Thoughts on an Esquif Heron 15

[CaptainOllieWest]

It is very dangerous to look through the facepage marketplace.
An Esquif Heron 15 popped up within a reasonable driving distance and what appears to be a great price.
It seams that it is a cut down version of their Prospecteur 15.
Does anyone have any experience with this canoe?
I am 6'-1", 225lbs. I assume it will work well as a solo, paddled backwards, but how will it work as a tandem?

 

[NikonF5user]

It is very dangerous to look through the facepage marketplace.
An Esquif Heron 15 popped up within a reasonable driving distance and what appears to be a great price.
It seams that it is a cut down version of their Prospecteur 15.
Does anyone have any experience with this canoe?
I am 6'-1", 225lbs. I assume it will work well as a solo, paddled backwards, but how will it work as a tandem?

Be sure not to mix up the Huron with the Heron - the Huron is the cut-down 15' Prospecteur - a boat I personally have not paddled, but about which I am also very curious. It is a fantastic option to paddle backwards as a solo - MANY do. With two people you will not have a ton of potential for gear, but for day trips (or lightly-packed overnight trips) the Huron will work just fine - very much like the Swift Prospector 15 or Old Town Pathfinder / Camper 15. While Esquif markets the Huron as more of a cottage boat, it is still over 13" high at midship, taller than the Camper and Pathfinder, both of which have been used for backcountry trips for a very long time. Plus the Huron is lighter than the Prospecteur, meaning it will save your back a bit when portaging or loading onto your car. Esquif now makes the boat in T-Formex Lite, and I must say that is a MIGHTY alluring canoe.

The Heron is a square-stem boat set up to accept a small motor. It is great for fishing or hunting, but not ideal for any sort of backcountry canoe trip...

 

[NikonF5user]

Be sure not to mix up the Huron with the Heron - the Huron is the cut-down 15' Prospecteur - a boat I personally have not paddled, but about which I am also very curious. It is a fantastic option to paddle backwards as a solo - MANY do. With two people you will not have a ton of potential for gear, but for day trips (or lightly-packed overnight trips) the Huron will work just fine - very much like the Swift Prospector 15 or Old Town Pathfinder / Camper 15. While Esquif markets the Huron as more of a cottage boat, it is still over 13" high at midship, taller than the Camper and Pathfinder, both of which have been used for backcountry trips for a very long time. Plus the Huron is lighter than the Prospecteur, meaning it will save your back a bit when portaging or loading onto your car. Esquif now makes the boat in T-Formex Lite, and I must say that is a MIGHTY alluring canoe.

The Heron is a square-stem boat set up to accept a small motor. It is great for fishing or hunting, but not ideal for any sort of backcountry canoe trip...

I think I am wrong about the depth of the Huron - there is a mistake on the Esquif website. It is 12.5" tall (not 14.5 as it says on the Esquif website), so about a half-inch shorter than the Camper and Pathfinder. I personally probably would still use it for backcountry trips, but at that height the use of a splash cover would be helpful...

 

[CaptainOllieWest]

I think I am wrong about the depth of the Huron - there is a mistake on the Esquif website. It is 12.5" tall (not 14.5 as it says on the Esquif website), so about a half-inch shorter than the Camper and Pathfinder. I personally probably would still use it for backcountry trips, but at that height the use of a splash cover would be helpful...

Thank you for the information. It was the Huron. It sold fast.