Prospector 16

I absolutely love this canoe. It is maneuverable when it needs to be, but yet it tracks straight as well, especially loaded, like on my trip around the Bowron Lakes. I had a web seat put in the bow so I can paddle it solo facing the stern. Construction is bomb-proof. Beautiful workmanship.

I bought a P16 one week ago. My son and I are just back from its maiden voyage yesterday. We went down the Saint-Maurice river in Quebec. A stretch of 120 kilometers between La Tuque and Grand-Mere. My son and I are beginners. The canoe is the Duraflex lay-up at 60 pounds. The boat was loaded with 525 pounds including paddlers, food and gear.

The quality and finish are first class. The boat feels very safe from the time to step in. It has good primary stability. We didn't lean the boat but it handled well anything we face, although conditions were quite good, just a bit of a head wind, wake, wind waves. No real rapids just the regular river stuff. Although it has quite a bit of rocker, it tracked really well and at the same time was very maneuverable.

All in all, we were impressed and very happy with the purchase. I give it a nine for now with a view for a 10 when I paddle it solo and in more challenging conditions.

This is a terrific canoe! The fit and finish is excellent and the canoe handles beautifully. It is a bit too much of a tub for any fast paddling but it handles class III whitewater without a qualm. Good trade off

This boat gets a well deserved 10 and so does the company. I bought mine from Western Canoeing and Kayaking (the factory) In Abbottsford, BC on the way back from a trip to Bowron Lakes Provincial Park. I had met one of the company's employees when doing the Bowron circuit and he could not say enough good things about the product line. I also saw several Kevlar Prospectors on the circuit while I was there. I was set on this particular boat before even stopping at the factory and Marlin the owner showed me a fresh new hull in the Kevlar Duralite layup and said he could have it ready by the next day at 10 am. I picked up the canoe the next morning. These folks at the store were some of the nicest people I have ever met. I have since paddled the boat on the Colorado river and on Lake Mead and it is a fabulous boat whether solo or tandem. I paddle it Canadian style, heeled over and paddling on the right side. It turns on a dime but can straight line on a very windy Lake Mead as well. I had an accident when I first took the boat out in which my bow line got caught in my front tire when I was cartopping the boat on my Jeep Liberty. This pulled down very hard on the boat and bent both gunwales and put a kink in the kevlar. Western Canoeing and Kayaking quickly sent me 2 gunwhales and lots of rivets as well as Kevlar and fiberglass to do my repair. They tutored me over the phone as I repaired the boat and now it is as good as new. This is a fine company with a fine product and great staff. I would reccomend this company and this boat to anyone. They really understand customer service and they build a fabulous canoe.

This boat is an excellent all-rounder. The Fibreglass model is very durable and stands up to average use and abuse. I paddle solo and it is a little difficult to handle in the wind. Also a bit on the heavy side at 72 lbs, but that's where the durability comes from, so it's a fair trade-off in my mind.