Looking to buy New Canoe

[ness]

Will you deliver?

Sure! Will you be close?

[ness]

Sold my vagabond solo several years ago to a guy on this forum. I don't miss it. My late friend Bicycle Bill Brock gave me a 30 year old Mad River Slipper (fiberglass) soon before he passed, and it paddles great. Better bow so less water in the boat when you run a nasty drop. Think I would go with the Wenonah Wilderness if looking for solo Ness. Better fit for you I think. Have not looked at new Tandem canoes but I'm pretty happy with my 15yr old Wenonah Spirit 17. Bought her new and I've beat the crap out of that boat. Still gets it done. Tad faster than a Disco 169 and it handles much better. Handles from the stern best even when solo. Bow is high so wind is a pain when solo if not loaded right, but might pick up a replacement soon. Think I paid about 8-900 for that boat but new is looking like $1800 plus tax.

I already bought a Vagabond, but that Wilderness sure looks like a good boat too.

Probably 75% of my fishing is on day trips to local small lakes, ponds and pits so I don't need too much capacity or seaworthiness these days.

[Terrierman]

so whats the best tandem canoe that can be solo?

I need something versatile & agree the buffalo was sorta heavy & slow

I settled on a Mad River Legend 15 and really like it. But they stopped making it.

[fishinwrench]

IMO anything shorter than 16' is a solo.

[Terrierman]

IMO anything shorter than 16' is a solo.

You wouldn't want to load a bunch of camping gear in the Legend 15 and paddle tandem. With just two people a cooler and some fishing tackle it's fine. It shines solo though, either loaded for an overnighter or with just a cooler and tackle for the day.

[fishinwrench]

Yeah, my 147 is perfect for me and my hound, but it sucks with another grown man in it.

[Terrierman]

And by loaded for an overnighter, I do mean loaded.....

[Flysmallie]

And by loaded for an overnighter, I do mean loaded.....

That's nothing. You should see the amount of crap I pile into my 169. Yeah it doesn't handle well and it's slow. But it's also stable and can carry an enormous amount of gear.

[Chief Grey Bear]

That's nothing. You should see the amount of crap I pile into my 169. Yeah it doesn't handle well and it's slow. But it's also stable and can carry an enormous amount of gear.

I never understood why people wanted a fast canoe?

Or how you you even really know which ones are faster than the other?

But I thought the whole reason for being out of water and fishing was to kind of slow down and ease back a little.

I do see advantages to both a solo and one that is a 169.

So I'm kind of on top of the fence about both of them.

I like both of them.

[ness]

I never understood why people wanted a fast canoe?

Or how you you even really know which ones are faster than the other?

But I thought the whole reason for being out of water and fishing was to kind of slow down and ease back a little.

I do see advantages to both a solo and one that is a 169.

So I'm kind of on top of the fence about both of them.

I like both of them.

Yeah, what's fast gonna do for you on an Ozark river? Get you to the take out sooner? Yippee! I'm done and can go back to work!

Sure, there is always some water that I'd like to pass through to get to better stuff. But if that was a big problem, I probably picked the wrong stretch to fish, not the wrong canoe.