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Backpacker Magazine – May 2008
Canoes: All Aboard!
Some of the country's best wilderness is accessible only by boat. To help you get there, our testers picked the top canoes in six key categories.
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Tags:
- Gear |
- Paddling |
- Kayaks |
- Gear Guide |
All-Purpose Bargain | Solo | Expedition | High-Performance Cruiser | Portable | River Runner | Bargain Boats | Canoes, Deconstructed
[Expedition]
WENONAH CHAMPLAIN
Got a month to spend in the Boundary Waters? The Champlain is your vessel; its 1,200-pound load capacity swallows coolers, camp chairs, and jumbo tents. The hull depth (22 inches at the bow) keeps gear dry even in chop. And thanks to the 18-foot length, sharp bow, and tapered shape, it was the fastest boat among all the models we tested. The adjustable bow seat allows paddlers to fine-tune weight distribution. And stability is unmatched: "You could paddle two toddlers and a nervous Lab in this boat!" gushed one tester. The tradeoff? Limited agility, especially in windy conditions, when the boat's high sides catch the breeze. The Kevlar version (tested) is light and tough, but pricey ($2,499). The Champlain is also available in Royalex ($1,399) and fiberglass ($1,679). 18'; 45 lbs. (507) 454-5430; wenonah.com.
All-Purpose Bargain | Solo | Expedition | High-Performance Cruiser | Portable | River Runner | Bargain Boats | Canoes, Deconstructed
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READERS COMMENTS
Recently, I returned from an 80 day, 1300 mile canoe trip from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. The Wenonah Champlain was the perfect canoe for the trip! The boat tracked like a dream across Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg and was agile and maneuverable in the white water on the Hayes and God's Rivers in Northern Manitoba! Keep making a great boats, Wenonah!
Recently, I returned from an 80 day, 1300 mile canoe trip from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. The Wenonah Champlain was the perfect canoe for the trip! The boat tracked like a dream across Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg and was agile and maneuverable in the white water on the Hayes and God's Rivers in Northern Manitoba! Keep making a great boats, Wenonah!
All the canoes reviewed are fine boats for their class, but what about a backpacking boat. Several friends and I go up to the Adirondacks a couple of times a year for some backpacking and trout fishing. The ponds we head to are miles from the trailhead and carrying a 50 lb canoe on top of a 40 pound pack is unbearable (especially for some of the older guys in our group). The solution is a lightweight solo canoe that can be packed into the woods, like a Hornbeck canoe (among others). Their bestseller only weighs 14-16 lbs and can carry up to 300 lbs.
Check them out here:
http://www.hornbeckboats.com/
Albert
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