http://wenonahcanoe.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-model-introduction-canak.html

Hmmm. As a kayaker, I'm not sure what to think about that?

And now you will start seeing them in the b dub.

http://wenonahcanoe.blogspot.com/2010/08/wenonah-canak-makes-its-first-splash-in.html

I'm not sure what to think either. Must have been one hell of a party for those 2 to get together and mate. :)

I don't see a benefit to it that can't be had by a traditional solo canoe, perhaps with a double blade. I brought a 13 foot kayak to the bdub last year and was completely smoked in high winds going the length of Cherokee by a a dude in a solo canoe. He had to have been travelling at least one mile per hour faster than me, and I know he was able to load and unload his stuff faster at the portage.

Also, it looks, from the picture, like the guy is sitting too high. I like putting my rear end at the same level as the water.

Yes, if I had brought a 18 foot sea kayak I'm sure I would have made better time, but wow, just wow on the portages.

Canak. I was thinking a 'Kaynoe' (basically an old town pack) or a Rob Roy. An old idea with a new twist, apparently.

So basically it's a prism with decking. I guess it's OK. I'm mildly unimpressed.

As a general rule, any hybrid is less suited to the task than the single task product. This looks to me like it takes away the benefits of both. Doesn't really have the low center of gravity and wind resistance of a kayak or the ability to just toss the gear anywhere in a canoe, and paddle either solo or tandem. I like the big hatches, but expect that they'd implode or pop off under pressure, like in a capsize.

I agree... it looks like it has the worst features of both classes of boats. Low storage volume, high COG, increased weight, and lack of wind resistance.

Last week after our trip, we stopped at Tuscarora and the Wenonah reps had one there on the truck. There was a small crowd inspecting it. I asked him to let me try it out and I'd give my opinion....no go. Later, they were at the TC for lunch and it was no longer on the rack. They had sold it somewhere up on the Trail. We also chatted with the people at Sawtooth in Tofte. The reps had stopped there also and they (Sawtooth) were going to buy it if it made it back off the Trail. We told them it didn't. The storage ports seemed roomy enough for a decent sized pack. Not sure if it looked like the best, or worst of both boats. It's essentially a sheared off Prism with a hard top deck.

My question is why? If you want a Prism with covered decks, add a spray skirt and save some lbs.

I actually think it is pretty cool. I would love to try one out if I can find one. Would I buy one? probably not. I have a tandem canoe and I would like a solo cedar striper for solo trips.

Still... it looks cool and sometimes that's what it takes to start a new market. I could see this being a good boat for people doing non-wilderness trips. The sort where you river travel. *shrug* who knows.

Saw Mike Cichanowski (founder and owner of Wenonah Canoes) at the grand opening of Clear Lake Outfitters last Saturday. He asked me to test paddle the Canak on the river--which I did. It has a sliding tractor seat like the Prism and is based on the Prism hull design at 16 feet long (one half foot shorter than the Prism). I used a canoe paddle and it tracked really well. I told him that the seat sits a little high for people who are used to the normal paddling position of a kayak and use a kayak paddle. It has very good storage space.

quote oldgentleman: "So basically it's a prism with decking. I guess it's OK. I'm mildly unimpressed."

This is exactly what I was thinking.

I don't know, it could be a winner. The Prism hull apparently is a good performer, lot of 'em out there. I would think that the deck and hatch covers should make paddling in wind a lot easier. I've never paddled a solo canoe set up with fabric covers, some people like the dry ride and wind resistance that they offer. I really don't know what kind of a hassle unsnapping a nylon fabric canoe cover is in loading and unloading packs. If the fabric hatch covers on the Canak hatches are easy to deal with they might be an improvement to that system. Sometimes the typical nylon spray skirt or cover that fits over a kayak cockpit coaming can be a little tough to secure. I'd guess the hatch covers are held on by a bungee cord system, that as someone said might pop off under stress. I'd like to test paddle one, I'd bet that some of the outfitters will bite and add them to their rental fleet. Should be able to check one out at the next Canoecopia. ( I think the Rob Roy is still purtier )

Thanks for the review Bang.

C

Better to just put a CCS canoe cover on your solo boat.

I'm underwhelmed!!

I think most of you are not easy to change. Just like tents over the years, things change. And usually for the better, just like this canoe (or is it a kayak?).

Think of this as a first generation, a V1.0. Just wait till the product is more tested and developed, say a V3.2. We might just have a true winner, solving the problems associated with both solo canoes and kayaks.
Rough waters? Solved.
Carrying gear? Solved.
Portagablity? Solved.

The simple things like seat height and center of gravity will all be worked out over time.

Benutzer - "As a general rule, any hybrid is less suited to the task than the single task product."
That is an illogical fallacy.

Piragis has one (seems to be living on top of his mini cooper) and I got to take a close look. It has considerably less freeboard than a Prism, though much more than a kayak. The seat is a little lower than the standard wenonah sliding solo seat. The hatches are large and easy to open and close. Claims to weigh in the mid 30's. Seems like a decent comfortable solo with extra protection for wind and waves- as for the hassle of opening and closing the hatches- it would only be necessary if conditions warranted- if the weather was fair stow the hatch covers.

Still would rather have a fast solo and a ccs skirt .

quote YaMarVa: "
Benutzer - "As a general rule, any hybrid is less suited to the task than the single task product."
That is an illogical fallacy. "

You find it illogical and unreasonable that something which is built to solve multiple problems is less suited for a job than one which is built for the specific purpose?

As any kayak owner will tell you, a blending of a whitewater kayak and a sea kayak will handle neither whitewater nor open water as well as the original. A multitool does not saw wood as well as a saw, not does it work as well as a screwdriver.

The problems you mentioned have already been solved by either canoe or kayak, by the evolution of their design over the years. Carrying gear and portaging is what the canoe specializes in, and no addition of decking will improve that, nor will making hatches larger and raising the center of gravity improve the kayak's ability to handle rough water. These *are* the things which have worked out over time, resulting in 2 different designs, requiring a trade off to handle something differently.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm more than willing to change. However, I don't think I'll be trading in my canoe or kayak in this instance.

quote Benutzer: "

quote YaMarVa: "
Benutzer - "As a general rule, any hybrid is less suited to the task than the single task product."
That is an illogical fallacy. "

You find it illogical and unreasonable that something which is built to solve multiple problems is less suited for a job than one which is built for the specific purpose?

As any kayak owner will tell you, a blending of a whitewater kayak and a sea kayak will handle neither whitewater nor open water as well as the original. A multitool does not saw wood as well as a saw, not does it work as well as a screwdriver.

The problems you mentioned have already been solved by either canoe or kayak, by the evolution of their design over the years. Carrying gear and portaging is what the canoe specializes in, and no addition of decking will improve that, nor will making hatches larger and raising the center of gravity improve the kayak's ability to handle rough water. These *are* the things which have worked out over time, resulting in 2 different designs, requiring a trade off to handle something differently.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm more than willing to change. However, I don't think I'll be trading in my canoe or kayak in this instance.
"

You make some good points and I tent to agree with you but regardless it is still a logical fallacy that 'ANY' hybrid is less suited for a job than one which is built for the specific purpose. That is an assumption.

But lets assume your statement is correct. This canoe/kayak is not serving a specific purpose it is meant to deal with mutltiple problems/purposes. Would I take this craft through whitewater? No, because that is not the purpose of this craft.

"These *are* the things which have worked out over time, resulting in 2 different designs, requiring a trade off to handle something differently."
This craft appears to take what has worked overtime and gets rid of the need to have a 'trade-off'.

I like it and will consider trying one. Then I can add to my canoe & kayak collection.

Wow, everyone has an opinion. One fact though is that decked canoes have been around for a long time and seen use around the world, both in flatwater and whitewater use.
Hybrid mix, or is it a specialty design canoe? I would not judge it till I tried it. Ad specs have it at 38 lbs. 4 more than the same layup as the Prism. But 3 inches less stem height than the Prism. I paddle a CCS covered solo and know it's benefit in wind and waves.
It looks to be much more a decked canoe than an open kayak [seat position], like a Rob Roy.
It's an interesting canoe to me.

butthead

correction; the Prism wt. is for Kevlar Ultra-Light at 34 lbs, the Kevlar Flex-Core is 44 lbs.
bh

No doubt, you end up with some sort of infertile hybrid.