I weigh 170 pounds, how much weight do i have to add to make it sit rite in the water, its a wilderness, don't want to be to lite but don't want to over fill either, should the weight go in the front or rear or both, thanks for the help hope this is not a stupid ?

well it seems that Wenonah doesn't list capacity or designed load for their boats so comparing to say a Bell Rockstar I would say the Wilderness should be rated around 375lbs capacity. That is the empty canoe plus, your body weight, plus gear. A kevlar flex core wilderness is about 40pounds so, you could add 165lbs of gear. You are probably not paddling with that much gear, esp as a solo tripper! Thats max safe capacity though so probably closer to 325 for ideal(designed) displacement.

Maybe someone with detailed knowledge on solo specs (like Charlie Wilson) might chime in and give you more exact info, as this is only an estimation on my part.

Gear is usually split fore and aft, moving it around till you get the trim you want, based on water/wave conditions.

Moonman.

misread, sorry

I'll probably have to just experiment to see how much weight will work and were to put it.

I always put the weight as far to the ends as I can, putting it more to center makes the ends bob around and move around more

and I always pack as light as I need to, less weight will catch more wind, but more weight will make the canoe sit low and be more subject to waves

pick your poison.

I have a Bell Royalex Rockstar that I can load pretty heavy and not have freeboard issues. I'm 275 and generally bring 75 - 100 lbs of gear depending on when, where and how long I'm going for. I like to be comfortable. One nice thing about the Bell site is that it gives you displacement depths for different weights. Take them with a bit of skepticism but they can be a very general guide line for load. The other issue is how the weight is distributed in the boat. I generally put more weight directly behind me and move the front pack back and forth as needed to trim the canoe.

quote housty9: "I weigh 170 pounds, how much weight do i have to add to make it sit rite in the water, its a wilderness, don't want to be to lite but don't want to over fill either, should the weight go in the front or rear or both, thanks for the help hope this is not a stupid ?"

Close to you as the boat is already a hard tracker. Most boats of that size have a optimum performance weight in the neighborhood of 250-350lbs to sink the hull to the three to four inch waterline. Leave room aft and in the extreme bow to shift gear for going downwind and upwind.

Second paddle this last Sunday, added 30# to the back and 10 to the front made it way less tippie, now I need a little wind to see how it handles with the extra weight.

quote housty9: "Second paddle this last Sunday, added 30# to the back and 10 to the front made it way less tippie, now I need a little wind to see how it handles with the extra weight."

With a tripping load.. which is probably going to be more than what you had on your Sunday paddle, you will be pleased with the stability. With wind you might need to move your stuff around so going upwind the bow has a little more weight than the stern.

Canoes that don't have enough weight in them sometimes get blown around. Sooner or later wind will find you

quote yellowcanoe: "

quote housty9: "Second paddle this last Sunday, added 30# to the back and 10 to the front made it way less tippie, now I need a little wind to see how it handles with the extra weight."

Canoes that don't have enough weight in them sometimes get blown around. Sooner or later wind will find you"

For sure! Just ask anyone who paddles a Wenonah "Encounter", especially without a load!

Hans Solo

quote HansSolo: "

For sure! Just ask anyone who paddles a Wenonah "Encounter", especially without a load!


Hans Solo"

Who me?


I did a couple short trips without the dog last year making it possible for me to try out some different loading methods. I found the idea of having a rope tied to the front pack and being able to push it forward with my paddle and pull it back with the rope was a good thing.

I solo travel with a day pack behind me and my main pack in front, makes for lots of trim flexibility. I weigh 150 so I think the day pack helps me hold down the back better...? I also use my paddle to push the packs around for the right trim.

I find rereading page 30 of the owners manual here helpful.

For day paddling, I read some bring jugs of water for extra ballast.

OK I could be way off on this line of thinking but couldn't a small spot level be used. Something like what they use to level travel trailer, or a mini line level. There are so many different types out there something should work. Maybe a magnetic one to place on the gunwale, thwart, or support. I dunno just a thought.

JB

Someone posted awhile back about using a round bubble level to trim their canoe. I have one that my brother in law gave me as a b-day gift. We use it in the camper to level it.

i just know when the trim is right....i feel it, and i really feel it if its wrong. ive put the big pack in backwards and it messed everything up. stopped asap and 180'd it, all was good again. you dont want level all the time, depends on seas and wind.

quote kanoes: "i just know when the trim is right....i feel it, and i really feel it if its wrong. I've put the big pack in backwards and it messed everything up. stopped asap and 180'd it, all was good again. you don't want level all the time, depends on seas and wind."

Agreed, I rented an Encounter for my first solo, now own a Merlin II. I use 10L and 20L dry bags full of water to balance/trim my boat. Depends a lot on wind. I like most of my weight pointing into the wind, keeping the tip of that end of the boat a little lower.

The dry bags are great if you portage, just dump and go. Re-fill on the other end. No hassle, no fuss.

quote kanoes: "i just know when the trim is right....i feel it, and i really feel it if its wrong. ive put the big pack in backwards and it messed everything up. stopped asap and 180'd it, all was good again. you dont want level all the time, depends on seas and wind."

I know what "kanoes" is saying. My Wenonah Jensen C1W is particularly sensitive to trim and weight distribution, even more so than my Wenonah Voyager, or other swede form solos I've paddled. If the trim is "off" for the particular wind and/or wave condition(s), it's fairly noticeable.

I know of some solo paddlers using a tennis ball as a tool for checking trim. It can also serve as great entertainment if the "pooch" is traveling with you too. :-)

Hans Solo

Hopefully this weekend isn't a total washout so I can do some more paddling and play with moving weight around.

I have a Bell RockStar in Kevlight (Kevlar) Approximately same size as Wilderness.
I weigh 218. (but am losing weight :)
I have a 50ish lb CCS Explorer Pack goes in FRONT of Canoe.
Thwart Bag 6lbs
Behind me goes me CCS RUCKSACK - Food and other gear about 30lbs.
Here is a picture for your enjoyment pleasure.
The Front of the Canoe is at the BOTTOM of the picture fyi
I mess with the packs to get the right ballast.
SunCatcher

I weigh 175 and put abut 45# in a CCS bag in back of me. I have a dry bag that I fill with water and place in the bow IF I need to do so to trim the canoe into the wind or for more ballast.

With my prism, I've always put the heavier bag behind me and slid the lighter bag around in front to change fore aft trim.

3rd paddle went good, was a little tippy at first stop and moved my weight and it was way better, there was some strong currant and a little wind, feeling more comfortably each time out.