What is the best solo for a man that’s 6’6” and 350lbs?

Buck
One would be a Wenonah Wilderness. Lots of volume and a stable canoe. The other I would suggest is any one of the Prospectors or a Mad River Explorer. The Explorer is very stable because of the vee hull. Just paddle them backward from the bow seat. I’ve used my Explorer with my 90# poodle Rusty. Speed was ok and was very comfortable with a some time active dog.

Carl

Thanks Carl, I’ll pass that info on.

A Souris River Tranquility would easily do it. Very stable and tracks well.

There was a pretty large fellow with the screen name of Corndog who had some pretty good tips and a trip report about how he handled things on a canoe trip starting at Angleworm. I think the trip report was from the summer of 2010. Maybe someone here could find it.

Tom

Penobscot 17 paddled from just aft (actually forward, with bow behind the paddler) of middle with a third seat added. This boat is built to carry loads, and when it is loaded it is damn fast for its size.

An Encounter. It will haul anything anywhere.

Agree with the Wilderness take. Also, if you can find one, a Swift Shearwater. I have owned both, and while not 6' 6''/350, I would say both are incredibly stable and would certainly work. I regret selling the Shearwater...

Thank you everyone for your helpful suggestions, truly appreciate it.

I'm 6'2" and 280. I built a great canoe for me. I purchased a 16-foot Mad River tandem canoe that was shell. I made my own gunnels and sliding seat. I drew the side in some. Being a v hull this canoe can handle some big waves. I've been using this canoe for seven years now and love it.

Wenonah Solo Plus
solo+
or Hemlock Canoe Eaglet
Eaglet

I use a Northstar Northwinds 16. It's a small tandem that I paddle backwards as a solo. It works well as there isn't a wart right in front of you. It's optimal weight range is 275-575, so lots of capacity.

Nova Craft Pal.

Actual dedicated solos? Maybe a Wenonah Encounter. But only maybe. Better would probably be a Savage River Deep Creek Solo.

Other than those, I tend to agree with the folks pointing you towards tandems. I think a longer, slightly narrow tandem like a Northstar Polaris, Wenonah Escapade (or Solo Plus), Wenonah Escape, and possibly a Savage River Harmony could be on the list.

Then you rig that tandem hull to be a solo (if new, I bet most manufacturers will outfit it that way for you).

To my thinking most of the true solos are out because they have narrow waterline widths (gunwales too, for many)...I'm thinking about 30" or more for waterline width would be appropriate to provide stability for your size.

It is the personal comfort of initial stability that probably makes one more appropriate over another and that only comes from test paddling.

I think it would be hard to go wrong with a Northstar Polaris with the optional center solo seat. The boat is efficient and handles well sitting or kneeling and works well on lakes and (most) rivers. With 350 pounds (and any amount of extra gear desired) the boat is in it's sweet spot and will feel lightly loaded and light on the water.

Northstar Polaris with the center seat option.

Rockwood on the Gunflint and Piragis in Ely have it in their rental fleet if he’s looking to rent or want to try before purchasing. Rockwood has it set set up with the center seat option, not sure about Piragis.

That’s really fantastic

I own a Wenonah Voyager, if I were your size I would definitely go with the Wenonah Encounter, it is a sweet solo canoe just too big for me!

Thank you, I’ll check it out. Everyone has been great. Thanks.

I have a Souris River Quetico 16 that was built as a solo. Normally, this is a tandem canoe but SR also sells it as a solo. It came from an Outfitter in Ely. I imagine they rent them out to big guys like us. I was 270 when I got it and traveled with a 70-pound dog so it worked well.

Hard to find

UPBoy