Looks like maybe a 3 man trip this year. Looking at 4 options.

Wenonah Seneca

Wenonah Itasca

Bell Northwoods

Souris River 18.5

I've tripped in the Seneca with 3, and it was ok. Paddled an Itasca with 2 in it for a short bit. The others.....no. Experienced stern man, bow paddler has a kayak, but some experience. Middle man has little. Maybe Agnes,LLC,etc. as far as big water.

I've been in the Bell NorthWIND tandem and really liked it, so wondered about the other Bell. We are all 6' tall with the bowman being a bit shorter. Any comparisons? 3 people. thanks, oth

I'd recommend the Souris River 18.5. Not the fastest boat on the water but is very stable and can handle 3 men and their gear.

quote LuvMyBell: "I'd recommend the Souris River 18.5. Not the fastest boat on the water but is very stable and can handle 3 men and their gear."

My vote, too.

why not the wenonah mn3?

quote jwartman59: "why not the wenonah mn3?"

Never owned or paddled one. My son loves my Souris River 18.5 even tandem. I've only paddled it myself a few times preferring my solo Bell Magic. Nice boat.

My opinion of the SR18.5 vs MNIII is tainted by the Red Rock online article. Of course there is only one canoe brand according to Joe at Red Rock...lol

3 man canoeing is downright scary over big open water in bad conditions....

I did a 3-person trip with the Souris River Quetico 18.5 and we were very happy with it. It was very stable, even in some windy conditions with waves, and we don't try to go fast. We had no problem fitting in 3 big packs plus day packs for each of us. It was a 10 day or so trip but none of us are quite as big as you folk.

I've also been a trip with a Wenonah MN3. The usual differences between the MN and Quetico lines apply. The MN is faster but not as stable. We didn't load as much gear into the MN3. I think we only had 2 people's worth of gear in it and then had the extra pack in a MN2. I assume we could have gotten it all in the MN3 but we didn't need to on that trip.

Be aware that the Souris River 18 could be the Wilderness 18 which is a very different boat than the Quetico 18.5.

quote schweady: "

quote LuvMyBell: "I'd recommend the Souris River 18.5. Not the fastest boat on the water but is very stable and can handle 3 men and their gear."

My vote, too.
"

+2

quote KevinL: "

quote schweady: "

quote LuvMyBell: "I'd recommend the Souris River 18.5. Not the fastest boat on the water but is very stable and can handle 3 men and their gear."

My vote, too.
"

+2"

+3 It is very, very, very, good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

quote jwartman59: "why not the wenonah mn3?"
I like the 'Jensen' in the MNIII and have paddled a MN2 tandem. I liked the speed and glide, but these guys don't have much time in a canoe and I'm unsure about stability. Cigar -vs- football.

We did 3 in a Seneca.....it was stable but either we were weak paddlers or it was a barge. Can't have it all, I know. Was hoping to get a tip on the Bell too. I assume the N.Woods model came in a 3-seater. Surely the SR18.5 won't be slower than the Seneca.

quote jwartman59: "why not the wenonah mn3?"
I like the 'Jensen' in the MNIII and have paddled a MN2 tandem. I liked the speed and glide, but these guys don't have much time in a canoe and I'm unsure about stability. Cigar -vs- football.

We did 3 in a Seneca.....it was stable but either we were weak paddlers or it was a barge. Can't have it all, I know. Was hoping to get a tip on the Bell too. I assume the N.Woods model came in a 3-seater. Surely the SR18.5 won't be slower than the Seneca.

Thanks.

I wouldn't call the SR18.5 slow. Under normal paddling conditions (non racing), it will keep up with the other boats in your group without extra exersion.

It is a very stable canoe that holds a lot of gear. Because of its stability I think its a great boat for 3 people and gear even in moderate choppy conditions (wind). In big open water in bad conditions travelling in any canoe (solo, tandem or larger) is scary and not a good idea IMO.

Why not take a tandem and a solo boat? That would be my recommendation.

quote Brent: "Why not take a tandem and a solo boat? That would be my recommendation.


"

Right on!

quote LuvMyBell: "I'd recommend the Souris River 18.5. Not the fastest boat on the water but is very stable and can handle 3 men and their gear."

+1, 2 or 3, whatever the count is.

My pick would be the Bell Northwoods. The third seat is installed just in front of the center thwart, so you will carry this boat stern first on the portages. Anyway, the Northwoods is huge on the inside and the thwart placement allows for huge packs. You can even stand a pack up behind the stern seat.

I have yet to paddle an Itasca. I want to so very bad. Ha!

I own a Northwoods and have paddled the MNIII, Seneca, and SR18.5.

I bought the Northwoods, so you know where my heart is. Of all of the boats, I believe the NW paddled the best and handles big water. It is a voluminous boat much like the Seneca, but handles 2X better. Last summer we had me 6'2"300, brother 6'6"330, and BroiLaw 5'10 160 and all of our packs about 150# total in the boat for a week. Encountered big water on LLC. Never felt squirrelly like I had before in the Seneca and SR.

I think the SR is a nice boat, better than the MNIII, but nothing about the boat made me WOW...

Winner

quote ubbenholdthekraut: "3 man canoeing is downright scary over big open water in bad conditions...."

Not in a Souris River Quetico 18.5 3 man. Doen it a few times. Plenty of freeboard and actually more stable wiht the extra weight.

T

I own the Souris River 18.5 so that is my bias. With three paddling it moves pretty fast and with a little coordination 3 can paddle easy.

I did not like the MN III too narrow up front for the bow paddlers feet. Seems those that like it either paddle stern all the time or put someone small up front. Plus the MN III is longer and on soem of the Quetico portages it is already tight wiht an 18 footer---it can be done but not how I want to spend my time.

I really like the Bell Northwoods and if it hadn't been $1,000 more when I bought my Souris River that may be the canoe I'd be paddling now :) but I never paddled it with 3 people.

Don't have experience with the others.

I don't think you cna go wrong with the Bell or the Souris River IMHO.

T

SR Q18.5 is one heck of a boat! The Cadillac of canoes! I seriously doubt you'd have any regrets.

SR carried 3 of us guys who weighed some 750 pounds and the gear was not a problem. Handled well with 2 foot waves on Basswood as well. We did ask the middle paddler to quit paddling and bend over to drop the center of gravity though.

I've paddled the SRQ 18.5 and it's a nice three man. It will be a little tough on the middle guy because he'll have to reach further out to the side to paddle, but that's typical for three man canoes. But if you put a guy there who doesn't have much experience canoeing he probably won't know the difference ;)

First, I will admit I am biased, I like the feel of We-no-Nah boats. That said, the MN III is the fastest boat on the water. My two sons and I used one and were very happy with it. Went through some VERY strong winds with little difficulty, handled 3 large packs plus fishing gear, and weighs 52 lbs. Long for some portages,but manageable. Haven't paddled the others, but it would be hard to convince me to change.

quote eagle93: "First, I will admit I am biased, I like the feel of We-no-Nah boats. That said, the MN III is the fastest boat on the water. My two sons and I used one and were very happy with it. Went through some VERY strong winds with little difficulty, handled 3 large packs plus fishing gear, and weighs 52 lbs. Long for some portages,but manageable. Haven't paddled the others, but it would be hard to convince me to change."

If you paddled an SR18.5 with 3 guys and gear loaded for a week long trip - you wouldn't need much convincing to switch. The only convincing would involve getting permission from your spouse to spend the money....LOL

Wenonah canoes are excellent boats. I own a tandem (not a MNIII) and have rented solos and tandems in the past. I also own 2 Bell canoes and they are wonderful canoes as well. I am just biased towards the construction, durability and ease of repair on SR canoes and the 18.5 specifically for 3-man trips.

The Seneca worked for us a few yrs ago across Iron and Crooked. 3 guys weighing 650-700 plus base gear weighing 150 or more. Plenty stable. Even just fishing or daytripping it was stable enough. Just slow. I would like the glide of the MN3, and I paddle stern and the short guy 5'10" will probably be in bow. (leg room) But with 2 novice paddlers.....I need the stability. I liked the Itasca, but only paddled tandem. Maybe we can try a couple out somewhere. Thanks.

I've paddle a MNIII and Seneca.. The MNIII is a little longer and easier to control IMO but both canoes work great.

Another vote for the SR 18.5

I typically travel with my wife,4 daughters, and 2 dogs. Two SR 18.5 work perfectly.

I also trip once year with my dad. Since I own an SR 18.5, that is what we take. It is a nice craft even with 2 people: stable, light, lots of capacity.

I can't figure out if the OP is considering renting or buying.

A big boat like that is limited to big trips. Otherwise so much of it is out of the water and is a big sail. Big boats make terrible short trippers or day trippers.

Another solution is a two seat tandem canoe and a solo. That definitely is a more versatile arrangement, but perhaps difficult if renting..

Too many unknowns at this point.