17'
Length
36"
Width (in)
48–71
Weight (lb)
$1,999
Base MSRP

Haida 17 Options

  • Blue Steel

    50 lb
    Carbon Composite
  • Aramid Lite

    48 lb
    Kevlar/aramid Composite
  • Fiberglass

    71 lb
    Fiberglass Composite
  • TuffStuff Expedition

    60 lb
    Innegra Composite

    Haida 17 Description

    The Haida is the "big brother" of our Tripper model. It shares all the same handling characteristics of the 16 foot canoe but it's a bit wider and a bit longer. That gives it extra carrying capacity without changing speed or handling. The added roominess and stability means it is an ideal canoe for families who want to enjoy some tripping with young children, whether it is just a weekend jaunt to a favorite park or a wilderness adventure lasting a couple of weeks. The Haida is novice friendly yet still has enough performance to appeal to experienced paddlers. Both the beginner and the expert will enjoy the Haida either for relaxation, like fishing or the adventures of a wilderness trip. Shown in Fiberglass.

    Haida 17 Specs and Features

    • Structure: Rigid / Hard Shell
    • Seating Configuration: Tandem
    • Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
    • Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
    • Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
    • Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate

    Nova Craft Canoe
    Haida 17 Reviews

    Read reviews for the Haida 17 by Nova Craft Canoe as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!

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    5

    I’ve had my Haida now for…

    Submitted by: paddler883523 on 10/1/2020

    I’ve had my Haida now for about 4 years and it truly is the best canoe I’ve ever owned or been in. You can load that thing up with all the supplies for a wonderful and lengthy trip and this thing is fast and stable and I like it that it tracks straight and handles amazing in windy conditions.

    I highly recommend this canoe.


    5

    We've owned the Haida for…

    Submitted by: paddler235124 on 7/20/2013
    We've owned the Haida for about 18 years. It is the heavy fibreglass model with nylon gunnels and woven gut (?) seats. We've raised two daughters and two standard poodles in this boat and tripped for weeks at a time in her. We camp heavy (comfortable) and load her to the gunnels.

    Out of three boats we own, this is the one we love to death. I've carried her on my back for dozens of kilometres of portages in this time and will again next week. I'm thinking of installing a yoke this year as wrapping a towel around the thwart is getting old on my aging shoulders.

    I also own a Nova Craft 'Bob' but I will always choose this one even for solo paddling. It is the most stable boat imaginable and very fast. I don't white-water by choice (but have by accident) so doubt this would be the right choice for that. I just wax it before the season, scrub the inside of spiders and she's good to go. Hope this helps you choose.

    2

    Complained about every aspect…

    Submitted by: guest-paddler on 6/9/2005
    Complained about every aspect of this canoe the whole first day. As responsive as a raft with its upward buckling bottom. Seats that caused serious rawness in the first 4 hours of paddling. A yoke that was not comfortable. The only positive was that the Royalex Lite seemed to take some use well.

    To get any sort of glide out of this canoe you must bring along your saw and cut a couple of 3 inch logs to length so that they support the bottom of the canoe to keep its shape.

    Definitely a must avoid canoe for the next serious 4 day trip in the back country.

    5

    Just finished my first season…

    Submitted by: paddler230838 on 10/5/2004
    Just finished my first season with my new Haida canoe, and I'm very impressed. I purchased the canoe in the new Blue Steel material, which is a Carbon Fiber/Kevlar/Spectra composite. I highly recommend spending the extra bucks for this material. The canoe weights in at only 50 pounds (I added the optional skid plates which add about 5 pounds), and the resulting lightness, rigidity and strength, not to mention beauty, are well worth it.

    As one of the few canoe designs (from any manufacturer) with a flat bottom, this is easily the most stable canoe I've ever tried, so it's perfect for a family with a 22 month old! The straight keel and 17' length also contribute to the stability. I was surprised, however, at the maneuverability - not as easy to turn as shorter canoes with a more pronounced rocker, but quite good nevertheless. I'm sure I wouldn't have trouble in any kind of water. Due to the lightness of the canoe, the wind definitely affects the tracking when it's lightly loaded, but I found it very manageable, even in the stiff breezes on the inland lake that I spent time on.

    The asymmetrical design and rigidity of the material make for a very fast canoe. I had test-paddled both the Tripper and Prospector before trying the Haida, and was surprised when the Haida beat both designs in stability and speed (it's maneuverability that suffers with this design, but as I said, it's a very fair trade for me).

    I purchased my canoe with the optional wood (ash) trim. Against the blue/black hull material, this makes for the most beautiful canoe you'll set eyes on (not especially important, I know, but a nice bonus). The wood trim does require additional maintenance (periodic oiling), but it's not a big deal unless you use the canoe every day. The yoke, as advertised, truly is comfortable without any padding. Due to a recent shoulder injury, though, I also purchased the yoke pad, but found it unnecessary except for longer portages.

    Finally, the people at Nova Craft were wonderful to work with. I bought the canoe directly from them - they custom built the canoe on pretty short notice, and allowed me a chance to try the final product out before committing to the purchase. I even received email photos of the canoe in production the week before I went to pick it up. These are people that are dedicated to producing an excellent product for a fair price, and they work hard to bring you back for future business. I highly recommend them, and the Haida.