How To Identify A Wenonah Canoe?

The first three letters (MFP) of a Wenonah canoe indicate its manufacturer, followed by the model and unique portion of the number. The last two digits are the unique portion of the number that identifies your specific canoe, followed by a letter representing the month of production. If the HIN is not the Manufacturers Identification Code (MIC), the canoe is not a Wenonah.

The HIN for Wenonah canoes begins with MFP. All Wenonah boats have an HIN that begins with MFP. If you’re looking to determine the year, model, and serial number of a Wenonah canoe, look for the Model Code (ECO) and Serial Number (SQN). The customer support at Wenonah is still quite good, and if you call with the HIN, you’ll likely be able to identify the model.

Wenonah canoes are available in various types, including the 17 Wenonah, which features lines similar to classic wooden hulls built in the early 1900s. The Wenonah Canoe Factory is a lot like a Tetris game, built with many additions over the years as the company grew into what it is today.

To find a Wenonah retailer, visit one of their over 400 knowledgeable retailers located around the world. The manufacturer code should be 3 letters, and the last 2 digits may be the year, sometimes with the year. Most modern hull identification numbers start with three letters, so you may want to take another look at yours.

Wenonah has a 50-year history of making quality canoes with nuanced designs, offering each hull in a variety of materials. Check out this vintage 17 Wenonah belonging to Cass Marie, who can easily identify the year your canoe was built by.

Is there a front and back to a canoe?

Canoes are configured to paddle in one direction. You can tell by the placement of the seats. The seats are alway noticeably set back toward the stern, or rear of the canoe. The seat with the most space between it and the end of the canoe is the bow, or front seat (more leg room).

First and foremost, as you launch the canoe make sure the open side is up. (Just how basic do we need to be here?) Seriously though, when launching your canoe make sure to put it all the way in the water. Otherwise, when you get in and part of the canoe is still on land, you’re not going anywhere. If it’s shallow, it may be best to walk the canoe into the water a little before stepping in. Place your paddles, cooler, or any other duffle into the canoe before stepping in. Make sure to steady yourself by gripping the both gunwales with both hands and stay low as you step in to middle of the boat (between the two sides) to keep the canoe from squirting out from under you.

Canoes are configured to paddle in one direction. You can tell by the placement of the seats. The seats are alway noticeably set back toward the stern, or rear of the canoe. The seat with the most space between it and the end of the canoe is the bow, or front seat (more leg room). Any third person should sit on the floor of the canoe (preferably on a cushion) between the two seats.

Paddling a canoe properly requires teamwork. The stern paddler is responsible for steering the canoe, so it makes sense this should be the more experienced or athletic paddler. The bow paddler has a better vantage point to observe obstacles or the best route through a ledge or rock garden for example. Communication via voice or hand gestures is helpful, but after you have paddled together a few times, the stern paddler will learn to “read” the paddle movement and body language of the bow paddler without effort.

Are wenonah canoes worth the money?

So don’t let the kayaking craze fool you—there’s more than one way to run a river. If you’ve got the gumption and nonconformist spirit to give white-water canoeing a try, I recommend Wenonah. They’ve been making downriver canoes for 35 years, and after testing their boats on several major rivers, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a more durable, maneuverable, and well-built white-water canoe.

The Rogue ($1,095) is Wenonah’s 16-foot, 66-pound tandem model, suitable for fast rivers with lots of obstacles. While it does carry gear and maneuver fairly well on moderate rivers, this boat is designed for one thing: running rapids. We kept ours lean—float bags and thigh straps were our only accessories—and we were able to turn the Rogue on a dime. It’s made from Royalex, an extremely durable material, which meant we could take hits from submerged rocks without fear. And its deep hull design kept most of the spray out of the boat, which translated into fewer trips ashore to bail water. One thing to keep in mind, though: the Rogue’s fast water design means it’s not the best boat to use on lakes or big, slow rivers like the Missouri.

A bit more versatile, but just as adept in whitewater, is the Rendezvous ($845), Wenonah’s solo white-water craft. This 15 ½-foot canoe is a ton of fun. Both maneuverable and highly stable, it handles like a BMW—tight on the turns, smooth on the open road. I took the Rendezvous on every kind of water, from the Shoshone’s Class-III rapids to lazy, meandering stretches on the Jefferson, and it held up well in all conditions. Stripped down, it’s light and fast; loaded with three days worth of gear, it tracks well and remains stable. Just make sure to keep your load evenly dispersed—the Rendezvous’ deep hull design catches wind, and if one end is jutting skyward, you’ll be doing pirouettes all the way to the take-out.

How to find the make and model of a kayak?

Serial number will be found on right side (standing at stern looking forward) of kayak just below the side seam demarcating hull and deck. Position will vary from boat to boat but is usually within 8-18″ forward of stern. Serial numbers are scribed into hull. For more information visit theFind Your Serial Number help page.

How do you identify an old canoe?

How do I find a serial number on an old wooden canoe or boat?. Many old wooden canoes and boats have a serial number on both inside stems and a decal or tag with the manufacturer’s logo on the bow deck. The number is usually stamped on the top of the lower part of the stems. The inside stems are the long curved pieces of wood that form the ends of the…

Tilly,Kevin Martin in New Hampshire builds new canoes on the original Kingsbury moulds. He is listed in the Builders Directory referenced by Benson above. He may be a resource for you. You have a great canoe. Good luck with the restoration.Jim C.

How do I identify my canoe?

Although non-motorized canoes and kayaks are exempt from many registration and labeling standards, all canoes and kayaks manufactured after 1972 are still required to have a Hull Identification Number (HIN). Newer canoes and kayaks often have a sticker placed next to the HIN that gives the vessel’s serial number.

• Is a 12-digit serial number that uniquely identifies a vessel.
• Is usually stamped or embossed on the starboard side at the stern of the hull. However, the location may vary.

Where are wenonah canoes made?

Wenonah Canoes are made in Minnesota. Wenonah Canoe is a smaller, independent, family-run canoe company in Winona, Minnesota. Since the beginnings of our company, we’ve had a long-standing great relationship with our friends who make Wenonah Aramid Canoes. They are an award-winning designer and manufacturer of high-performance canoes and kayaks, sold and paddled around the world. In a world dominated by huge manufacturing firms, they stick out by making sure the satisfaction of their customers comes first.Their mission and ours at Piragis Northwoods Company has always been to fit people into the best model canoes for their chosen use. In this, we reflect the values and the passion ofWenonah Canoe founder Mike Cichanowski and Piragis Northwoods Company founders Steve and Nancy Piragis.

Canoes available in Aramid Ultra-light, IB Ultra-light,Tuf-Weave Flex-core, and Graphite Ultra-light.(see individual Wenonah Canoes below for specifics.) Ultra-Lightweight Kevlar, Graphite andTuffweaveWenonah Canoes from Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely, Minnesota.

How to determine the front of a canoe?

Canoe Bow vs Stern The easiest way to tell bow (front) from stern (back) at a glance is which side would have more leg room. Other hints for direction include the painter and yoke.

Canoe Bow vs Stern. The easiest way to tell bow (front) from stern (back) at a glance is which side would have more leg room. Other hints for direction include the painter and yoke.

Canoe Yoke. The yoke is not always included, depending on the configuration of your boat, but it looks like a thwart or cross brace that has had a bite taken out of it. This curved section fits perfectly around the back of your neck if you’re brave enough to try portaging (carrying) it by yourself.

Fun fact: The yoke actually gets its namesake from oxen carts, where there’s a similar piece used to harness oxen to pull a wagon behind them!

What are the disadvantages of Kevlar canoes?

Disadvantages of a Kevlar Canoe Kevlars aren’t as durable as some of the other materials out there, especially aluminum. You’ll need to stay off rivers with hazards and swift current, and be careful around rocky shorelines.

Modern canoes are made of many different materials, with Kevlar and aluminum being two of the most popular. How do you know which to look for when shopping for a canoe?

Kevlar canoes are more and more popular (photo courtesy of @coffeefuelledwoodsman)

Before you lay the money out for a canoe, you’ll want to educate yourself on the available options. This includes the materials canoes are made from. Some materials work in some situations much better than others.

Can you tell a year by a serial number?

To Determine Manufacture Date Based on Serial Number: The 1st three numbers of your serial number will always provide your manufacture date. The 1st number is the YEAR of manufacture; the 2nd & 3rd numbers indicate the MONTH of manufacture.

How to tell front or back of canoe?

You’ll see the deck plate. This is designed to protect the top of the material. And can also double as a handle. Many of today’s canoes now integrate a separate handle into the deck plate.