After a 40 year pause in solo trips I will be headed up in a month for several days in the BW. While I have taken dozens and dozens of trips I have no experience in a solo canoe. My next door neighbor was kind enough to lend me his Wenonah Voyager.
I will take it for a spin or two before I head up but I have two questions: One, What is the best way to distribute the weight in this canoe? I pack very, very light but would be interested in some insight as to one pack vs two and the placement of the load. Secondly, any advice on paddling technique/style?
Any of your perspectives would be appreciated. Thanks!

I can't help you with technique as I don't know where you stand. But it seems this boat is meant for hit and switch paddling seated using a bent shaft paddle. Several strokes on one side ..pure power no correction..and just as the boat starts to yaw switch hands on the paddle and do strokes on the other side.

Thats a big narrow boat so on your outings I would take some ballast to make it a little more stable on your "getting to know you cruises"

Two packs is going to make the boat more adjustable in wind though if it has a slider you can adjust trim to stern heavy for following seas or some more weight in the bow to make handling in headwinds easier. However as you might be looking at single portaging, two packs that can be strapped together for the portages might be a good idea.

I think at one time (maybe now) Piragis had such a pack?

Have a great time. This will be a new learning opportunity but with 40 years there is much that you already know. The main thing is that if there is a problem you have to fix it..And there is no one to tell you what to do..which is a good thing!

magic owner.

main pack behing the seat, pushed as far back as will go.

second pack infront with a piece of cord attached...i can adjust to the trim i want by pushing the pack forward with the paddle or pulling it back with the cord.

for me, hit and switch is the most efficient.

kanoes-I like the cord trick for the forward pack; thanks for that bit of advice!

You will need two packs to trim. I do what kanoes does, less the rope. I kneel and can just reach forward and grab the small pack if I need to.

A bent shaft suits sit n switch best. It's more efficient. Unless you are proficient with a C stroke that's probably the way to go. You should practice bow draws so you are comfortable executing those if you find yourself needing to make a quick correction.

I load the same as Kanoes with the main pack in the back and the secondary pack along with other items. As for paddling technique I paddle on one side for as long as I want then the other. I'll use a C-stroke or a J-stroke as I need for directional control. Since I came from a tandem background this method is the most comfortable for me.

It's a long narrow sit and switch canoe. Wiggly for sure yet final stability is good to the bubble, you can lean it, just not past the bulge. A bit sensitive to following wind so you need to be able to adjust trim (slide weight back). I have sort legs so getting in and out was a bit of a challenge. One of the fastest solos you can get.
Any dedicated solo canoe will take some time to get comfortable in, so get as much trial paddling in as you can!

butthead

I also have a Voyager, and agree with butthead, two things: the canoe is narrow, so most packs will not lay down, they have to be laid on their side or stood up (which could catch wind), another is that with no load it sits higher in the water and thus will catch the wind more so do your practice with packs so you know how best to set them in canoe and also give practice how the thing will actually handle on your trip.

Thanks for all of your words of wisdom. I appreciate all of the perspectives. Forty some years of canoeing and I am still learning, awesome!

Another use for a "T" paddle handle. I hook a pack strap and pull it back or push pack forward with paddle to adjust trim.

If you have "two solo questions" can either one be solo?

Just askin'.

quote OBX2Kayak: "If you have "two solo questions" can either one be solo?


Just askin'."

Group Solo

My experience in solo canoes is limited, but I agree proper trim is critical to steering and and wind resistance. I also agree the C stroke is the better steering stroke should you get tired of switching too often. Enjoy the solo experience GC!

quote nctry: "

quote OBX2Kayak: "If you have "two solo questions" can either one be solo?

Just askin'."

Group Solo"

LOL! Good response. :-)

quote OBX2Kayak: "

quote nctry: "

quote OBX2Kayak: "If you have "two solo questions" can either one be solo?


Just askin'."

Group Solo"

LOL! Good response. :-)"

Uh Uh.. Paired solo. For group it has to be a threesome. When you get to four solo canoes it can get to be bumper cars. Believe me there is something called Canoe Dance where they do things like do si do..

Its kind of fun to do. Its more entertaining to watch belly button lint.

I am headed up next Thursday so decided to read this post again. I have one question: Two folks above describe the "hit" and switch method of paddling solo and two others mentioned "sit" and switch. Or is it Quetico vs THE Quetico, potaaaaato vs potaato?

Sit and switch refers to using bent shaft paddles and correcting by paddling on the other side.

Its probably interchangeable in practical language but hit and switch can be used by kneeling paddlers too using straights for the best approach angle.

I use sit and switch when sitting sometimes.
I use hit and switch when kneeling..sometimes the boat does not even have a seat but rather a kneeling thwart.

Thanks. Now if I am kneeling but using a bent shaft but kneeling? Would that be like pitch and putt or what?

You could call it anything that didn't involve the word sit!

Not usually the best angle but I have done some tweaking and it works for me in some applications.

Done. Took my first solo in 40 years. The weather was good. The food was good. The solo canoe was good.
But the trip? It was awesome! I absolutely loved being alone, paddling, portaging, exploring, napping, reading and on and on. I had Gull lake all to myself one night. I was totally comfortable the entire time. I could go again tomorrow----only for a longer period of time. The stress of my normal life simply slipped away like a snake that shed it's skin.
Hooked, By God, Hooked.

Almost forgot: Thanks for all of the advice about the solo canoe, paddling style, etc. I really appreciated it.

So was any of our rattling germane or not?

Hooked? Tell us more! We want to know all!

Yes, I hope there is a trip report in our future...?

All of the thoughts and advice were helpful. I took the canoe out on a trial run at home since I had never paddled a solo. It took some getting used to but I had the basics down pretty quickly. It helped to have the heads up on balancing the load with two seperate packs.

I also made sure I did not get too worn out since I have a tendency to paddle and portage all day. As I contemplated "Just one more lake" I heard the voices of caution expressed here in my head and stopped.

My most pleasant surprise was how I felt at night. I had none of the anxiety many folks indicated. I loved the evening and going to bed in my tent. I fell asleep instantly each night. I suspect I was able to do so simply because I have been taking four trips a year to the Q or BW for nearly forty years and feel very comfortable in the woods.

I did have a few pangs of missing the friends and relatives I usually travel with. But those few thoughts were quickly dismissed by the beauty and peacefulness that surronded me.

What a wonderful life I am blessed with.

Congratulations. 40 years is a long time to wait.

Congratulations on your trip! How'd the Voyager perform?

Awesome! Which site did you stay at on Gull Lake? I stayed at the first site coming in from Gun for the first two nights of my first solo trip last year. What a great place to have to yourself.

I actually stayed at the third site. Perhaps not quite as nice a spot as the first site but I knew I would be in the shadows in the evening when the rock wall across the lake would be lit up like a stage in the evening----and it was. Beautiful view. I was just completly taken with the view and the environment. Damn, it was good.

quote GraniteCliffs: "I actually stayed at the third site. Perhaps not quite as nice a spot as the first site but I knew I would be in the shadows in the evening when the rock wall across the lake would be lit up like a stage in the evening----and it was. Beautiful view. I was just completly taken with the view and the environment. Damn, it was good."

So, you liked it? LOL

I'm surprised no one suggested a kayak paddle for this canoe. I have a voyager ultra light Kevlar with a custom rudder system. I use a carbon double blade kayak paddle. With the rudder system and integrated foot brace it tracks like an arrow.

quote markaroberts: "I'm surprised no one suggested a kayak paddle for this canoe. I have a voyager ultra light Kevlar with a custom rudder system. I use a carbon double blade kayak paddle. With the rudder system and integrated foot brace it tracks like an arrow."

cause yak paddles should never be used in a canoe. :)

Voyagers are very narrow, long cruising canoes. You can paddle a lot longer distances with the yak paddle with less fatigue. And with a rudder system there is no need for correcting strokes