. The NW 17 is faster and it is perceivable in the glide with each stoke. Does this really matter? To me it does. Not so much for the speed, but rather the efficiency.

I get much more enjoyment out of paddling a responsive haul. I will admit to needing the speed occasionally when racing for the last campsite on a lake. :) To each his own, and I'm thankful for the abundance of canoes we all have to chose from. "

I agree that it is the efficiency that matters when talking about a "faster" canoe. If I'm paddling across a pond, it's no big deal, but if I'm paddling several miles across a bigger lake, I want to be able to go a little faster without as much effort, or even go the same speed and not working as hard. It also helps when I go duck hunting with my canoe and I'm racing for a good hunting spot.

For stability, I am finding more and more that the "barge" feel of a canoe is less and less important. Sure you might be able to move around in the canoe without it feeling tippy, but I want to feel stable in rough water and high wind, not when we're making poor decisions in calm water. Nothing is going to save you from stupid, so you might as well go for something that will save you when you need it.

Least Tippy - Souris River
Fastest - probably the Bell

I don't like Wenonah. I've been in three of them, owned one. I don't like the aesthetic or the feel in the water. I've never been a fan of thier hull designs.

Alot of people like Wenonah, you might be one of them - if you could try each boat that would give you the best answer. Hard to do right now, I know.

Since you’re buying a tandem I assume there will be 2 people in the canoe. Make sure you know how much leg room you’ll need in the front seat. Winona in particular has a very narrow front end and to me is very uncomfortable to paddle in for long periods. Also very little room for any gear, which is a real pain for trying to fish. Of course because of the narrow front end you have a faster boat.

Paddling the Souris River and the Wenonah 17 side by side I would say that the initial stability and the secondary stability would go to the SR. However in my opinion the Wenonah Boundary Waters (also 17' and on paper is nearly identical to the W17) is more stable than the W17. 4 of us paddled a SR and a Boundary Waters for 5 days, trading canoes at least once a day, and 3 of the guys said there was not a bit of difference, while me being hyper-sensitive to stability preferred the BW. Really they were identical, but I bought the BW from the outfitter. The difference between the Wenonah 17 and the Boundary Waters are two things: The bow seat in the BW sits back almost a foot giving the bow paddler more room and removed the need for the thwart behind the seat as in the W17. This allows you to paddle it solo by sitting backwards in the bow seat. The BW has 1" rocker, the W17 has 2" rocker.