I am looking for a solo canoe for rocky NW WI rivers. My kevlar magic and prism do not fit the bill. I am 6' 3" and 230 pounds. I am fishing most of the time so a stable boat is a plus. But then again I paddle a magic so I'm used to unstable. Weight is not a big deal, I just want a boat I don't have to baby all the time.

I have a Royalex Wenonah Argosy that I paddled on the St. Croix river from Gordan Dam to the hwy 70 bridge in mid May camping on the river along the way.
I' kabout 5'10" and 220 lbs and carried camoung gear for 6 days but didn't fish.
The river was high and some of the Class II was washed out but it was still
rocky and you needed to avoid the rocks.
I have been paddling that canoe for about 7 years so am pretty used to it.
The Argosy doesn't have much initial stability but the seconday stability
is good.
Larry S
Fort Wayne, IN

I would lean towards the Wenonah Wilderness. I have both a Argosy and a Wilderness. The Argosy can get quite dicey in choppy water. The wilderness is way more stable. I am under 200# and feel that is about the limit for the boat.

Carl

RedLakePaddler: "I would lean towards the Wenonah Wilderness. I have both a Argosy and a Wilderness. The Argosy can get quite dicey in choppy water. The wilderness is way more stable. I am under 200# and feel that is about the limit for the boat.


Carl"

Second the choice of the Wenonah Wilderness in Royalex or T-Formex.

Northstar Phoenix in IXP can take the abuse of the rivers. I am about the same weight and have used it down the Brule as well as up the Brule and then portage over to the St croia and took it to the Sunrise river in one trip. I have fished from it but not on the trip described above. Test one to see if it is for you.

The St. Croix and Namekagon are two of the rivers that I paddle. My cabin is about 10 miles from the confluence.

DanCooke: "Northstar Phoenix in IXP can take the abuse of the rivers. I am about the same weight and have used it down the Brule as well as up the Brule and then portage over to the St croia and took it to the Sunrise river in one trip. I have fished from it but not on the trip described above. Test one to see if it is for you."

The Phoenix looks like a nice canoe. I would love to paddle one. I'll check at Midwest Mountaineering to see if they have one.

I will second the Phoenix in IXP. I’m about 20 #’s heavier than you and have the higher kneeling drops. I am able to sit and cast my fly rod on the slower sections of river. I can put float bags in and go play on the whitewater features downtown. I’ve loaded it up a couple of times and used it on Boundary waters trips. It will handle quite a load! My area rivers are all sand/gravel/rocks, the IXP is holding up nicely.

Mike

I live in Brule and have paddled the river in my Nova Craft Fox in Tuff Stuff. I would recommend a hull with more rocker like Phoenix or the Supernova but the tuff stuff (similar to IXP) seems up to the task as long as you don't abuse it. I'm actually waiting on a Prospector which should do a better job, but it's not a true solo.