NATURAL

Wenonah Itasca Ultra-Light Kevlar Canoe

$2549.09
$2999.00^*

REDUCED PRICE You Save 15%

(1)

Item # 833008

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gear and Advice You Can Trust

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Load up the Wenonah Itasca Kevlar Ultra-Light canoe and set off for the best paddle trip of your life.

The 49 lb. Wenonah Itasca Kevlar Ultra-Light canoe is incredibly lightweight, tough and and responsive thanks to its Kevlar® composite construction
Vacuum-bagged resin impregnates layers of hand-shaped Kevlar fabric to ensure an ideal resin to fabric ratio
Structural foam core and ribs are laminated into the hull and sides of canoe
Aluminum plates laminated into hull serve as a connection point for seats and footbraces, eliminating rivet heads on exterior of canoe
As many as 8 fabric layers strengthen specific areas of canoe such as the bow, stern and keel
Designed to carry expedition gear through wind and waves, The Itasca Kevlar Ultra-Light canoe offers excellent tracking and superior performance in rough water
Load 'er up! The Itasca features a 19 ft. length combined with a 37 in. width to maximize carrying capacity
Despite the 37 in. width, substantial tumblehome lets you paddle close to the hull
Moderately rockered hull offers a great balance between maneuverability and speed
Wood gunwales and an ash yoke offer a classic look
Adjustable stern footbraces increase control, and bucket seats provide cradled comfort during long hours on the water
Sliding bow seat allows for proper weight distribution
Carry handles that are shaped to fit comfortably in your hands ease transport

Made in USA.

Item 833008

An oversize shipping charge of $95 applies to this item (plus regular shipping fees). Or ship it FREE to any REI store for pickup. Please allow up to two weeks for delivery (except for inflatable and folding boats).
Important: Read more about shipping costs.

Save 15 on Paddles and PFDs

your paddle and PFD when you purchase this canoe!
Details

View all Wenonah products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Wenonah Itasca Ultra-Light Kevlar Canoe Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Wenonah Itasca Ultra-Light Kevlar Canoe

5.0

(based on 1 review)

Reviewed by 1 customer

Displaying review 1

Feb

2013

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Only One Downside

By Canoebear

from Upland, Ca.

About Me Advanced

See all my reviews

Pros

Cleans Easily
Dries Easily
Good Waterproofing
Lightweight
Rugged
Unbeleivable Capacity
Unbeleivable Handling
Unbeleiveable Speed

Cons

A Potential Devorce Boat
Learning Curve For Novice
Maintenance On Trim
Not For Class 3 Or Above

Best Uses

Big Water
Canoe camping
Day Trips
Family
Flat Waters
Lakes
Ocean Swells
Portages Kevlar Carbon
SLOW RIVERS
Wilderness Exploration

Comments about Wenonah Itasca Ultra-Light Kevlar Canoe:

Bought our first Itasca around 2005. Bought another (used) Itasca and refurbished it in 2012. We still have both of them and another 17 or 18 canoes & kayaks. We've paddled many more. We like wilderness expedition, but rarely get the opportunity. We've paddled most western states, & some areas in Canada.

Together my wife & I weigh over 400 lbs, & I stand over 6 feet. My wife, a few inches less. Our kids were raised in the bow of our Venom Racer. We've done our minimalist camping, but enjoy good meals & simple frills, so we don't always pack light. Also, I'm an amateur outdoor photographer, carying equipment weighing nearly 100 lbs on photo ops.

We shopped a long time for our next "Perfect" canoe. It had to have leg room, be big enough for ocean, carry weeks of supplies, track well, and glide like a bird. Eventually we narrowed our search down to 4 different canoes and settled on the Itasca, Kevlar Flex-Core w/ Gel Coat. Shortly after, I injured my arm. I was unable to paddle for over a year. I still can't paddle a double blade, or match the racing strokes I used to love, but as a result, the maiden voyage of the Itasca was more than just a test of my passion…it defined our new canoe.

In high winds, and from the bow, my wife paddled a 9 mi. round trip in one day, & kept up with most of the rest in our group. After I was able to paddle again, we were victims of an intentional swamping prank. We rode quartering waves over 5 ft. from crest to trough & never went over. We did take on a small amount of water & the bow free-fell to the bottom with a slap, and still able to assist a flipped kayak suffering the same prank immediately after.

Insight & tips. This is a remarkable canoe. It instantly became our favorite. We ordered it with the Kevlar skid pads. Unlike after market installations, these are installed in the mold prior to laminating. There is NO additional drag. We got sliding/contoured seats, & a rear foot brace (I beleive these are standard now). After reading about wind problems, I was going to make a canoe cover. Not possible with my injury, so I called Wenonah. They told me: "Load extra ballast." An old trick we've used to trim out canoes for decades. But this required a lot of ballast & was soon abandoned. Our solution was a couple of car top bags. Empty or loaded, when tied between the center gunwals, these shed the wind like a raincoat to rain & provide a great & secure way to load the vessel. Speed is unholy for a touring canoe. It will never compete against a true racer, but for a tandem touring canoe it's heaven. Only down side would be the distance between the for and aft paddlers, makes communicating from front to back a purposful act. In fact, as with any tandum, good communication and teamwork are essential if you want to go paddling and remain friends.

Maneuvering was supposed to be a problem. But after 20+ years in a marathon racer, it was no big deal. We use many of the same strokes the racer needs, & we can turn it on a dime in an instant. And the glide…oh the glide...it has a Gene Jensen glide. Need I say more. To launch, I just shove off & jump in. Initial stability is shamefully off-the-charts, but the secondary is so good you almost can't find its limits. Get a light color, it hides the scratches better. Would be nice if Wenonah would offer pre-finished gunwale options for an additional price. It took me weeks to finish ours one handed.

The basic strokes that allow you to pilot this vessle can be learned in a summer and mastery can be obtained with practice. If you are serious about canoeing, then it's worth the effort to start with the best, and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

The price was high, but worth it. Are there other great canoes out there? No doubt. So the down side would be this: I'll probably never have a desire to find out.
Vern Matthews,
keep your bottom wet!

Service and delivery comments:

Strongly urge you to have it delivered to an REI outlet. Home delivery can be difficult to arrange and exicute.