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To buy or not to buy—Swift Prospector 14 expedition Kevlar

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Relatively new to paddling a canoe with 3-4 years experience on wide high volume western US rivers (Colorado, Green, Gunnison). purchased a 16’ Nova Craft Prospector in tough stuff expedition weight. Like it but its a lousy solo boat—too wide, catches too much wind, not manueverable. Recently purchased a Nova Craft Supernova and don’t like it—too tippy, no initial stability, a bit wide, a bit heavy. Paddled my friends Northstar Phoenix and its a bit tippy and a bit narrow but the lighter weight than the Super Nova is appreciated. I am drawn to the Swift line of boats. And I think the Prospector 14’ in the expedition Kevlar would be a good boat for me to solo. Am I wrong?

63 years old, 6’, 200 lbs. and somewhere between a beginner and an intermediate level paddler with lots to learn. I don’t really like lake paddling, preferring moving water up to class II. Still learning to maneuver properly and need a wider repertoire of paddling stokes. Like to trip a bit on my local rivers—high desert canyons with occaisional riffles. Would like to explore more rivers in US and Canada. Need lighter weight boat as I’m getting older and weaker, and if i ever get the chance, for portages on longer backcountry canoe routes. I prefer to sit but I usually kneel when approaching/in a rapid. I also prefer to use a canoe paddle but I do have a 280 cm bending branches kayak paddle for power/speed or in windy conditions. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I bought a used Swift Prospector 14 Pack in kevlar fusion with carbon trim and yoke. It's exactly what is on that page on Swift site.


I love it. I tested Hornbeck classic and new tricks, the Esquif Echo, and Swifts Keewaydin 15 Pack, among others, and I already have a Souris River Tranquility (which is great for Quetico/Boundary Waters, it just didn't turn easily in Adirondak streams and rivers.) I love the Prospector 14 Pack - and alternate between a straight paddle and a double end.

70 years, 205 pounds, 6'-1", intermediate paddler on a good day. You can read my solo search thread here for more:

 
Randy, welcome to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! Also, please consider adding your location to your profile, which will cause it to show under your avatar, as this is in many ways a geographic sport. We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.

I don’t really like lake paddling, preferring moving water up to class II. Still learning to maneuver properly and need a wider repertoire of paddling stokes. Like to trip a bit on my local rivers—high desert canyons with occaisional riffles.

I've never paddled one, but the Swift Prospector 14 specs look as if they might be a reasonable fit for your requirements, although I would think of that canoe more as a lake canoe. You can get a fixed seat, a multi-level seat to change for sitting and kneeling, or a pack canoe style sit-on-bottom seat. Pack canoes are much more aimed at lake paddling than river rapids paddling.

You can get the Swift Prospector 14 in a very light laminate, but you risk damage in rapids at your skill level in a lightweight composite canoe. Also, I'm not sure how good a whitewater canoe it would be with only 1" of rocker on each end. I would assume the 16' Nova Craft Prospector, which I have paddled, is actually somewhat more maneuverable with its 2.5" of rocker, although it is rather large for a solo canoe.
 
What about a Northstar Trillium solo in IXP layup, 38 lbs.? It has 2.5” X 1.5” rocker which should be a better maneuvering river/stream canoe.
 
I have paddled tandem canoes solo for many decades. Most of them were 17 feet or more.
Recently I got a hold of the short OT Canadienne. It is kevlar and easy to carry and very fast. But I can't get used to the 32 inch beam. It is easy to reach the water from amidships, it a rocket, I can carry it but it is not relaxing and I am going back to big canoes for rivers.
 
Randy, have you looked at the Clipper line of solos? They have a 14’ prospector as well that comes in at sub 50lbs in various layups and would be considerably less dough than a swift and no gel coat if that’s your thing.
I drive a Duraflex Caribou S, it’s a real tough, river worthy big person boat but probably a little too much like the Pheonix for you.


I think Nova Craft has a 15' Prospector that would make a good WW solo tripping boat.
Agreed but its a heavy boat comparatively, 54 and 58lbs for the tuffstuff lineup. I’d take a more durable 2 lbs heavier 15’ Esquif Prospector over the Nova Craft.
 
I will say that if I hadn't found a great deal on used Swift Prospector 14, I was very tempted by the Esquif Echo. Much the same stability, tougher, more rocker, but heavier.
 
Randy, have you looked at the Clipper line of solos? They have a 14’ prospector as well that comes in at sub 50lbs in various layups and would be considerably less dough than a swift and no gel coat if that’s your thing.
I drive a Duraflex Caribou S, it’s a real tough, river worthy big person boat but probably a little too much like the Pheonix for you.



Agreed but its a heavy boat comparatively, 54 and 58lbs for the tuffstuff lineup. I’d take a more durable 2 lbs heavier 15’ Esquif Prospector over the Nova Craft.
I have a Clipper 14’ Prospector in the very tough Kevlar Duraflex layup. It weighs 46 lb. It’s a great solo boat in whitewater: maneuverable, plenty of depth, and excellent secondary stability. On flat water it’s a bit more of a challenge. Basically it likes turning more than it likes going straight, so you need to have good correction strokes to make it go where you want. Alternatively, you can use a kayak paddle for the flat water portions of a trip. The other issue is that its depth makes it vulnerable to the wind, so if you’re not carrying a load you have to add some weight to make it sit lower in the water. But overall, a very capable solo boat for tripping with lots of whitewater.
 
Relatively new to paddling a canoe with 3-4 years experience on wide high volume western US rivers (Colorado, Green, Gunnison). purchased a 16’ Nova Craft Prospector in tough stuff expedition weight. Like it but its a lousy solo boat—too wide, catches too much wind, not manueverable. Recently purchased a Nova Craft Supernova and don’t like it—too tippy, no initial stability, a bit wide, a bit heavy. Paddled my friends Northstar Phoenix and its a bit tippy and a bit narrow but the lighter weight than the Super Nova is appreciated. I am drawn to the Swift line of boats. And I think the Prospector 14’ in the expedition Kevlar would be a good boat for me to solo. Am I wrong?

63 years old, 6’, 200 lbs. and somewhere between a beginner and an intermediate level paddler with lots to learn. I don’t really like lake paddling, preferring moving water up to class II. Still learning to maneuver properly and need a wider repertoire of paddling stokes. Like to trip a bit on my local rivers—high desert canyons with occaisional riffles. Would like to explore more rivers in US and Canada. Need lighter weight boat as I’m getting older and weaker, and if i ever get the chance, for portages on longer backcountry canoe routes. I prefer to sit but I usually kneel when approaching/in a rapid. I also prefer to use a canoe paddle but I do have a 280 cm bending branches kayak paddle for power/speed or in windy conditions. Any help would be appreciated.
I recently watched a video of a guy on an overnighter with a Prospector 14 and thought it looked like a good all around boat. Maybe not what I'd buy just for the BWCAW, but for general tripping it looks pretty like a great boat,
 
I have a Clipper 14’ Prospector in the very tough Kevlar Duraflex layup.

JeffT, a belated welcome to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! Also, please consider adding your location to your profile, which will cause it to show under your avatar, as this is in many ways a geographic sport. We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.
 
Randy, have you looked at the Clipper line of solos? They have a 14’ prospector as well that comes in at sub 50lbs in various layups and would be considerably less dough than a swift and no gel coat if that’s your thing.
I drive a Duraflex Caribou S, it’s a real tough, river worthy big person boat but probably a little too much like the Pheonix for you.



Agreed but its a heavy boat comparatively, 54 and 58lbs for the tuffstuff lineup. I’d take a more durable 2 lbs heavier 15’ Esquif Prospector over the Nova Craft.
I have both the Nova 15' prospector and the esquif. Like them both. Nova Craft has higher gunwales than the Esquif. both weigh almost the same, as rubbaboo stated.

I run them both solo.
 
I have had a Hellman Solitude for 15 years and find it a very versatile boat. I paddle rivers up to Class 2+ and lakes with people in tandems and have found it to be capable in moving water and quite fast on the flats. I got it with a tractor seat and foot-brace and with knee pads. I paddle sitting most of the time but can kneel when I want. I have it in the Dura-Tuff lay-up (which it appears they don't make any more) and it has been very durable. If I were replacing my boat, the Solitude in one of the lighter lay-ups would be very high on my list of possibilities.
 
The Hellman Solitude looks like a great boat! Seems like it would fit the bill for the OP. When I was shopping it was on the list but couldnt find one to test it out. I wonder If they’d make one in Duratuff if you special ordered?
 
I have a Swift Prospector 14 In the pack config. I am 6'5" 260lb. I mostly paddle with double blade. I paddle lakes and class 1+ rivers. It is super stable and manuverable. But with that manuverablity means its tracking with a single blade means it needs lots of correction. it is doable but the double blade is so good that it is hard to justify. I use a 250 cm 22 oz carbon paddle. I keep up or blow past anything on the water with the double blade. On a lake in white caps I can turn or paddle at any angle to the waves and not worry, when it is just me or with my 100 lb dog or with 140 lb of gear for tripping it is just as stable. I have not taken into anything above class 1+ . I dont think rocks would put a hole in it but the do leave good scratch marks that dont show in a t-formex boat. The pack seat is so comfortable I have paddled several times for 4 hours with out getting uncomfortable. Swifts multi-position seat seems good idea if you like a traditional seat and want to sit or kneel. Very curious what you decide / decided. Interesting you found the NS Phoenix tippy. It was on my list but never was able to test paddle.
 
I have a Swift Prospector 14 In the pack config.

Pjones, welcome to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! Also, please consider adding your location to your profile, which will cause it to show under your avatar, as this is in many ways a geographic sport. We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.
 
Some Canadian guy, Adam Shoalts paddled, poled, dragged, and carried a 15’ NC Prospector 4,000km across Canada’s Tundra. Both Book and Film available to view.
;)
 
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