Lakie and Trish,
You live in Pennsylvania and Maine, respectively? I’m in the Orlando, Florida area.
One of you Yankee girls 
should check to see if this Lost Pond in New York is still needing a home. I would have bought it but the cost plus shipping was just too much for me to pay without seeing and paddling it first.
http://www.hemlockcanoe.com/used_&_demo.html
Check with Dave Curtis at Hemlock Canoe. He is a real sweetie; took the time to answer my questions.
How long will you be in town?
I may be paddling the Edisto that weekend.
Light solos don’t have to be short.
They also don’t have to be sit on the bottom.
I suspect that I’m not as small as you, I’m 5’6" and 160 lbs and have been much enjoying paddling the Wenonah Advantage that I bought used last fall. It weighs about 32 lbs.
http://www.wenonahracing.com/marathon/Models/Advantage.html
The Advantage is 8 lbs heavier than the Wee Lassie and 2" wider, but the gunwale width is narrower and it moves along quite nicely with a bent shaft single blade canoe paddle if you’d rather use a single blade than a double blade.
Of course, if you need either a boat that’s lighter than 32 lbs or one that’s closer to the 12’ range, rather than the 16.5’ range, the Advantage wouldn’t be the boat for you. I haven’t paddled the Advantage in rough conditions, so I can’t comment ont that. It does get blown around a bit more in the wind than a shorter boat might, but unless you’re in a hurry, it’s not too annoying. It glides quite nicely.
I’ve found the Advantage to be a pleasant boat to diddle around in and it can move along quite nicely if you want it to.
I use a CVCA pedestal mount Solo Yoke to carry it.
Wenonah Wee Lassie
Very nice boat, highly recommended. Light, paddles well, fast, comfortable adjustable seat, reasonable price, fun. The boat had a few small leaks and the dealer replaced it with a good one. I use a 260, seems like the proper length paddle for me.
Wee Lassie
– Last Updated: Mar-22-09 12:17 PM EST –
I've paddled a Wenonah Wee Lassie forabout a year now. It's a great boat for lillydipping around the local lakes and ponds though I have done some overnighters with it. It's very stable, basically unaffected by the wind and easy to maneuver. At 24lbs it's easy to carry and load on the car. It's also low maintenance as there is very little wood in it. The seat and seat back are comfortable though the seat back is a little tall for shorter folks.I'm 5'10" 215lbs and it's a great fit for me. My SO is 5'2" 110 and she thinks it's a little large for her especially depth-wise. She paddles a Hornbeck Lost Pond 10. As with all boats, if possible, try before you buy. If you're short definitely paddle the Wee Lassie before you buy it. There are many options if a pack canoe is what you're looking for. Placid Boatworks, Vermont Canoe, Hemlock, Hornbeck, Bell and Savage River come to mind.
By the way, I started a pack canoe discussion group on Yahoo Groups a little while back. There's not much there now but I'd love to see it get going. Pardon the longwindedness. Thanks
Joe
See, I knew I should have
bought that Lost Pond. I’m about an inch taller and 3 pounds heavier than your SO, so that is very helpful information. Looking at the specs for the Tupper, it looks close to the Wee Lassie and probably would feel large too.
I think
you should not write off either the Wenonah or the Tupper, or in fact any of the pack canoes, until you get a chance to paddle them. Specs are specs but only in numbers. The Tupper and Wee Lassie are very different canoes. The Tupper has longer layout at the stems and I believe narrows out quickly from the center toward the stems. The Wenonah stems are relatively vertical and fairly full toward the stems. The seating is also different which may make a difference in fit. Generally, all these pack canoes are different from one another and should all be paddled in order to make an educated decision.
Joe
Good advice,
and I would be so happy to paddle them all, but this hasn’t been possible in central Florida.
Our local Wenonah dealer (Travel Country Outdoors) doesn’t keep the Wee Lassie in stock, so no chance of a demo there.
Very occasionally I will see a solo canoe on our rivers, but there just aren’t many around.
A few days.
I’ll get into town around the 10th and then stick around the area till midweek. The goal is to get out with some locals and paddle. I might try to hook up with a paddle club or two. Any suggestions?
Rob
Sissy
Hound your local Wenonah dealer a little. The rep should be able to bring a Wee Lassie for a demo. Also, if possible, try to demo openboater’s Tupper when he’s in Fla. They’re really sweet boats. I think pack canoes are really great boats for Florida, especially for the springs and lakes.
I agree…sounds like the dealer
is afraid to take the plunge.
There are alot of older people down there that you see lugging around rec kayaks and they really dont need a boat with a deck.
Maybe he makes money selling boat carts!
Hi Sissy
I live in Boca Raton and there is a dealer just south who has a Wee Lassie. From Ocala the drive is about 4.5 hours. The dealer is Kayak Jeff in Pompano and he does let you test drive. He has a large selection of touring kayaks as well as Wenonah canoes.
Paddling clubs
mostly paddle on weekends. There is one group I paddle with occasionally on Tuesdays, so that might work. They decide each Tuesday where they are going to paddle the next week, so it would be April 7 before the destination for April 14 would be set.
Where have you paddled in central Florida, and is there any particular river you have in mind? If you’re staying in Apopka, you’ll be close to the Wekiva, Rock Springs Run, Alexander Creek, Juniper, Econlockhatchee, Ocklawaha, Silver River, Blackwater Creek and Lake Norris, St. Johns River. I’d paddle any of those with you.
Hi Groovymanatee,
Thanks for the info; it is good to know there is at least one Wee Lassie in our state.
Have you tried…
Canoe Country Outiftters in Tampa? I can’t imagine they don’t have one to try.
Trip Update:
I’ve pushed my trip out till the next week. I will be at Mosquito Creek on Saturday 4/18 and then stay around central Florida and paddle for a couple days (through Tuesday). I’ve never paddled in the area before. I’m banking on advice from locals like you.
Rob
Thanks!
I wasn’t aware of them. They not only have a used Wee Lassie, but a couple of kayaks that I’ve been wanting to try. I emailed them to see if a demo is possible.
I can paddle with you the 20th or 21st, or both. Rock Springs Run is my personal favorite stream; I would be happy to go there, or any of the others I mentioned.
Canoe Country
does have a Wee Lassie, and at a good price, but not to demo.
Looking forward to trying the Tupper.
spec compaison.
Email me at charliewilson610@roadrunner.com and I’ll return a spec comparison sheet in Word including all available pack canoes.
Hooray, I get to paddle
a Tupper on Saturday—first light weight solo canoe I’ve been able to demo, thanks to Openboater coming to Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka.
Other central Floridians wanting to demo, this is your chance, from 11 to 4.