Wenonah Encounter - Why Not?

[Tryin']

Good morning, all!

I have an Encounter that has come up for sale near me. I am familiar with the hull specifications and design parameters, but have never been able to actually paddle one. I had one reserved for Sylvania, but the outfitter convinced me to take a Basswood solo instead. I am convinced that was a mistake, as i am very sure I overloaded the BS, burying the chines under the surface, leading to a holding-the-basketball-underwater feeling when in calm water, and a broach-and-capsize once the chop started up.

I am 6'3" with most of my height in my torso (32" inseam). I am a broad shouldered, barrel-chested, 285lbs. I generally prefer the control of kneeling to sitting, but don't like to kneel for more than an hour.

I generally take about 65lbs of gear plus food. I do not (yet) have a dog with which to canoe. Should I get one after the son leaves, it will be a 25-35lb variant.

I dont portage much locally, as we do not have lake chains. I do take occasional trips to the BWCA, but have always rented a boat there.

My concerns:
Gunnel width only 25"! (Max 31.5, WL 29)
Tuf-Weave layup is 54+lbs

Actual boat in question:

















$600, 1.5 hour drive. Seller says no soft spots, just gel coat damage. I have requested a few more pictures.


Current canoes in the garage:
Swift Shearwater (son's)
Wenonah P15 (son's)
Old Town Tripper, soloized
Nova Craft SuperNova

Non-owned canoes I have paddled for at least an overnight:

Northstar B17
NS Northwind 17
NS Polaris solo
Wenonah Basswood Solo
OT Penobscot 16
Mad River Explorer 16
Mohawk Blazer 16

 

[zekabl]

I had an 97 tuffweave encounter until the tornado tore the roof off the boat shed and threw the boat into the trees. I am 6'1 and 290lbs. I liked the boat but not the bucket seat/narrow sitting station. I have bad hips so getting in and out of the boat was tough as well. It cruised great on a lake with little wind but when the wind picked up the boat was tough to handle.

 

[Alan Gage]

Seems like you want it so you might as well get it. A little minor repair work and, at worst, you could resell it for what you have in it if you decide you don't like it.

I've never paddled one. I raced against one (me in my Magic) in a recreational canoe class and it was super windy that day. The Encounter was getting blown all over the place at the starting line and he later capsized in the whitecaps. I talked to him after the race and he was really struggling with control in the wind. The paddler was probably 170 with no other weight in the boat.

I always thought it looked like an interesting boat but the high volume is a turn off for me. It's not a boat I'd want to trip with and for local day paddles I have other hulls of similar dimension but lower volume.

Alan

 

[ppine]

I have paddled tandem canoes solo for 40 years. I found a 32 inch beam to be too tender for me.
I suspect you may have the same issue with a boat like this.
In my opinion, you would be better off with a small tandem canoe.

 

[CaptainOllieWest]

The answer is yes, buy the canoe!

... wait, you have a soloized Tripper? Pictures?

 

[Tryin']

The answer is yes, buy the canoe!

... wait, you have a soloized Tripper? Pictures?

Here are a couple, I will have to get some better ones next time I drag her out. Ive gone back and forth with the front seat. Its back about 8" from original because of how i pulled in the gunnels. I've used a thwart there as well. Thwart looks cleaner, but this way I can still take someone along on a day trip.