Prospector

I have been paddling the Hellman Prospector for 13 years. I bought it in new/used condition. It is a Duralite layup with aluminum gunnels.

This boat is faster than a standard prospector. The narrowed ends push less water. I have a Chestnut Prospector in cedar-strip. It is much slower in comparison.

The Duralite layup is light and strong. This boat has been run at full speed into a cliff. It bounced off, no damage.

It has been picked up by the wind, blown through the air and bashed on the ground. Again, no damage.

After 13 years and many, many kilometers I am a fan.

It is a longer boat at 17 and a half feet. Hauls a load. I would buy another but this one is going strong despite grinding

on the bony rivers of the Canadian Rockies. This boat has gained a reputation among paddlers out west.

People like it ---- a lot.

I have owned a Hellman prospector in ultralight kevlar layup for 25 years. I have used it on many trips, on lakes of all sizes, rivers to class 3 plus, and on the open ocean on the West coast of Vancouver Island, as well as on the inside coast north, through many tidal rapids. I added a sail rig, based on the Solway Dory expedition bermudan, 3 seasons ago. I have had it in 8 foot waves, strong winds, and routine 6 foot ocean swell. It takes some experience and practice to appreciate. It can be relatively slow if you trim it badly, and won't handle to its potential until you know how to load it. Once you know it, it is very capable, quite fast, and manouverable. The hull is extremely seaworthy, and handles large waves if you do your part. It is sensitive to trim and I find it handles better with a load. It likes to be trimmed level. The kevlar is extremely tough, and although it has been bashed around a lot, it only shows scratches. A well made canoe. It has a good amount of rocker, which aids in handling, including big waves and quick turns, but still tracks well if trimmed properly. As a sailing hull it is an excellent shape, and handles the sailing load better than larger boats with more freeboard but less rocker. Sailing on flat water, it does not need a lot of rudder, if trimmed well. It can pack a months worth of gear and supplies. I have fitted mine with extra attachment points for float bags and packs, and small pintles for the sailing rigs rudder. When it is not wearing the sail rig, all that is visible are the 2 small pintles at the stern and the mast foot. It is the most capable and adaptable canoe I have used, and I have used many. This is a canoe worth the effort to rig for sail, and to confidently keep. I recommend ordering kevlar layup for durability, the a carved yoke, which makes it a very comfortable carry, and the sliding bow seat for quick trim adjustments to adapt to conditions. In ultralight layup, with the small bits of extra attached hardware for the sail rig, and the yoke and front sliding seat, mine weighs 52 pounds.

I'm on my second Hellman Prospector. The first was Duralite, my current is ultralight Kevlar layup. This is a superb canoe. I just returned from a trip where I carried 1000+ lbs of Moose and other gear twice in a week in long paddles in rough waves on a large lake. On one trip I made a mistake and got caught mid lake in a squall that I would not have taken a 20' boat out into. I've been paddling for many years and have never had a scarier experience but this canoe just blew me away how it handled the situation. Handled incredibly well and predictably. The hull just seems to get faster with more weight onboard.

This is a modified Prospector - symmetrical, shallow arch hull, fine entry, epoxy kevlar layup. The epoxy layup takes a hell of a blow and bounces back without cracking, remarkable. Mine, in ultralight layup (a custom version they don't advertise but will custom build for you) only weighs about 45lbs. By the way, I think this is built on the same form as Souris River uses. The epoxy Kevlar layup and and design are essentially identical.

Another reviewer complained about seats riveted through hull. I too don't like this, but I have to say they work and there never seem to be any problems with them.

This is a very fast and lively hull. With the narrow beam and shallow arch it will feel initially "tippy" to inexperienced paddlers. After 5 minutes you will feel comfortable and realize how seaworthy the design is. The hull is very very seaworthy, and amazingly fast. It is great for river, ocean or lake use and to my mind is the ultimate tripper.

I think this is the best all around canoe on the market and would buy another in a heartbeat. Also, Bob Hellman is a great guy to deal with and will customize your personal canoe as you want. All in all, when I shop around, I can't find a better deal or a better canoe.

The Hellman Prospector is a good-sized tripping canoe with minimal build and options. After owning one for three years I can say this, while I was initially impressed with the canoe, I am ready to replace it with something else. I am still not convinced that their material (duralite) is any more durable than fibreglass, and worth the extra price. It is light for a big canoe, but easy to gouge and even some heavy scratches show right through the hull.

The main problems are loose and poorly space rivets on the gunnels (one is actually loose because the rivets only clipped the top of the composite). The seats are actually riveted to the hull rather than hung which, in my opinion, is a joke. The rivets on the stern seat are a bit loose and I can see that they will eventually wear through or pull out. Also, for close to $2000 price tag it doesn't have a comfortable carrying yoke - just a shaped board. But the biggest problem is that it's just plain SLOW. For such a long canoe (17'6") it really drags. Paddling it feels like pushing a bus.

Overall I'd say it's an adequate canoe, but there are better boats you can buy for your dollar. I don't recommend the Hellman Prospector for touring.

I have had my Helman Prospector for over 5 years now. It is in a Dura-lite layup with wooden gunwales and trim. This is an extremely tough and forgiving layup, having ridden it upon many a river rock.

Its narrower bow does help it cut through water a bit faster then other Prospectors, but it also gives the bow paddler a better bath when going through rapids and heavy chop.

The workmanship of the hull was great, my only nitpick though was in the craftsmanship of the wood decks. They were planted on in what looks like an afterthought. Overall a very good build though.

I have done lots of tripping both on flat and bumpy water with it. Other then the aforementioned narrow bow, it does great on river travel, and is very responsive. On flat water it is OK, quite good for a Prospector design. I did however retire it from flat water in for a much faster Swift Winisk, and now use it for all my river travel.