Hello
I inherited this paddle & I don't know anything about it. I was looking around online & couldn't find the model nor any tips on how to decipher the serial number for Wenonah paddles. I do not know when it was purchased, though it was likely a decade or several in the past.
Thanks for any tips you can provide!






It may be the Tour Lite Elbow , though it's coloration is different.

Did a quick search on "MaxCraft" instead of Wenonah and found this.= Looks like a match, and dates the production as starting in 1987...

TZ

That was the first composite paddle from Wenonah. Light and sturdy unless there was a flaw in the lay up.

TrailZen: "Did a quick search on "MaxCraft" instead of Wenonah and found this.= Looks like a match, and dates the production as starting in 1987...
TZ"

I think that's it - thank you, TZ!

Banksiana: "That was the first composite paddle from Wenonah. Light and sturdy unless there was a flaw in the lay up."

Very interesting, thank you for this factoid Banksiana :)
I felt a bit bad getting a small nick in the end of the blade [nervous haha]. Mark from CCO touched it up for me with some epoxy to stimy the injury.
I like the paddle a lot. It is a bit heavier than the other paddle i have (which i think is an early Black Bart - it's unlabeled & was likely purchased at the same time as the composite paddle), though it provides great propulsion & is very comfortable going through the water (pleasing shape/bend).

Sidenote: Mark made my day today when he told me it looked like I was taking great care of my canoe after i asked him about the paddles. I was fretting every scratch & it seems I've been doing pretty well :).

Yes, It's a Wenonah Max Craft I paddled with 1 for years; it's a good tough paddle. Sold it about 2 years ago because of the new lighter paddles being made now.

Just FYI I think your carbon paddle must be a Zaveral since the blade shape and grip shape are same as the paddles they currently sell.

Fun to see your Wenonah paddle, I really enjoy seeing gear from the days when manufacturers were experimenting a lot with materials and construction.

I used one in 80s. It's a solid paddle. It was the preferred marathon paddle back then. Carbon paddles like the Barton where just coming in

justpaddlin: "Just FYI I think your carbon paddle must be a Zaveral since the blade shape and grip shape are same as the paddles they currently sell.

Fun to see your Wenonah paddle, I really enjoy seeing gear from the days when manufacturers were experimenting a lot with materials and construction.
"

I think you are correct abiut the other paddle being a Zaveral.

As I looked into the history a bit more I found this story with some interesting details:
TERTM Story

"The canoe paddles were used as a vehicle in the developing process, Hewitt said, but production of the canoe paddles was discontinued last year."

I cannot locate the source at the moment, though I recall reading yesterday that the founder of Wenonah was a cofounder of TERTM.

I can't help with the serial# much but there is not an obvious date code I can glean from comparing your's to mine.

Looks like a Loon I guess. If it helps, my now old friend came free with a canoe I bought in 89 and so of course I picked the lightest 14 degree that fit me - even though I thought it to be truly ugly. The shop balked a bit bacauseit happened to be the most expensive paddle in the shop. I was repeatedly warned it would be way too fragile for my intent.

Hey, they said pick a paddle....

About that, I'll offer some tips.
Early on, I found I could easily dent the foam grip with a thumbnail so I called to ask if could use basic hardware store epoxy to give it another coat to reinforce it. The specifics on those materials were very new to me at the time and a very friendly guy named Rick said yup so that's what I did. The grip has been fine ever since.

A few years after that, I also added about an eighth inch buildup of epoxy on the edge of the blade after it began to fray. That's held up well over many many miles too.

56" 540g after 30 years and some epoxy.
Do your own math on that.

uqme2: "I can't help with the serial# much but there is not an obvious date code I can glean from comparing your's to mine.

Looks like a Loon I guess. If it helps, my now old friend came free with a canoe I bought in 89 and so of course I picked the lightest 14 degree that fit me - even though I thought it to be truly ugly. The shop balked a bit bacauseit happened to be the most expensive paddle in the shop. I was repeatedly warned it would be way too fragile for my intent.

Hey, they said pick a paddle....

About that, I'll offer some tips.
Early on, I found I could easily dent the foam grip with a thumbnail so I called to ask if could use basic hardware store epoxy to give it another coat to reinforce it. The specifics on those materials were very new to me at the time and a very friendly guy named Rick said yup so that's what I did. The grip has been fine ever since.

A few years after that, I also added about an eighth inch buildup of epoxy on the edge of the blade after it began to fray. That's held up well over many many miles too.

56" 540g after 30 years and some epoxy.
Do your own math on that."

Thanks uqme2!
Ver neat to see the old literature.
I think you got the model down & I appreciate the tip on the grip, I had noticed mine was getting a ‘patina’ haha.
Sounds like you got a great deal on yours & traveled far with you it has :)