Good all around tandem for flatwater and rivers

[lu22]

Hi all,
I am looking at 2 used tandem canoes. A Mad River Explorer, Kevlar, 16.5’ and a Wenonah Spirit II Kevlar Flexcore.

I’m wondering which would be a better all around canoe for the type of paddling I’m looking to do. Mostly flatwater tripping in the ADK region, but don’t want to rule out occasional rivers and larger water that could have larger waves/ rough conditions. Maybe a potential NFCT trip down the line.
I want something that is stable in wind/ weather and tracks well. Not too concerned about speed, but it would help on larger flatwater.

Which of these two canoes would you recommend?

Thanks

 

[Alan Gage]

I don't have any personal experience with either canoe, I'm sure other who do will chime in, but from what I know about them I'd expect them to perform pretty equally for what you describe. If it was me I'd probably base my decision on budget, weight, condition, and price. I think either hull would suit you fine.

Alan

 

[Penns Woods]

I believe I'd go for the Mad River because of the rough water. Just my two cents.

 

[Halpc]

I have Kevlar Explorer from 1988 which I bought about 8 years ago. It is a very versatile boat and has served me well- both tandem and solo. Its design allows me to pole it and paddle standing up using an SUP paddle, as well as the normal kneeling and sitting techniques. What year is it? In my opinion the Mad River canoes from the 1970’s to mid 1990’s (built in Vermont) are superior to the newer ones.

 

[PaddlingPika]

Do you prefer to paddle sitting or kneeling? The seating in the Wenonah looks good for sitting and the sliding bow seat may be an advantage but those seats doesn't look comfortable for kneeling. I'm guessing the Explorer would be more comfortable for kneeling.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Hi all,
I am looking at 2 used tandem canoes. A Mad River Explorer, Kevlar, 16.5’ and a Wenonah Spirit II Kevlar Flexcore.

Lu22, welcome to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos, and to start threads, in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! Also, because canoeing is a geographic sport, please add your location to the Account Details page in your profile, which will cause it to show under your avatar as a clickable map link. Many of the site's technical features are explained in Features: Help and How-To Running Thread. We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.

My first canoe (of 19) was a Mad River Explorer in Royalex, which I still have. That canoe can do everything you listed, and the Kevlar version can do so with a bit more flat water speed and with a lot less portaging weight. I don't have any experience with a Wenonah Spirit II, which also can probably serve your purposes.

As others have mentioned, however, that particular Spirit II is set up as a sitting canoe with its bucket seats and foot bar. As a kneeler 90+% of the time, and always in whitewater and wind waves, I would have no interest in seats off of which I can't fully kneel or half kneel (one leg forward). So, it depends on whether you have strong preferences as to paddling posture. You can kneel or sit on bench seats, which I assume the Explorer has.

The wood gunwales on the Explorer will require more maintenance than the aluminum gunwales of the Wenonah, which means oiling once or twice a year or varnishing every three or four years. Some folks like the aesthetics of wood gunwales more than aluminum.

 

[memaquay]

I've got experience with the Spirit 11. I really wanted to dislike that canoe. I bought one for our club, mostly because of the layup, which brought it in at 44 pounds. Ours had regular wooden seats with webbing, but they were set really low like the canoe in the picture. That bothered me at first, but it was fine once I got used to it.

I paddled it on a couple of 8 to 10 day trips through a variety of conditions. It is quite a fast canoe, holds a fair amount of gear, and handles white water fine. It would be well suited for the conditions you describe. On one of the trips, the last day had five major sets of rapids with lots of volume, big haystacks, a fair amount of technical manoeuvring, and the Spirit performed like a champ. There was no need to kneel, stability was solid with the low seats.

However, if low seats bother you, and if you do like to kneel, it's not the canoe for you. Also, we liked to transport four full sized barrels per canoe on these trips, and I recall it was a struggle getting three into it.

 

[Robin]

It hasn’t been mentioned yet, but that Wenonah is not suitable for solo paddling of which the Mad River is (canoe reversed, solo paddler sitting on the bow seat facing the stern seat).
I would take the Mad River Explorer for its versatility, rivers, streams, solo, tandem, big lakes, just a great canoe.

 

[lowangle al]

I own a Spirit II and have paddled Explorers, both royalex. It's been a while since I paddled the Explorer, but I think I would rather it over the Spirit II. I like the V hull of the Explorer better than the flatish bottom of the Spirit II. I'm also not a fan of the tractor seats or how they are mounted on the Winona. I can't see the seats on the Explorer but I assume they would be easier to raise than the low seats in the Spirit II.

One other thing to consider is the Explorer has wood gunnels. I prefer wood gunnels, but if I was going to store the boat uncovered outside I might consider the Winona so I wouldn't have to worry about the gunnels being damaged.

Like Robin said above the Explorer would be easier to solo from the bow seat without any modifications. I solo mine from the stern seat, but that's not for everyone.

 

[stevet]

Explorer is a legendary do it all hull. Assuming the condition of both is equal I would opt for the Mad River. Had one and it is a very comfortable canoe to paddle….instills confidence. (Plus I just like wood)!

 

[Erica]

The Mad River Explorer gets my vote, for all the same reasons already listed.

I don’t like the bucket seats of the Winona. I’m not sure what model I had, but the Winona did not handle well in the wind.

 

[M Clemens]

I think either canoe could suit your needs, and there are tons of reviews to peruse on both; from there on it becomes a matter of personal preference regarding seating etc. But of the two canoes you have pictured, I would opt for the Spirit II, if costs are equal. The Kevlar Flexcore layup will hold up well under most conditions and it looks to have been meticulously cared for (note the storage bag and gelcoat condition) where the Explorer (although under cover in the photo) must have been basking in the sun for quite some time for color to have faded that much. May have been on the rack at Jones Outfitter for a while.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Yes, the condition is a factor, which can only really be ascertained by a knowledgeable inspection. I would also recommend getting the HIN numbers for the two canoes. You can get a manufacture date by plugging in the HIN on the following website:

Free HIN number Decoder for any Boat, Hull, or Vessel - HINDecoder.com

 

[M Clemens]

Easy to find, the Explorer is in Saranac Lake (FB Marketplace) for $1400 (and is stored hanging from the lining holes)

The Wenonah is in Littleton NH for $1700 with a Redleaf bag, and is stored properly on its gunnels.