Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by Mark J. Dann » Tue, 07 Apr 1998 04:00:00


I am considering buying a Wenonah Jensen 17' Canoe.  From what I have
researched, it is "very efficient...with great final stability and fantastic

year old daughter, but I will also use it solo at least 3 times weekly.
Planned usage will be Gulf Coast Bayou's, but there will be occasional use
on Texas Hill country area Class 1 or 2 waters and Galveston Bay and
surrounding bayou's.

I have paddled several times in recreation class canoes but never in a
Jensen or any cruiser.  I think I can handle and will enjoy the Jensen's
characteristics but I am a little afraid if my 2 brothers borrow the canoe
and use it with their young kids.  None of them are experienced paddlers.

Q1.  Am I better off in a 17' Sundowner even though it doesn't paddle solo
as good as a Jensen?
Q2.  Will the Jensen handle at least Class 1 water and a lightly choppy bay?
Q3.  Other than portage, what advantage will a Kevlar provide over
Tuf-weave?
Q4.  Should I not loan it out to my brothers for fear that they may dump
their families overboard?

Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

 
 
 

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by Lyle Fairfie » Tue, 07 Apr 1998 04:00:00

Don't do this. This canoe is, perhaps, the least stable non-racing canoe
commonly produced in North America, certainly by Wenonah. Do your research
again. The Jensen DOES NOT HAVE GREAT FINAL STABILITY. Start by looking in the
Wenonah catalogue. ... the little red bar beside the boat's name and under
seaworthiness. It's SHORT! Short means less; long means more. It's the
shortest in the book except for the solo plus used as a tandem.

Lyle  Fairfield



Quote:
>I am considering buying a Wenonah Jensen 17' Canoe.  From what I have
>researched, it is "very efficient...with great final stability and fantastic

>year old daughter, but I will also use it solo at least 3 times weekly.
>Planned usage will be Gulf Coast Bayou's, but there will be occasional use
>on Texas Hill country area Class 1 or 2 waters and Galveston Bay and
>surrounding bayou's.

>I have paddled several times in recreation class canoes but never in a
>Jensen or any cruiser.  I think I can handle and will enjoy the Jensen's
>characteristics but I am a little afraid if my 2 brothers borrow the canoe
>and use it with their young kids.  None of them are experienced paddlers.

>Q1.  Am I better off in a 17' Sundowner even though it doesn't paddle solo
>as good as a Jensen?
>Q2.  Will the Jensen handle at least Class 1 water and a lightly choppy bay?
>Q3.  Other than portage, what advantage will a Kevlar provide over
>Tuf-weave?
>Q4.  Should I not loan it out to my brothers for fear that they may dump
>their families overboard?

>Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

>Thanks,
>Mark


 
 
 

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by Mark J. Dann » Tue, 07 Apr 1998 04:00:00

Correction to my original note....:  The Jensen is stated to have "GOOD"
final stability, not "GREAT".  My mistake...typo on my part.
Mark J. Danna.

Quote:

>I am considering buying a Wenonah Jensen 17' Canoe.  From what I have
>researched, it is "very efficient...with great final stability and
fantastic

>year old daughter, but I will also use it solo at least 3 times weekly.
>Planned usage will be Gulf Coast Bayou's, but there will be occasional use
>on Texas Hill country area Class 1 or 2 waters and Galveston Bay and
>surrounding bayou's.

>I have paddled several times in recreation class canoes but never in a
>Jensen or any cruiser.  I think I can handle and will enjoy the Jensen's
>characteristics but I am a little afraid if my 2 brothers borrow the canoe
>and use it with their young kids.  None of them are experienced paddlers.

>Q1.  Am I better off in a 17' Sundowner even though it doesn't paddle solo
>as good as a Jensen?
>Q2.  Will the Jensen handle at least Class 1 water and a lightly choppy
bay?
>Q3.  Other than portage, what advantage will a Kevlar provide over
>Tuf-weave?
>Q4.  Should I not loan it out to my brothers for fear that they may dump
>their families overboard?

>Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

>Thanks,
>Mark


 
 
 

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by Chuck Ducho » Tue, 07 Apr 1998 04:00:00

Quote:

> I am considering buying a Wenonah Jensen 17' Canoe.  From what I have
> researched, it is "very efficient...with great final stability and fantastic
> glide".  

<snip>

Mark,

The Sundowner is a more general purpose canoe.

I paddled the Sundowner, and liked the Jensen much better. The Jensen 18
may be a little large for solo paddling on a regular basis.

For your specific questions:

Quote:
>Q1.  Am I better off in a 17' Sundowner even though it doesn't paddle solo as good as a Jensen?

I have an 18' Jensen (Tuf Weave) and I absolutely love it. I paddled a
Sundowner and the 18' Jensen much better. The Sundowner is Wenonah's
General purpose boat. I think the 18' Jensen may be a bit narrower, and
therefore easier to paddle solo. This gain may be offset by the extra
length.

Quote:
> Q2.  Will the Jensen handle at least Class 1 water and a lightly choppy bay?

I paddle with my daughter in the bow. The boat has handled moderate chop
without significant problems. On the worst days, we took on some water.
However, I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that I weigh 260+
lbs plus our gear. Probably a bit much for the boat.

Quote:
> Q3.  Other than portage, what advantage will a Kevlar provide over Tuf-weave?

Light weight and durability are the primary advantages. If you get a
skin (color) coat Kevlar boat  it is easier to maintain. The Gelcoat on
my Jensen is looking pretty sad after 4 seasons.

Quote:
> Q4.  Should I not loan it out to my brothers for fear that they may dump their families overboard?

I can't judge how your brothers' competancy. Since these boats run
$1,600 and up I don't lend it to ANYONE!!!
Quote:
> Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

> Thanks,
> Mark

 
 
 

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by Hexag » Tue, 07 Apr 1998 04:00:00

 Jensen.....fast canoe, however with a slight lean..it didn't seem
that *dry*.  The efficiency can somewhat overshadow other qualities...
but hey...if you *love* it..you love it...  There are a few other canoes
to choose from....that are nice boats.  The lower gunwales do make for
nice clearance...however, there are a number of *dryer* canoes that have
nice dimensions...of course, this is MY opinion;-)...I'm not the one
who'll be paddling it......buy the one you love...

good_luck,
steve d.

 
 
 

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by David Ril » Tue, 07 Apr 1998 04:00:00

I've paddled a 17' Jensen, a 17' Sundowner, and I own an 18' Jensen.  IMHO:
Of the three the 18' Jensen is the best, and a boat you should consider.

Quote:
> Q1.  Am I better off in a 17' Sundowner even though it
> doesn't paddle solo as good as a Jensen?

Both the 17' Jensen and the 18' Jensen track better and are correspondingly
quicker than the Sundowner (although the Sundowner is still better than most
canoes on the market).  Since you suggested you were taking an 8-yr-old, the
tracking will be helpful as you will likely do most of the work.

I also like the open feeling of the Jensen, especially the 18'.  This feeling
comes from the fact that the boat that isn't very deep.  The deep bow of the
Sundowner will feel much safer, but I find it less comfortable to reach over
the bow gunwales when paddling the Sundowner.

As for solo paddling... I had Wenonah install removable center seat when they
built my Jensen, and I do occasionally use it solo.  For a tandem it paddles
well as a solo, so long as you accept the large turning radius.  

Quote:
> Compared to the Jensen, the Sundowner
> Q2.  Will the Jensen handle at least Class 1 water and a
> lightly choppy bay?  

I've paddled my 18' Jensen for two weeks in the Boundary Waters and, loaded
with a week's gear plus two 200 lb. men, white caps come right to the
gunwale.  (I will admit it taxes our skill in such heavy water to keep the
boat dry, but we have manage it with careful headings and t***.)  Despite
the fact that the 17' Jensen is an inch deeper than the 18', I am less
confident of its ability in such situations.   With that deep bow it's hard
to imagine how anyone could let waves come over the gunwales of a Sundowner.

Quote:
> Q3.  Other than portage, what advantage will a Kevlar provide
> over Tuf-weave?

We have a skin-coat, and it is a great canoe.  However, my friend's Tuf-weave
is just as good on the water.  On the portage trail the story is different.  
I also think the gel coat canoes are more durable than skin coat, but I've
found I can patch the sharpest points of the bow and stern with a little
epoxy, and most people can't tell it has ever been repaired.  The epoxy is
also harder than the skin coat.  (Keep in mind that the granite rocks of the
Boundary Waters will show wear on most any canoe bottom.)

Quote:
> Q4.  Should I not loan it out to my brothers for fear that
> they may dump their families overboard?

I've worked with Boy Scouts for many years, so I've seen a lot of
inexperienced canoeists.  Still, the only people I've seen thrown from
well-designed canoes were either trying to capsize or doing something
seriously stupid (like standing on the gunwales near the stern).

The Jensens feel unstable to most inexperienced paddlers, but they really
aren't.  That said, it is always prudent to have experience in the stern if
the water is dangerous.

        Dave

 
 
 

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by Ron Locatell » Tue, 07 Apr 1998 04:00:00

Mark

I've paddled the 17' Jensen and the 18' Sundowner and I prefer the
Sundowner over the Jensen. The Sundowner is very seaworthy and handles
waves well . I felt that the Jensen had too little freeboard for what I
wanted in an open lake with the potential for some good waves.

I own the Spirit II and love it. It handles well, is seaworthy and
handles waves, carries alot of gear, and is maneuverable. It is more
difficult to solo because the width is 36" as opposed to the 17' Jensen
which is 33 3/4".

I suggest that you send for Wenonah's catalog; it's very informative and
will enable you to make comparisons between all the canoes they offfer.
507/454-5430. PO box 247, Winona, MN 55987

Ron

 
 
 

Wenonah Canoes: Jensen vs. Sundowner

Post by Mikt » Wed, 08 Apr 1998 04:00:00

Mark

I paddled an 18' tuff-weave Jensen for a number of years under many conditions
to include a lot of canoe races, flat water and class I cruises and 2 week
extended trips into the backcountry of Algonquin Park in Canada.  I agree with
most of the comments that have been posted.  Jensens are fast and the 18' long
standard is probably the fastest.  They track well and they really move for a
minimum of paddle effort.  I don't that they are particularly unstable, but
this is something that you have to get used to.  I think that it is possible to
flip just about any boat, and I have also seen racers run comp. cruisers (VERY
unstable) through class II whitewater.  Personal skill and level of comfort are
big factors here.  The tuff weave is heavy.  I noticed that especially on long
portages up in Algonquin.  Having owned both tuff weave and kevlar boats I
would never buy a kevlar boat for anything other than racing.  I disagree about
the durability of kevlar.  The sun seriously degrades kevlar. In addition I
have seen kevlar boats punctured by rocks, tree roots, etc.  Several weeks ago
I saw a kevlar boat that was destroyed because the owner cranked the straps
down too tight on his roof rack.  Personally when paddling my tuff weave boat I
didn't worry so much about occasional dings on rocks.  When I hit a rock with
my kevlar boat all I could think about was $1400.  

At any rate-good luck and get out there and enjoy the water!

Mike Burk