Hey all,

My planned 4-person trip of the Lady Chain this August has become a 3-person trip, requiring me to rent a solo canoe. The options from Sawbill Outfitters are the Wenonah Prism or the Wilderness. I have no experience with either. Any input from those who have paddled one or both would be much appreciated.

For background info, I am an experienced paddler, but have always paddled/portaged tandem canoes. Occasionally, I have soloed with my 16 ft Royalex Old Town Penobscot, but that is obviously not an option here.

Thanks in advance for any input given.

I've not paddled those much, but it sounds like you're against a 3 or 4 person canoe (for all of you)? One less boat to carry across each portage and one person could rest for a bit while on water if you like. But, you'll be fishing together if all three want to go.

I am sure some solo paddlers will speak to your question soon, but I also want to echo the idea of a 3-person. We rented a 3-person canoe last summer and it was a blast! It cut down on having to portage an extra canoe, we could really cover serious distance with 3 experienced paddlers, and it was really fun to all be hanging out together in the same canoe. The only downside was some of the less traveled portages on our route were a tight fit for a long boat.

It will be me and my married couple friends,so yes, a 3-person canoe does not appeal to me. We have 6 days to cover the Lady Chain, so we'll be base camping for at least a couple of days and I like the idea of the freedom a solo canoe will provide. Also, I'm more into fishing than they are, so a solo will let me go off in search of walleye and pike while they hang out at camp or go exploring.

Since you'll be trying to keep up with a tandem, I'd rent the Prism.

I have paddled both and would take the Wilderness, but many would take the Prism. I find the Wilderness more maneuverable and just as stable. The Prism tracks straight. I did not fish out of either.

I own both a Vagabond (14ft) and a Prism (16.5ft). I was originally planning to buy a Wilderness because I wanted the bench seat, but when browsing through the racks a Piragis, I found a Prism with a bench seat which I bought.

From a stability standpoint, the Wilderness and the Prism will both be very stable. The Prism will normally have a tractor style seat that is mounted on a pedestal and will be adjustable forward and backward. The Wilderness will have a bench seat that is adjustable up and down which makes it better if you kneel.

As mentioned, the Wilderness has some rocker and is a bit shorter (15.5ft) so it will be more maneuverable. The Prism has no rocker (flat from bow to stern) and will track straighter.

If your trip involves some rivers, maybe the Wilderness would be best. If your route is mostly lakes and especially larger lakes, maybe the Prism. I am sure you will have fun with either boat. Having the option to head off solo for a day is my favorite part about paddling solo.

Thanks for the input, everyone. Much to ponder. We'll be paddling a little bit on rivers- the Kawishiwi on our way up to Polly the 1st day, and then the Phoebe River when head east toward Phoebe Lake. The only really big lake we'll be paddling on is Alton on the last day as we head out.

If all goes as planned we will arrive at Sawbill campground the evening before our departure; perhaps I will get the chance to try both out on Sawbill Lake if the Outfitter is still open.

A couple of things to consider:

(1) The Wilderness is lighter by about 4 lbs.

(2) I don't know if it's still true, but Sawbill used to have an unconventional set up with their Prisms with the seat moved farther to the rear. Some people liked, some not.

HayRiverDrifter did a great job of comparing the two. I own a Wilderness and love it. If you are looking for more speed, the Prism is likely faster.

Wilderness.

I haven't paddled a prism, but own a wilderness and never had any problem keeping up with tandem canoes. have always used a kayak paddle which minimizes need for corrective strokes, so I feel may be more efficient.

I believe you would be wise to reconsider your thinking and go with the 3-person canoe. A single, with much wind at all, is untenable for both travelling a distance or trying to fish...and you may well be painting yourself into a corner you would deeply regret.

I will disagree with everything said in the last post. Long time Prism guy. Love my boat for everything in the water. I’m sure a Wilderness would be a blast. I’m not kneeling, so I like my bucket seat.

You point your bow into the wind or quarter it. Never a problem with big rollers or any condition. My Prism is my main fishing boat. Don’t know where that came from.

scat: "I will disagree with everything said in the last post. Long time Prism guy. Love my boat for everything in the water. I’m sure a Wilderness would be a blast. I’m not kneeling, so I like my bucket seat.

You point your bow into the wind or quarter it. Never a problem with big rollers or any condition. My Prism is my main fishing boat. Don’t know where that came from."

I agree with scat: the previous post implies that solo tripping is really only feasible on calm days - clearly this is not the case, as a good chunk of us know.

I'd totally agree with what sns and scat said above on feasibility of solo paddling. Still, paddling a dedicated solo could feels much different from paddling solo a tandem, especially in adverse conditions. Sometimes it's easier but often it could be more difficult, depending on the conditions and paddler's skills.

And a proper solo boat is undoubtedly less stable and usually requires more power to propel compared to a 2-person canoe (that is, more power per person). Anyone who thinks that, other things being equal, she/he can outrun a tandem in a solo obviously haven't tried a good tandem canoe. Someone I know, a many-time open canoe national slalom champion in a tandem estimated that running a slalom course solo requires about 40% more energy than the same course tandem.

The only solo I have ever paddled is a Prism with a tractor seat. It is a very stable,very fishable canoe. It will handle in the worst of waves and paired with a kayak paddle is also very fast.

scat: "I will disagree with everything said in the last post. Long time Prism guy. Love my boat for everything in the water. I’m sure a Wilderness would be a blast. I’m not kneeling, so I like my bucket seat.


You point your bow into the wind or quarter it. Never a problem with big rollers or any condition. My Prism is my main fishing boat. Don’t know where that came from."

There are multiple issues-especially revolving around the fact that this is not a solo trip. Here-just for starters, last Fall as we paddled the length of Ensign to meet a tow time-into the wind in a three man, "you" trying to do so in a solo would have more than struggled to keep up. And say what you wish, it takes very little wind to make fishing in a solo unpleasurable and difficult.

On a good day I'm at best an intermediate paddler. Even on my first solo trip and first time ever in a solo, I survived wind and white caps. Paddle into the wind, hug the shore, island hop - all good. Not much different than a tandem. Just be smart and never have ro get some place.

We're it me, I'd prefer the tandem and solo option (or 3 solos) but I enjoy wandering up creeks and around corners, never set a firm route, enjoy finding great campsites, don't fish, and never am in a hurry. Your priorities and style may - perhaps should - vary.

Thanks again for your input everyone.

OutsidetheBox, you make some good points, but I will probably still go with the solo. We will be paddling primarily smaller, sheltered lakes and rivers and moving in a westerly direction, so wind shouldn't be much of an issue. As for fishing, when I can't avoid wind by hiding behind points and islands, I'll just fish from shore.

The nice guy at Sawbill Outfitters told me that if I can get there the night before I can try out both canoes and pick the one I like best.

Agree with cmeyer37, I have used both and own a Wilderness. Use a double paddle which for me is faster. Voyager my son uses is faster until we hit the rivers. No problem keeping with tandems but depends on paddlers.

Since you've done solos with a 16 ft Royalex Old Town Penobscot both of the rental choices will feel like a dream on your shoulders. I own and like the Prism but a bit of rocker helps with tighter turns. Either would please you.
You'd have to call Sawbill to verify, but if I recall correctly, their rental Prisms don't have tractor-style seats.
P.S. The Prism has a pronounced tumblehome. If you don't keep your shoulders centered you will flip. Should you have to turn to look behind you don't let your torso extend beyond its perimeter.

Don't over analyze this. You're taking six days to do a trip that can be done in two. No fast moving, tight rivers with sweepers, chutes or rapids where you need to turn quick. Pick the boat you feel most comfy, stable and safe in with ease of paddling.

cowdoc: "Don't over analyze this. You're taking six days to do a trip that can be done in two. No fast moving, tight rivers with sweepers, chutes or rapids where you need to turn quick. Pick the boat you feel most comfy, stable and safe in with ease of paddling."

+1