Best all-around design?

I have learned a lot about canoes in the past year. My first canoe was a 16' OT Camper, which is stable, great on ponds/flat water, but not very dynamic on moving water. About a year ago, I picked up an Esquif "Echo" and quickly learned that soloing is an entirely different experience from paddling a tandem. (I also learned not to wear waist-high waders while learning how to keep a solo upright on moving water.) Last month, I picked up a 17' MR Duck Hunter (Revelation hull), which I am looking forward to getting on the water, probably as a dedicated tandem.

In the past, I thought a 16' MR Explorer design was a practical design for a tandem to be paddled solo, but lately I have started to think that 16' Prospectors make a better all-around tandem for paddling solo on Michigan rivers and lakes. What do the experts say?

You will find many, many reinforcing opinions on the suitability of 16' class "prospector" hulls for solo paddling, particularly with large paddlers and/or large loads. However, not all prospectors are Prospectors, and the individual hull characteristics vary widely within the class.

@Gamma1214 is currently building the best ever all purpose hull designed for a mix of lakes and rivers. If anyone wants to refute that they can build one to test it out.

So what characteristics make a "Prospector" a Prospector?

OxbowJay said:

So what characteristics make a "Prospector" a Prospector?

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There were a broad variety of Chestnut Prospectors so the answer varies. The most obvious element is that they tended to be deeper than the similar pleasure models. The 1934 catalog page below may help.

Benson

Alan Gage said:

@Gamma1214 is currently building the best ever all purpose hull designed for a mix of lakes and rivers. If anyone wants to refute that they can build one to test it out.

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Or you can attend the WPASCR in June & test paddle mine. I'm planning on having it done and taking it (maybe all 4 to see if anyone else wants to go rogue and build with weird woods)

Seriously, if you can make it, there are lots of hulls available to test out that weekend. Focus is primarily on solos, but the WCHA is typically well-represented too (mostly tandems).

This year it's June 5, 6 & 7 but I (and Alan's boat) may not be there until Sat the 6th.

Gamma1214 said:

Or you can attend the WPASCR in June & test paddle mine. I'm planning on having it done and taking it (maybe all 4 to see if anyone else wants to go rogue and build with weird woods)

Seriously, if you can make it, there are lots of hulls available to test out that weekend. Focus is primarily on solos, but the WCHA is typically well-represented too (mostly tandems).

This year it's June 5, 6 & 7 but I (and Alan's boat) may not be there until Sat the 6th.

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Oh dang. I HAVE to go now...

Tryin' said:

Oh dang. I HAVE to go now...

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IIRC, you're a big guy. You'll want to try the Raven. (we'll all coach you through building it)

Gamma1214 said:

IIRC, you're a big guy. You'll want to try the Raven. (we'll all coach you through building it)

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YRC...

Still want to see it!

Raven is bigger than I need but I do like it. I'm really interested to see how the Bloodvein compares.

Alan might get multiple reviews.

My Nova Craft Prospector was fantastic as a river solo with a heavy load. Without the load, anything more than a soft breeze made it a real handful to control. The soft chines and moderate rocker made it very forgiving though.

Although not as forgiving in some situations (like an accidental side surf), I actually think the MR Explorer is a better all around hull. But if solo or lightly loaded and not in any significant rapids, the Malecite is even better.

I haven't been in one, but a Bell Northstar or Northstar Polaris is probably an improvement over that. Honestly though, I haven't paddled solo in a tandem for quite a long time now. Poling OTOH, a Prospector is hard to beat. But then again, I might say the same about the Explorer.