novacraft/wenonah owners

[andy05]

I am in the process of buying an open canoe and have narrowed the field to the wenonah aurora, or the novacraft prospector 16 rx. Problem is that here in the highlands I am not having much luck demoing either. Is there anyone north of say perth who owns either of these and who would be prepared to let me try it out for half an hour? failing that just let me know what you think of them!
thanks Andy

[hobgoblin]

Try the Scottish Canoe Asc site there seem to be quite a few openboaters acive with various boats .

cheers

[choire]

hi there,, I am just south of Perth and have both makes of boat, but not the models you want.

The Nova Craft is heavier, but uses thicker royalex. The Wenonah oil cans a LOT with the thin royalex. The Nova has poor gunwales with no alloy insert, the Wen. gunwales are fantastic, small in section but very strong.

Both are well made, unlike some of the Mad Rivers I have had.

I would go Nova for long life and class, Wenonah for lightness if I was expecting lots of carrying. (I did 13 portages on one trip)

However, the above only relates to quality/weight.

Hull shape is the critical factor, and not having paddled the two models you have short listed I'm not really much help!

Contact us via the SCA open canoe forum. We are out and about nearly every weekend.

[andy05]

thanks for your replys and help. I dont seem to be able to find the forums on the old sca website, they seemed to dissappear a while back. On the new site I dont seem to be able to find them, any advice?

[choire]

I think you should find these under communications which has a link top R of home page.

[andy05]

thanks mate