Kruger designed (Verlen or Dave?), purchased from Betty Ketter in the early 1980's, this is a prototype solo canoe (according to Betty) that paddles like a bat out of hell when on a smooth lake with no wind. If paddling across wind, it can be a real struggle, since the bow sits high in the water and grabs every stray breeze. It is made of Kevlar 49, weighs 25 lbs (yes, 25 lbs), is 16'8" long, has a fiberglass tractor seat and standard Wenonah "diaper pin" adjustable seat. Comes with a yoke, but since it is a solo, the yoke has to be installed at each portage. I tend to just carry it on my hip when portaging. There is limited room for gear - not suitable for a long BWCA trip, but great for a day outing. The ID is hand etched DL104F484 - it doesn't mean anything to me, except that since it is handwritten, the idea of it's being a prototype is reinforced. The wood gunwales have weathered somewhat (see photos), but end grips and trim are all solid. This is NOT a canoe for the beginner - it has no initial stability whatsoever but once it gets moving, it's like a dream. This is a chance to own a piece of history - it has been lightly used over the years and still has a lot of miles left in it. It's housed in Northfield, MN.

That definitely looks like a fast one. Amazed how light it is....would be sweet to have but too far away probably.

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Looks like an Advantage, built in 1984 from the serial number, designed by Dave Kruger, possibly an Advantage XL, which was the hotter version of the well known Advantage (which was later detuned to be the current version). The gunwales (actually only inwales) suggest it was their racing layup. Should be a nice workout/short tripping boat. I had a glass version of it I left in Alaska--for a new racer in the Fairbanks area. Oh, the handwritten serial number is typical for Wenonah--they still do it.

Thanks, MReid, for the further details. The ID plate also had "XL" etched on it, but I thought it might be a size, not a model number! Shows my ignorance!

Also, I am guessing that if the paddler is over 225 lbs, that this may not be the right boat - does anyone have experience along these lines? The light weight of the boat, combined with the modest size of the tractor seat, suggests that it would not hold up to a heavier paddler, but I may be wrong.

Kris Felbeck: "Also, I am guessing that if the paddler is over 225 lbs, that this may not be the right boat - does anyone have experience along these lines? The light weight of the boat, combined with the modest size of the tractor seat, suggests that it would not hold up to a heavier paddler, but I may be wrong."

I'm not sure--it's a race boat, designed for a certain waterline. I never loaded mine (160 + day pack), and mine wasn't the XL. I don't know how it would handle (later, Wenonah made different sized solo racers for different sized paddlers). I have another boat with the same seat (1983 C1W), and the only concern on the seat is that the pedestal is cedar, and if it has been subject to some hard use, it might have cracks. It's all repairable though. The small seat fits me, but so does the larger seat in the more modern Wenonahs.

Kris, you and I are a little worried about weight. I weigh 210, and if I throw 25-30 pounds of gear in there for light tripping, am I looking at the wrong boat?

Anybody else able to shed some light on this? My purpose is to get a canoe for fitness paddling and fast tripping.

Thank you.

I have a "regular" Advantage from 86 that has been on some longer trips (2 weeks) without being challenged. The XL is a hotter hull, somewhat more lively than the regular but quicker. Stable in motion. Once you get accustomed to its limitations it should be fine for trips at your weight. This is a somewhat rare hull. Great for fitness and adequate for most tripping.

As a note concerning paddling in crosswinds- it's the stern that gets blown out of position, not the bow- the pressure of cutting a path through the water surface holds the bow in place despite the greater surface to catch the wind. When paddling crosswinds load stern heavy- in fact I would suggest that the Advantage generally "prefers" a stern heavy load in most situations.

Reminds me a lot of my '84 Advantage.....but I can tell the lines are different. They share the same type/style of grab handles, thwarts, seat/slider frame, foam core construction etc.

Regarding load...I realize that this XL hull is hotter than my Advantage, but I weighed about 260 and had a two 40lb packs in my Advantage this past summer in the BWCA. I fully admit that it was not a comfortable situation in the wind & waves, but on calm water it was all good.