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The solo canoe Wenonah Prism in ultralight Kevlar weighs just 34-lb. This Prism is a dream for me to portage. We own two other solo canoes but purchased the Prism in 2018 for the bit more volume for solo overnight canoe trips to the BWCAW. By taking one 100-liter drybag pack and placing it aft and sliding the comfortable tractor seat and foot brace all the way forward trims the Prism and gives me the ability to hike the portage trails just once. The Prism has a lake canoe design, tracks straight, but handles well on rivers and streams. Living near the Namekagon river in Northern Wisconsin I frequently paddle the nimble Prism upstream several miles before turning around after a good workout having saved a second vehicle shuttle. How durable is ultralight Kevlar? We have an old tandem Wenonah ultralight Kevlar canoe which we use frequently, the ultralight Kevlar has lasted us two decades by taking care around rocks and gravel bars and storing it in the garage after use.

The tandem Wenonah Minnesota II in ultra-light Kevlar is easy to portage, camping gear-hauling canoe. For the lakes and rivers of BWCAW, this canoe tracks fast yet still maneuvers turns nicely and has plenty of room for our gear. Our ultra-light Minnesota II is 23 years old and has held up beautifully to three to five BWCAW camping trips each year.

Fire in our boathouse and I could only save one boat, I would grab our Wenonah Canoe the Minnesota II. The 42 pound Kevlar Ultra-light is our BWCAW weekend or weeklong favorite. Our Minnesota II tracks fast on lakes, paddles up the BWCAW rivers, and carries our week(s) of gear without fear. Our Ultra-light Minnesota II portages so well that we portage all our gear in one trip. Three to six BWCAW trips per year our Minnesota II just turned 22 years of enjoyment, what a payback on our purchase. At 18-1/2 feet the Kevlar Ultra-light Minnesota II is at home on lakes and easier rivers. We paddle up very narrow “S” winding streams to watch moose feed, but that’s not it designed purpose. I love canoes, my wife thinks we have lots. Fire in our boathouse the Minnesota II is the canoe I am going for.