I just wanted to share the excitement of my first solo canoe purchase. Thanks to all of you who have posted on solo canoes in any way. Your insight helped me whether you know it or not! I've been bitten by the solo bug for sure.

I found a great deal on a (very) lightly used special order 16'6" Wenonah C1W in ultra-light kevlar with wood trim. The original owner had it cut down in depth from the original spec so that the bow depth is 16", center 14.5", and stern is 15". It was used only locally on a lake in St. Paul, was stored indoors, and I counted only one very minor scratch! After paddling a Prism and Voyager at the Midwest Mountaineering demo days last week and then paddling this boat, I learned that it was EXACTLY what I was looking for. It's faster than the Prism, has lower sides (less wind issues) than the Voyager, and is supposed to carry a better load than the Advantage.

Thanks for sharing my excitement!

Congratulations!! I hope it gives you many hours of paddling enjoyment!!

Congratulations!!! I will be making a purchase on a solo canoe later this summer. I am hoping that I will be able to fine the right fit also.

Imislinski, I'll give you $500 for her, sight unseen.

Sorry Silverback, she's a keeper. I plan on paddling this one long into the sunset(s). I bet Wenonah would make one for you special order though ;-)

How about a photo if you could?

butthead

Congrats, once you go solo you'll never want to paddle a tandem again. Well at least thats been my experience.

same here.

Yeah, I see what you mean timberwolf and kanoes. The tandem is still fun, but the solo has much more of a free feeling.

Here are some pics of the new (old) canoe. Although, looking at it you'd never guess it was made in '91. I told my wife on the phone after I test paddled it that this canoe was like a corvette that was driven only to the grocery store and church...

WOW!!! She's beautiful, hard to believe it's that old.

Great looking canoe, good buy! Enjoy it!

butthead

wenonah makes some radical hulls! wow!

Nice Pictures, Looks like a real treat!
SunCatcher

kanoes - they sure do. Their racing designs are definitely unique. This one's a Gene Jensen design. It's predecessor was the WWI (the solo version of the WWII which morphed into the MN II).

Congratulations!

She's a beauty!

C

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will definitely enjoy the new boat. It gets it's initiation to the BWCA over the Memorial Day long weekend.

oops. double post

I owned a C1W in the late '80s. It's a great, though specialized, hull. As you know by now, it's an absolute rocketship with plenty of volume for BWCA tripping. My only complaints were that, when paddled empty, you could get blown around (less a concern with your modified version) and it was a bit tender for fishing. It did firm up a lot with a load. I once paddled mine from Hayward to Grand Marais. Unfortunately, it grew legs and walked out of my backyard in 1990. I replaced it with a Sawyer DY Special, but I still miss the C1W. You don't see many around. Enjoy your canoe. She looks fantastic!!