Bell vs. Wenonah Tandem Canoes?

[huntark03]

I am currently looking at the Bell Yellowstone or the Chestnut Prospector and also the Wenonah Spirit II or the Aurora for use on everything from a lake to a class I or II river...maybe III. My wife is a 5 footer and a small lady and I am 5'7" at 165-170lbs. One day we plan on having a kid or two and we would like to take two 30-50lb moderately well trained dogs with us some. Opinions welcomed and wanted.... Thanks ahead of time!

[Randy Dodson]

I've got a Spirit II. It's a great boat for canoe camping on the Current and Buffalo rivers. Wouldn't really want to paddle it down class III. If you are going to be on any TRUE class III, the Prospector would be the best choice of the boats you mentioned. Would strongly suggest you take a look at the Esquif Canyon or Prospectuer as well.

[huntark03]

Are there any Arkansas or close by rivers that have any "TRUE class III" water to them? More than likely we will stay on the Spring, Buffalo, Mulberry, Little Maumelle, Little Red ,Big Piney rivers and the like; unless we get really into it and start exploring places out of state...

[Karla]

We have our solo Yellowstone Bell for sale if interested. If you want a solo. You would save on new buying this and has airbags. Would not also have to pay the tax too. Great boat on moving water or non moving water. Welcome to try it out anytime.

Karla

[huntark03]

Thanks for the option Karla but we are def. looking for a tandem canoe.

[Louiscov]

huntark:

I paddled a "prospector" canoe, the no longer made Old Town Canadienne, for 20 years on most all of the streams you mentioned plus a few more & loved it. The shallow arch hull and ample rocker made it a dream to paddle and handle, but the high ends did catch crosswinds, which required attention. A prospector type hull will definitely be my next canoe. I also like Wenonah boats, and besides the Spirit II they too have a prospector model though I'm not familiar with it.

You can get a broad national response from canoe paddlers by also posting your question on this forum at paddling.net

http://www.paddling.net/message/showTop ... fid=advice" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Then take that background and tweak it with the superb suggestions you get from the Arkansas Canoe Club forum and its members who know Arkansas so well, and you'll be ready to make a choice. Congratulations on seeking such quality boats.

[huntark03]

Thanks for the advice! :)

[RespiratoryMan]

The Bell Alaskan might be your answer. It was for me! Quapaw canoe in Helena Arkansas is a Bell dealer.

[GutIt]

I have a Yellowstone tandem. Its fast, maneuvers really quick, accelerates quickly, and is a total blast to paddle tandem. I also have it rigged to do solo work as well. For me, pretty much the best of both worlds. In the solo configuration, the boat still handles great, is a pleasure to paddle, and I can take everything I need for those ‘nighters. It is easy on and off the truck for one person. Pretty good primary stability and real good secondary, and more so as you load it (gear or two people).

The problem with it, if you could call it that, is that it is a little too small for me to do a ‘nighter in it tandem. I like my amenities, as does my partner, and I want to be able to carry everything I/we need or want. However, I have another boat for that scenario and I always prefer the Bell to my 17’ Chuckwagon on a tandem day run.

I would think you would love the boat for you and your lovely & charming, plus you can always rig it for solo if you both don’t go at once for some reason (which I would recommend anyway since all you really need is another seat and a drill to pull it off). But that boat is going to get pretty tight pretty quick if you start adding kids, dogs, grandmothers, etc.! The dogs would probably be hokay in it. Of course by the time you added a pile of kids to the equation you could always just add a loadmaster to the fleet and still have the best of both worlds, and a boat that the kids could grow into. Now if you just want one boat to do everything in with kids, dogs, overnighters, et al, then you might want to step it up to a little bigger boat.

The Yellowstone will easily handle the runs you mentioned and then some. They will be a lot of fun to do in a good boat. If you are a good tandem team, you will appreciate the response of the Yellowstone.

As with any boat purchase, try to paddle your choices if you can before you buy. I know that is sometimes difficult to arrange, but that is always the best way if you can pull it off.

[Al Donaldson]

Huntark:

While one is not easy to find in the southern part of the US, the Novacraft Prospector is, IMHO, a better boat than any of the ones mentioned so far. The price is roughly equivalent to the Bell canoes, but the overall quality of construction and components is higher. (And the laced cord seats are just great!)

The design of any Prospector-type canoe will give most paddlers a bit of trouble with high winds, but the canoe's other characteristics (load-carrying, final stability and turning ability) make that a small price to pay.

These are occasionally offered as used boats on the Paddling.net "classifieds" listings.

HTH

Regards,

al

[Louiscov]

huntark03:

Your research is going OK, I hope. Another really excellent web forum for boat analysis is the Canadian Canoe Routes site:

http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewforum.php?f=16" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do a search on "Wenonah Spirit" and you'll get around 100 hits. There's less specific hits on "Bell Chesnut Prospector" but you'll get hundreds on "Prospector".

My old prospector, as are most, was "tippy" feeling on getting into and getting used to, but within 2 - 3 outings I never noticed it again. I could paddle it standing. It turned on a dime, could be leaned on its side until water came in and then straightened back up, like having a sports car. I cannot say how much I enjoyed it. It did take learning paddling technique to make it go srtaight (and it was worth the effort to have a boat that turned so well when you wanted it too, you can learn to paddle anything straight) and you had to get use to the gentle rocking (tippyness) and learn to manage it in the wind, but is was a paddler's boat, exponentially more enjoyable than a typical rental canoe. At one time I also had a Wenonah Solitude solo, and it would fly (loooong, fast glide) and turn nicely. With backferry turning it would go down the rivers you mentioned. The Spirit II is a different boat, but seems to be very well regarded by owners. Seems like you are looking at two really good boats.

Definitely look at Royalex boats for most of the rivers you mentioned. Please let us know ehen you've made your choice.

[huntark03]

So many choices...aahhh! I agree on trying them out...just not sure how to pull that off...I am going to call Ozark Outdoors and see if they have demos.

[Randy Dodson]

Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters in Hot Springs is also a Bell dealer.

One boat not to be overlooked and would be very good on the Piney and Mulberry would be the Old Town Appalacian. It has more rocker than the Prospectors But still a great load carrier for camping trips. But being more of a whitewater canoe would not be as good for lakes and rivers like the Little Red. Having said that, we still paddle our Cascade (short version of the Appalacian) on the Little Red all the time.

Yes Arkansas has true class III. An Appalacian would be a blast on the Cossatot.

Another boat very similar to the Appalacian is the Legend. Formerly made by Dagger, I think Mad River makes them now.

[Bob Stout]

I have a 17.5' Wenonah Cascade that I camp out of -- it has plenty of room for gear and people (or dogs). It's everything that I could ask for -- camping, day-trips,etc. It handles rough water and most turns well, however not as nimble in short turns because of length.

[ckuntz]

If you are paddling class 3 rapids on a regular basis, then a canoe with more volume in the ends and rocker would be more forgiving. The Appalachian is fantastic for whitewater in Arkansas and is forgiving,maneuverable(3-3.5 inches of rocker I believe) and quick for its size. However, it is definately a river canoe. Lot's of choices and good advise, just a thought.