Wenonah Canoe Kevlar Canoes Since 1979
Buy a New Canoe from Piragis and get $100 off or FREE SHIPPING 1-800-223-6565

"After years of borrowing or renting canoes my wife got me a Spirit II Kevlar® canoe for Christmas! What a canoe! It's the difference between night and day compared to others I've paddled. It's well designed and the craftsmanship is superb! It's light enough that my wife can put it on the car by herself. Thanks for the great canoe!"

"Recently, I purchased a Wenonah Spirit II in Royalex. I just wanted to say that this hull's performance is as advertised, and maybe a little more. I've owned other manufacturers' "plastic sandwich" and Royalex boats. None of the others can compare with the glide, workmanship, and overall design attributes that the Wenonah possesses."

Aurora

"The Aurora is one very seaworthy canoe. I recently took it fishing with a friend who weighs a little over 300 pounds. I weigh 210 so with gear we were pretty heavily loaded. The Aurora handled our considerable load with aplomb and did so while moving fairly quickly when we decided to cross the lake. We never felt the least bit jittery even in some heavy wakes from passing motor boats. This boat's ability to heel over and be paddled solo, Canadian style is what surprised me the most. It really does turn on a dime if you're kneeling behind center. I would recommend this boat for someone who wants a do-it-all canoe. It's very stable in chop even with heavy loads, has lots of capacity for gear, and can be paddled solo. If you want a big boat that maneuvers well. Kind of an SUV among canoes. All in all this is a very utilitarian, comfortable canoe."

"We feel the Aurora is an excellent all-around boat, and perfect for the kind of canoeing we like to do, particularly in Florida's beautiful, exciting rivers and our own New Jersey winding, pristine rivers. Besides, the uncoated Kevlar material looks really cool with the sun shining through it, and we loved all the compliments we kept receiving from other canoeists. It was also great not to suffer any pain while loading the boat onto our car roof because it's so light and easy to lift."

Adirondack

"Love it! I use my Adirondack in lakes and smaller rivers here in Alaska. It also paddles great as a solo. The light weight makes it easy to load on my Jeep roof rack. It has great initial stability as well as secondary. I can fly cast standing up in this one which says something about how well balanced it is. I've owned two other canoes and this one by far has been the most useful. Don't know if I'll ever have to buy another canoe! At 16' and about 36 lbs. in Kevlar, the Adirondack is a great little boat for portaging into ponds and lakes and cartopping. It is surprisingly seaworthy and handles well in a variety of conditions. After twelve years of aluminum rentals and a lot of research, I invested in a Royalex Adirondack. What a difference. I now realize that, although I have paddled before, I have never been canoeing until now. I made two trips to the Adirondacks and numerous trips to small and mid-sized streams, and was truly amazed each time. The Adirondack handles like a dream, whether paddling solo or tandem. It is steady, responsive, and fast. I swear that with two strong paddlers, it will pull a skier. Thanks for a quality product that has provided so much enjoyment."

Fisherman

"I bought [the Fisherman] so that my wife and I could go for the occaisonal tandem outing and I could go fishing solo on small lakes. It has exceptional initial stability -- I can step right into it off a dock without grabbing the gunwales. I put a center seat in it and use a kayak paddle for fishing. It actually tracks fairly well for such a wide boat (39 inch beam) and if you don't need to go fast, it paddles quite nicely. It is an excellent compromise if you want to both fish and pleasure paddle at a leisurely pace. If you are interested in a roomy, comfortable canoe for small lakes and streams you probably can't beat this -- especially considering the solo capabilities. Our Royalex version only weighs 57 pounds and it paddles like a dream for the intended purposes. It's not fast, but it is very manueverable and easy to live with. "

Heron

"Have taken my new Wenonah Heron to the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondacks, and on a solo trip to Algonquin Park in Canada, amongst other, short trips. On the twisty, turny Oswegatchie River, the Heron was a joy to paddle with my daughter. Other folks we ran into on the trip commented on the fact that we were handling the many turns much more easily than a longer canoe. Excellent secondary stability -- I can stand up in it on calm water, and can easily crawl all about the canoe in the middle of the lake, if I'm by myself and need something from the bow. On the solo trip to Algonquin, I removed the stern seat, turned the canoe around, and paddled from the bow seat, as recommended by Wenonah. Obviously, this boat is not a great solo canoe, but it did work quite well for me. The Heron's tracking as a solo canoe is somewhat limited. The canoe felt very seaworthy when the wind came up on one larger lake, and I never felt in danger of capsizing. I have abused the heck out of it already -- lots of scratches in the Royalex, but the Heron seems to be sturdily built. Though [Royalex is] heavy for portaging, it's a great boat for someone like myself who needs a tandem, but sometimes wants to solo, and doesn't have the money for Kevlar.

Wenonah Canoes are the best!
Much better than all the rest
We have a Heron - Burgundy Heaven
And now we paddle with zest.
The gunwhales are wooden
the choice was a good 'un,
we lovingly coat them with oil.
This makes them resilient
and we think - look brilliant.
It is not too much of a toil!
The Kevlar is light
on the car a delight
we go off whenever we're able
We feel so free
on river and sea
'Cause we feel so fomfortably stable!
The trouble you took
to make our canoe look
the way that it does - well done!
So thank you to you (The seats are great too)
And now we are off to have fun!

Kingfisher

" I just purchased a Kingfisher (Royalex) and so far I love it. It is a high-quality canoe with all the right features for me. I am an avid fly fisherman so I was searching for something that I could stand up in and cast. This canoe performed beautifully! The first time I stood I was amazed at the stability. I had an excitable dog with me but it didn't matter -- the boat was rock solid. If you are looking for a quality canoe and a solid platform for sporting type activities I would highly recommend this canoe."

-- This is a long letter. It is not your average sales pitch... but Kevlar Canoes by We-no-nah Canoe are not your average canoes. Read on to find out how you can get $100 off the retail price of any Kevlar We-no-nah Canoe or GET FREE DELIVERY.

Significantly Reduce the Cost of Purchasing a New Kevlar® We-no-nah Canoe!

Greetings from Your Friends in the Great Northwoods!

To all paddlers interested in saving money, from
Steve Piragis, President, Piragis Northwoods Company.
Thank you for your interest in We-no-nah Canoes.

We’ll deliver your new canoe to your home FREE OF CHARGE!

I can’t tell you how many canoes I’ve personally strapped onto my Thule roof rack and driven to homes of the proud new owner. I’ve lost count. One thing sticks in my mind, though, the thanks I’ve gotten each and every time I’ve pulled into a driveway with a pristine, glossy, lightweight kevlar beauty. Why do we do this? We learned long ago, that to avoid damage and insure delivery on time, that paddlers can be trusted to do the job instead of freight trucks. We foot the bill, we tie the canoe onto a trustworthy rack, and either we deliver the boat ourselves or we personally interview and contract the delivery with a paddler leaving Ely who’s coming your way.

We’ve been in business since 1979 and this is the best way to make sure your new canoe arrives in new condition. We’ll continue to trust your canoes to quality people rather than semi-trucks.

Worth Every Penny! Our Canoes speak for themselves... or at least their owners do!

“I recently purchased a used MINNESOTA II canoe and I wanted to tell you how pleased I am with the quality of the canoe and the service you provided. This is the first premium quality canoe that I have owned. My experience has been with the old-fashioned Alumacraft canoes. I was able to take the canoe out in the Lakes 1- 4 chain and beyond when I picked it up, and I must say that the (We-no-nah) MINNESOTA II is a joy both to paddle and portage. It is so much more quiet and efficient in the water, and suddenly the portages don’t seem so long.” Brian from Minnesota

“I continue to love your canoes and paddles. Persons at home are amazed they are so lightweight. I have to drag the catalog into work to prove that the MINNESOTA III is actually lighter than the packs we carried.” Marcia from Pennsylvania

Save $100 on every new We-no-nah Kevlar® canoe You PICK UP IN ELY, MN!

Remember the “good” old days of Summer when canoeing meant you had to leave behind most of your favorite gear because your heavy aluminum canoe weighed eighty or ninety pounds empty? This is no way to travel in the Boundary Waters. It is certainly no joy to hoist eighty pounds the top of your vehicle multiple times each day you want to get out and paddle your favorite local river or lake. Sure, those “old reliables” took on deadheads and rocks and being dropped or thrown out of frustration and sheer exhaustion on the trail. They made it through the worst of times with appointments with the local welder and boasted the lumpy scars to prove it. Your back, however will never forgive you.

Travelling in dread and nervous anticipation of the next portage is no way to experience the beauty of the wilderness. Getting a neighbor to help you load your canoe to the top of your minivan is no longer necessary. Our cars, trucks, vans and SUVs are safely designed to withstand impact, but we don’t go around smashing into rocks, plowing through potholes and running them up over the curbs. We take care of our vehicles because they’re not cheap, right?!

Just what is all the fuss about Kevlar®? Sure it is light but is it tough enough?

Our canoes are not cheap, they are not cheaply made either. They are made with tough and durable Kevlar® (a lightweight, abrasion resistant alternative to aluminum, plastic and fiberglass). Kevlar® is the same stuff that protects the International Space Station and goes into Space Suits and bulletproof vests. We-no-nah uses only woven fabrics that are made to strict specifications. The fabrics are cut precisely to fit, and laminated painstakingly by hand to create the strongest, lightest, and best-performing kevlar canoes. We-no-nah has been using Kevlar for 30 years to make superlative canoes to satisfy the most-demanding paddlers. If you want a hull that's light, tough, and quiet, you want a Kevlar canoe. One that exhibits the superb design and construction offered only by We-no-nah Canoe, the world's largest maker of Kevlar canoes. You won’t want to drag these canoes over a portage or down to the lake from your cabin. BUT, when they weigh less than 45 lbs you don’t need to.

“I want a new canoe, but...”

“...I’ve heard that ‘kevlars’ are too expensive.”

Great Quality products cost more money. Great experiences are priceless. You can’t put a price tag on a family canoe camping vacation in the wilderness that is a memorable experience instead of something you’d like to forget. Below I’ve laid out the price difference between Kevlar® canoes and their much heavier counterparts. The key here is that you’re not investing in a one shot product, you are investing in multiple canoeing experiences each hopefully better than the one previous, each enhanced greatly by the lighter weight and superior craftsmanship of a durable We-no-nah Kevlar® canoe.

Trade-Ins welcome. Upgrade today to a new, ultra-lightweight Kevlar® canoe.

We buy, sell and trade used canoes. Why not save your valuable storage space and trade-in your old canoe when you upgrade. We’ll guarantee to pay a fair price for your trusty veteran. This is a fantastic way to offset the price of a new canoe and it is a win-win situation.

Customer service from paddlers who paddle. We know canoeing because we canoe!

There are places to buy canoes all over the country. We’ve sold and delivered canoes to each of the lower 48 states and with so many dealers out there, you’d have to ask yourself why? Why buy a canoe from Piragis Northwoods Company. For starters, we’ve paddled them all. We know how they handle and what they’ve been to designed to do the best. During our long-standing relationship with We-no-nah Canoe we’ve been instrumental in the designs and features of several canoe models, especially those most suited for the Boundary Waters. Our spare time finds us on the water, paddling, fishing and canoe camping. We have our own in-house canoe specialist who is personally responsible for each and every canoe or kayak order made. Steve Schon follows each boat order from inception to delivery and all the steps in between. As President and owner of our small company, one of my favorite and most fulfilling things to do is assist people in their first quality canoe purchase. Talking to canoers about new boats is one of the highlights at work. Many of us here are able to answer your questions and point you in the direction of the model that best suites your needs. When you call or drop in for a free canoe consultation, our staff will make sure you get the opportunity to talk at length with Steve Schon or myself.

We-no-nah canoe -- A company that cares about families having fun in the wilderness!

A true story from a proud Kevlar® We-no-nah Minnesota IV owner, "One, two, three, SWITCH!" I called from the bow, and hardly felt a tremor as Caela and Dylan slid in unison to the opposite sides of their seats and continued paddling, barely missing a stroke. For the tenth time that day, paddling into a headwind on Kawnipi Lake in Canada's Quetico Park, I was silently grateful to the Minnesota 4 for so easily accommodating us and our needs. Spending 18 days in the wilderness with those you love most in the world is a thing of beauty in its own right, but spending that kind of time in a canoe that seems custom-made for you makes it even better.

We started our family wilderness trips with the Minnesota III, when our kids, now nine and eleven, were five and seven. For a couple of years the Minn-III worked beautifully; the kids could sit beside each other on the middle seat and paddle together. But three years ago, we knew we needed something larger; a seat for each of us, and a boat both wide and strong enough to accommodate the 400+ pounds of gear we take on a long trip.

That's when We-no-nah introduced us to the Minnesota IV. At first we were a little daunted; 23 feet of canoe? Even though it weighed in at a mere 64 pounds, it seemed impossibly long. But when we got it on the water, our skepticism vanished. The Minn-IV is built for speed and, even with so much gear, we traveled faster than we ever had before.

This boat sliced through the water as sleekly as a pike through the reeds.

Space can be an issue in a canoe, and we were delighted at how well this one packed up. Our two large food packs fit easily on either side of the center thwart, with room for the large tent pack and the kids' four smaller packs nestled in beside them. We still had ample leg room, and Caela and Dylan didn't have to knock elbows with every stroke.

After 55 days of wilderness travel in a Minn-IV over the last three years, one thing has become clear: this canoe will go anywhere. Enormously stable on the water when loaded, it is responsive both in the bow and stern, and also to a firm J-stroke in the wind. All in all, for a family of four, the Minn-IV is definitely the way to go.”

Alternatives for those of you who need to make the most economical choice...

Sometimes, there is no way around it, you know what we mean (the budget). Just remember that if cost is your main concern there’s no need to sacrifice and get a heavier boat. Our Kevlar® Outfitting Rental Fleet of canoes are available each October at prices close to $1000 off retail. They’ve experienced only one season in the wilderness.

We rent these We-no-nah Kevlar® canoes to hundreds of people each summer. They paddle and portage them all over the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park and have a fantastic time. Each Autumn we sell these same canoes to lucky paddlers who don’t mind a few scratches, can afford to wait for their boats till the end of the season and need to save the most money possible. These “experienced” canoes go on to perform for decades and continue to be a testament to the durability and superior craftsmanship of ultra-lightweight Kevlar® designs from We-no-nah Canoe.

As our customer Brian, from Minnesota, shared, “I was very impressed with the condition of the canoe after a year of outfitter use. I can see the workmanship that was done to restore the canoe to near-new condition. I find it hard in my budget to justify full price for a new premium canoe, so the opportunity to buy a used canoe in such good condition is a great alternative. I’ve been recommending you to my friends who are also considering upgrading their canoes.”

Call 1-800-223-6565 today to reserve your rental canoe. You’ll need to put money down and pay the balance by October 1st. Unfortunately we can’t reduce the cost of our used rental canoes anymore than we already have and the free shipping offer doesn’t apply to these canoes.

Act now to take advantage of this season! 1-800-223-6565
Call us today for huge savings on Kevlar® canoes!

Get your new canoe Today -- Easy as One, Two, Free
One: Toll-FREE Call 1-800-223-6565 ask for Steve (save on your phone bill)
Two: $100 Off on all New Kevlar® We-no-nah Canoes picked up in Ely(save $100)
OR
FREE: If you can't pick up your canoe in Ely and save $100 we'll deliver your New Canoe for FREE (save up to $250)

Thank you and have a great day!

Steve Piragis, President Piragis Northwoods Company

Minnesota II

“I recently purchased a used MINNESOTA II canoe and I wanted to tell you how pleased I am with the quality of the canoe and the service you provided. This is the first premium quality canoe that I have owned. My experience has been with the old-fashioned Alumacraft canoes. I was able to take the canoe out in the Lakes 1- 4 chain and beyond when I picked it up, and I must say that the (We-no-nah) MINNESOTA II is a joy both to paddle and portage. It is so much more quiet and efficient in the water, and suddenly the portages don’t seem so long.”

" I was hoping for a new racing paddle for Christmas, but my wife got me a Minnesota II in Kevlar Ultra-light instead! I knew there was some reason I married her! This boat is a dream to paddle under any conditions of weather and water. I plan to enter it in the General Clinton race. The Minnesota II is a great boat in rough water on big lakes. It does not lose much performance with extra weight and will turn quickly with experienced paddlers. The tougher the conditions, the more experienced paddlers will appreciate this wonderfully designed boat. I've had my Minnesota II for about six years now, and I can definitely say that it was the best money I have ever spent on outdoor equipment. I have the Kevlar Ultra-light, and it is a dream to portage in the BWCA. It easily holds four Duluth Packs, and will still go faster than anything else on the water. The stability is excellent, and it feels more stable with weight in it. It turns very well for such a long boat. If you are looking for a canoe for the BWCA, this is the only one you should consider."

Champlain

"Champlain 18' Kevlar gelcoat version -- I was in turmoil deciding between the Minnesota II and the Champlain. I'm sure I made the right choice. It handled tight turns in upstream water better than my 16' Oldtown Penobscot and when we were paddling into 2 foot rollers it barely noticed them. It does catch wind when lightly loaded, just bring along the family dog for ballast, loads are not a problem. Tracking was good as well as fast and stable for fishing. Did I mention fast? Took the Champlain for a 14 day spin through the Quetico last summer. My Minnesota II came along as well. In careful head-to-head comparisons, the Champlain demonstrated slightly superior initial and secondary stability when loaded, greatly superior stability when empty, and significantly better turning responsiveness. The Minn II was slightly faster, though the difference was unnoticeable at loaded cruising speed. The Champlain is an extraordinary wilderness tripping craft -- without the sleekness of the Minn. II, perhaps, but with a rock-solid utility beyond compare. I have had a Champlain for the a couple of weeks and absolutely love it. It was purchased to be the family cruiser and it is at that. Plenty of room for 2 adults and two kids plus gear for an overnighter or two. The boat is very stable, tracks well and is fairly manuaverable for an 18' canoe. The ride is dry when wind and waves pick up. Our is in the Tuf-weave layup and seems fairly durable, though it is a bit on the heavy side, but it is 18' x 36" after all. Craftsmanship is excellent. Overall I am happy with the "minivan" of canoes. I highly recommend it if you need a large volume canoe. "

Itasca

"I've had my Kevlar ultra-light Itasca for about a year now, and am very pleased with it. I have taken it on camping trips with a week's worth of gear and two paddlers over 200 pounds each on a large lake with wind driven waves. It performs flawlessly. I have taken it out on day paddles with my family of five (two adults, three children, one dog). I find the boat to have good speed and it turns nicely. If you're looking for a craft capable of large loads, with good speed and predictable manners, then the Itasca is for you."

"I've bought a Kevlar Ultra-light Itasca with sliding bucket seats. It looks a bit technical at first, but: this canoe is very light, stiff, stable, fast and comfortable. The moderate arched hull together with the sleek lines and the length make it fast. When unloaded and trimmed well, it feels like a cruiser and really glides. Initial stability is good, but secondary stability is fantastic. Paddling ergonomically is very good because of lots of tumblehome at the seats, so paddlers can move their paddle very close to them. When searching for an extra big and stable, but fast and light canoe, the Itasca is one of the most serious choices out there."

Rogue

" When I purchased my Rogue, the first few trips I took were in slow moving water, the Rogue preformed fine, and I was satisfied with my purchase. Then I tried it out in moving water (Elkhorn Creek in central Kentucky -- a class II-III run). It was there that the Rogue came alive. It has unbelievable maneuvering for a boat of this size, and an absolutely dry ride. I have since outfitted it with a saddle and flotation. I now leave my whitewater kayak at home. I'm still having trouble believing how well this boat can ferry and surf. Some of my friends smirk at the size of my Rogue... that is, until we hit the rough water. Cudos on a great design. "

Cascade

"I have had a Royalex Cascade for two years. This is a great boat. I have taken it down the Burnside River in the Canadian Arctic. It has enormous capacity, yet turns pretty well. Compared to an Old Town Tripper or Old Town Appalachian, the Wenonah Cascade is a faster boat. It gets its speed from the shallow arch hull design and a relatively narrow bow entry. I say relative, because it is not like a Wenonah Escape or Minnesota II, but it is much narrower in the bow at the bottom than the Old Towns. This narrowness in the bow at the bottom, gives the boat speed, and because it flares out at the top it will deflect waves. The flipside is that when the waves become large and steep, the bow may submerge. The Old Towns are slower, but they have more buoyancy in the bow. The fact that the bow may submerge under big waves is not much of an issue with spray covers and good closures on the skirts. Another feature about the Cascade is that the sides flare out continuously all the way to the gunwale. This gives the boat tremendous stability laterally. It takes something major to capsize it. If you are paddling a combination of lakes and rapids to Class III with big loads, this is the boat! The Royalex Cascade is an awesome river tripper. At 17'6" you have to work at tight turns, but she will run dry through large waves and has the capacity for a months worth of gear. We've used her on the Stikine as well as more local trips, and it's always a delight. The length gives her more speed than the shorter boats, and a fair amount of rocker still lets her turn. The Cascade is good through class III. If you're running more technical water, I'd suggest a playboat. But if you want something that can be dropped off in the middle of the NorthWest Territories, and which you will paddle for a month as you make your way back to civilization, the Cascade is hard to beat. "

Prospector Series

"The Prospector 16 is great for family playing, learning traditional paddle strokes, river running and northern tripping. Beautiful hull design -- truly superior. Excellent handling down-stream. Excellent in the foam. Excellent handling solo or lightly loaded into C3 (get a spray cover to play in the rough stuff or to trip) and a fun but very buoyant playboat empty. Paddle it empty solo from the center with the rail in the water Bill Mason style, center her up and cross-sweep into an eddy or into shore with ease -- beautiful handling. Very seaworthy, surprisingly stable in a broach (again, very good hull design). This is the best handling US made tandem river/tripping canoe that I've paddled in 40 years. A joy to trip, to fish from, reasonably fast and good lookin' enough to take your lady out for a date."

Prism

"I took a four day solo trip in my Prism this past spring. The total load I was carrying was about 340 pounds. That included a 70 pound Chesapeake. I was really happy with the way she handled the wind and waves when loaded, and when empty in the evening while fishing. I was real happy with