Prospector 16

I love my new boat. I paddled an Old Town Pathfinder Royalex canoe for years, but had to retire it finally. I used it primarily for day trips fishing and nature watching, and only took it on a few over night trips, but my Prospector should do well as a replacement. I’m enjoying the prospect of using it on tougher water, but mostly, I’m ferrying around family members on short excursions up tributary creeks and around small lakes nearby. I’m glad I won’t need to portage much because It does weigh more than I’d like. I feel that it rides smoother through the choppy waves and more efficiently than my flat bottomed pathfinder, and feels more rigid. I’ve run through some shallow rocky creek areas and daily use for the past week has already given the outer skin some character. Paddling empty and solo, (I’m about 225 lbs) the rocker is more noticeable than in the Pathfinder and will be countered with buckets or coolers if I should do solo trips. The color of the inside surface is light much cooler than in my previous boat (a real boon for paddling in Texas). Time will tell on whether it will hold up to my bad habits as long as the Royalex, but I’m optimistic.

This review is for the Nova Craft Prospector 16 in Tuffstuff Expedition layup. Our boat was manufactured in 2017 and weighs 61 lbs. It is the ninth canoe my wife and I have used in Midcoast Maine since 1976.

After two years of putting this boat to the test, we conclude that the Prospector 16 is very capable for its size. It is well-suited for waterways where carries are common and a wide range of conditions are encountered.

To understand what this boat does well we need to examine its form. The hull is symmetrical in shape with a shallow arch bottom. The beam and floor are wide and the bilge is round but not too soft. The sides are vertical. The bow and stern are full, yet the stem is sharp and cleaves the water nicely. The hull has just the right amount of rocker.

These features allow the boat to paddle backward as easily as forward. The bow and stern rise over the waves. The boat can be turned quickly in any direction. In the wind it stays on track simply by adjusting the trim. The vertical sides and the wide floor and beam enable the boat to pole well and to carry a heavy load comfortably.

Extra weight in the Prospector 16 often improves its performance. On large lakes and the ocean a heavier load helps the boat maintain speed and momentum in the face of wind, waves and currents. Extra weight can also be used to adjust the trim. On day trips where we have little gear on board we bring a 5 gallon collapsible water jug for ballast. It can be moved forward or backward in the boat easily and can be emptied and refilled as needed during portages.

In the rapids, the deep hull, wide beam and rocker on the Prospector 16 make it possible to ferry, stop midstream, make quick turns, draw parallel to the current and lean downstream. The result is that running Class 1 and 2 rapids is easy. Running Class 3 rapids requires more skill but the Prospector 16 still handles well in spite of the bigger waves and stronger currents.

The Prospector 16 is a good poling boat with one person on board and a light load. In this configuration, about the only limit to what the boat can do is one’s skill and stamina. On the other hand, with two people and gear on board, the Prospector 16 becomes more difficult to handle. This is normal for smaller canoes. We can pole up and down Class 1 rapids rather easily, but we can ascend Class 2 rapids only by going solo. Ascending Class 3 rapids with a load is out of the question.

A boat’s speed indicates a great deal about the form of the hull and its efficiency in moving through the water. Our average speed in the Prospector 16 paddling tandem on calm water is 3.4 mph and our maximum is 4.7. After testing nine canoes in this manner, we would classify the speed and efficiency of this hull as about average.

The Prospector 16 will be a little more tiring to paddle during long trips on flatwater than a canoe designed for greater speed. On the other hand, in rough water, we have found it to be just as fast as modern designs with asymmetrical hulls and narrow beams. For example, in a seven mile test on the coast of Maine under similar conditions of wind, waves and tide, both the Prospector 16 and the Wenonah Escape completed the course at the same overall speed of 2.9 mph. The difference was that the Prospector 16 was easier to handle in the waves and provided a smoother and more comfortable ride overall.

There are a number of other boats on the market called Prospectors. Most of them have little in common with the Nova Craft canoes of the same name. In this category we would place the Wenonah Prospector 16 and the Swift Prospector series of canoes. These boats have narrower ends, narrower floors and softer bilges than the Nova Craft Prospector line.

Features like these boost speed at the expense of the stability that makes the Nova Craft canoes so useful in whitewater, on the open ocean, for carrying a heavy load and for poling. For our purposes, the Nova Craft Prospectors are a better choice, but other people may prefer slimmer and faster boats for the kind of paddling they do most of the time.

An exception to the rule above is the Wenonah Prospector 15. The Royalex version that we purchased in 2013 is similar in form to a Nova Craft Prospector, but the hull is not as deep. It is a wonderful little boat with many uses and we are very fond of it.

The additional details provided below may be useful in deciding whether this canoe is the right one for you.

1. When paddling solo on flatwater one can sit on the bow seat facing backward. In rapids it is wiser to kneel in the center of the boat with the yoke in front of you.

2. As in all canoes, attention to the boat’s trim is critical. Gear and water should be moved forward or backward in the boat as needed depending on conditions.

3. Waxing the hull not only protects the gel coat from sunlight but it also helps the boat slide easily over fallen trees and through tangles of shrubs and branches while portaging.

4. The yoke can be turned around to face the stern. By so doing, the rear thwart can be used to stabilize the canoe with one hand while portaging. We prefer this method to holding the gunnel or using a tumpline.

5. The yoke provided by the manufacturer was beautifully made, but it was too wide for for us to grip firmly while swinging the boat onto our shoulders. We replaced the yoke with a narrower one that is easier for us to hold onto.

6. We like the rings for painters on the bow and stern. We use the painters for tying the boat to shore and for retrieving the boat if it starts to blow away during self rescue drills on a windy lake or bay.

7. For tracking and lining the boat from shore we do not use the rings. Instead, we attach bridles to the bow and stern seats as described by Garrett Conover in “Beyond the Paddle”. These lines pull the boat from the bottom of the hull instead of the top, ensuring better safety and control.

8. During a sharp impact the gel coat tends to flake off in small pieces while leaving the fabric beneath undamaged. On kevlar hulls we have owned, similar impacts caused gouging of the gel coat and sometimes long tears in the fabric. The Innegra hull on the Nova Craft Prospector 16 is stronger and more resilient but the chips in the gel coat should be repaired periodically.

9. Nova Craft manufactures the Prospectors in lengths from 15 to 18 feet. Compared to the Prospector 16, the 17 and 18 foot models should be faster and provide better glide and momentum. On the other hand, their extra size and weight will make them more difficult to carry.

We purchased this canoe two summers ago and have had nothing but regrets. We have spent more time trying to repair the gel coat than actually canoeing. We are older, experienced canoeists who only canoe flat water. However, after two seasons and several repair jobs, including skid plates, we are unable to use the canoe as the gel coat continues to deteriorate, even after several repairs (which are time consuming, onerous and tricky). Sure, you can drop the canoe from a 10-story building (as their video suggests), but the gel coat will be completely mangled and require endless hours of restoration, even if the underlying layer of 'tuff stuff' is intact. We would not recommend this canoe to anyone - better to go online and buy a used Royalex.

Novo Craft Canoes - the Long View:
I purchased a 16' Prospector Royalex Lite Nova Craft Canoe on March 11, 2007 c/w with the ash trim (for which I paid an extra $325) and lace seats (paid $100 extra) from Totem Outdoor Outfitters in Edmonton

When the canoe arrived at Totem the outwale at the stern, LHS was not flush with hull but was sprung out ~ 1”. Totem tried to fix this by inserting another screw into he deck plate further towards the stern to pull the outwale in. This still left the outwale sprung from the hull ~ 1/4", plus I now had an extra countersunk hole in the outwale. Given the choice of shipping the thing back to London Ontario and waiting several weeks for delivery of a repaired or new canoe, I chose to take the 10% discount on the purchase price offered by Novo Craft.

The first winter, as per the Nova Craft instruction booklet, "Storing Your Canoe" section, I removed the first "8 or 10 screws from each end of both gunwales" and removed the deck screws and lifted the ends of the inwales above the hull in order to allow for the difference in shrinkage between the hull and the wooden gunwales due to low temperature. When I did this I found that the inwale was split at each screw hole, apparently because Nova Craft had failed to drill pilot holes through the inwale to accommodate the screws. I also found that one of the screw holding the outwale had missed the inwale completely.

Furthermore, in researching the Novo Craft "Care of Gunwales" where they recommend that the woodwork be treated with Tung Oil "three or four times a year", I found that Tung Oil is a furniture finish and hardly suitable for protecting/waterproofing wood for outdoor service. In fact the Lee Valley brochure on Tung Oil states that in order to get Tung Oil treated wood to a water resistant state, one must apply 10 coats of Tung Oil, with 24 to 48 hours drying time between coats. It's supposed to be a canoe, not a dining table! Also, Nova Craft does not mention the issue with the untreated wood between the hull and the inwale or outwale, which is well known to trap water and never dry, leading to rot. The only way around that issue is to either remove the inwales and outwales and treat the inside surface as well or to seal these surfaces from water ingress completely.

This year, August 2016, I removed all the woodwork for Tung Oiling and repair of the split inwales I also removed the bow and stern wooden carrying handles. To my dismay I found that the screws through the inwales into the carrying handles only penetrated the handles by 1/4". While this may hold the handles in place for a straight upward pull it is not a robust attachment for pulling forward or backward or for attaching a bow and stern line for holding the canoe in place when car topping.

I would rate the workmanship on these canoes as "no pride" and the serviceability of these canoes as 2 to 3 seasons-sunshine only. Either that or I was unlucky enough to pay $2114 for a canoe made on either a Friday or a Monday.

Dear SSM,
Sorry to hear you are not happy with your canoe after using it for 10 seasons. I don't remember this canoe in particular but looking back in our records, I see we did give Totem a discount for a blue P16 - RL with ash trim in April of 2007. Not sure why you would be charged $100 for the lace seats as they are standard in most of our canoes and our invoice to Totem shows no upcharge.

We use Tung oil on our ash gunwales because we found that using a waterproof finish such as spar varnish led to more problems when water that did get into the wood could not escape causing the wood to rot prematurely. The oil finish is more maintenance but they last longer. You didn't mention where you have stored your canoe but we definitely recommend ash trimmed canoes be stored inside out of the elements when not in use.

I'm not sure whether your canoe was damaged in shipping but Totem and Nova Craft did offer a discount which you accepted. As well the trim has worked for you for 10 seasons even with taking it apart in the winter to prevent frost cracks. While you have it completely apart perhaps you would like to replace the trim with aluminum gunwales which are more maintenance free. If you email me at tim@novacraft.com we can work out the details.

You didn't mention how your canoe has been for paddling. I hope you have enjoyed paddling it as much as the other reviewers on this site. Ignoring any resale value, after 10 seasons it has cost you $211.40 per year. I'm sure with the care you are taking with your canoe it will last you easy another 10 or 15 years. Really not too bad of an investment.

If you would like to replace the trim or discuss any other matters concerning your canoe, please drop me a line at the above email and we will do our best to look after you.

Best Regards,
Tim Miller - Nova Craft Canoe

Light! I'm a strong woman, but no amount of training is going to enable me to lift a standard canoe above my head. My Nova Craft Prospector is made of Aramid, a Kevlar composite. I can lift it, put it on to my shoulders and portage it wearing a backpack if necessary. It looks good, draws envious comments, and moves well in the water - lake and ocean. A week on Murtle Lake in Wells Gray was a joy. The only drawback to this beautiful canoe being its delicate nature. This is a canoe to baby, not to scrape on beaches or load up on a cart. I have a few battle scars on the hull now, otherwise I love this canoe.

I purchased a 16' fiberglass Prospector with the Ash gunwales and laced ash seats from Nova Craft approximately 3 years ago. the only modifications I have made are adding a sculpted ash carrying yoke (purchase from Nova Craft) and refinishing the gunwales with varnish, as the oil finish seemed to wear rapidly. The canoe is attractive in it's deep green and natural wood. The carrying capacity is truly amazing; I regularly paddle with 3 children aboard as well as myself, and have more than ample free-board left. The canoe also paddles well solo, turned around on the bow seat and using a j-stroke. A great, versatile, all-around canoe, only an '8' because of it's weight, which must be near to 80 lbs.

I recently purchased the Novacraft Prospector 16 in the heavier lay up royalex. My last canoe was an old Blue Hole Sunburst II, a gift from a friend, and I loved it. I honestly didn't want to canoe shop because I didn't think I could find something I liked as well. But I was preparing for an eight-day trip down the James River with my two boys, Michael, age 7 and Ashby, age 5. I needed to be able to haul a lot of gear for camping, toys for the kids, be able to lean way over for sunscreen and snacks, and to be able to pluck up a child and haul them over the edge of they got tired. A whitewater canoe was gonna work me over, big time.

I am a strictly solo paddler. I like having a strictly solo boat so people don't ask to ride with me. I like to stand and paddle, and I like to pole. I like to kneel and I like to sit back and slack off. But there is nothing more uncomfortable to me than to be headed into rapids in a boat I can't turn. I've taken out various angling and recreational boats by very reputable companies, and I have been miserable because I can't spin them on a dime when I needed to. I'd give up every other criteria in order to be able to turn because it just feels unsafe. After 8-day tripping for a long time in a whitewater boat, this was something I just can't compromise.

The Prospector performed better than I had hoped. It actually paddles better with a load, still feeling light and agile even with a weeks worth of gear, a kid and a childs kayak riding on top. Tight for but doable. I'm a 33 yo woman, moderately fit, and even after 12-14 hour days on the water, 21 mile paddles, I didn't feel worn out at the end of the day.

It tracks pretty well, And it steers beautifully. Initial and secondary stability were very comfortable for me, and it allowed me to stand up through rapids to check on the kids progress, shout directions, or just stand up and stretch my legs through long flat sections. Handled Class I-III rapids wonderfully, and was truly a joy to ride.

The craftsmanship is truly impressive. It is a beautiful canoe, and the laced seats are gorgeous and comfortable. It is very easy to portage, and the lighter weight really made a difference when loading this boat solo over my head. The extra wide yoke and spine notch make it extremely comfortable to carry, as I found myself needing to carry this boat up hill about 100 yards. It was surprisingly easy.

We handled a pretty serious thunderstorm on the river, and I felt quite confident in high winds. The high gunwales do catch a lot of wind, and it does blow around, but it makes for a dry ride and it's difficult to dip a rail and swamp this boat, a trade off I'm happy to make.

All around, it tracks great in the flats, heels over great to paddle in the Canadian style, smaller rapids were fun, hauls everything and makes an outstanding kid wrangler. The only downside was the price, the only reason I gave it a 9- but I feel confident I'll have this boat for 25 years, and sometimes in life, you get what you pay for. I couldn't be happier with this canoe and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something to do it all.

Just purchased the Prospector 16 and we are delighted. We carry the canoe on a Nordic Tug 32 in BC coastal waters. Hoisting it in place is easy with a boom & tackle. The Prospector is a handsome complement to the Nordie and is a dream to paddle. We still have a 17' Grumman but it's way to big and heavy to go on the boat. It's a fine canoe for longer trips but the Prospector is certainly more handsome and quiet. She paddles with grace and ease

My camp is a serious tripping camp(Our longest trip is 54 day seal river) we have about 80 nova crafts and they are the ones we take on our serious expositions none of them have failed us yet, these canoes are the ones everyone arm wrestles for to get

This is a fabulous boat. I ordered mine in Royalite from Rutabaga.com and got it in 4 days via roadway express. I paddle it mostly solo and with camping gear and it has performed flawlessly. I paddle heeled over , Canadian Style and paddling off the right side all of the time. I have also owned the 17 ft Prospector but like the 16 ft better because it is as much fun solo as it is tandem. I am 60 and I paddled it 72 miles on the Bowron Lake Circuit in Canada. Lots of folks were amazed as I finished the circuit in 7 days. This boat did very well. I have paddled it on Lake Mead in high winds and 3 ft waves and it did just fine. I use a five gallon water bag as ballast if paddling without gear or a partner. Empty, the boat can be a handful in high winds. Use balast. I am sure this boat will be with me for many years.

I bought my Nova Craft Prospector in May of 2005 and to this point, according to my log book have about 338 kilometers on her. I have paddled lots of other canoes but fell in love with this one. Simply put it is like the Jeep of the canoe world, agile, maneuverable, and able to go anywhere it is pointed. Like the 4X4 Jeep it’s not a speed demon, but since when was canoeing about speed? Tandem it is a dream to paddle with a load of gear and it still has room for the dog to relax. Even fully loaded it remains responsive and sideslips with ease. Solo it becomes like ballet dancer turning on a dime with change to spare. You wouldn’t expect that from a large canoe but with one good box stroke I can spin the nose around well past 180 degrees from where I started and with the second stroke can be powering in the opposite direction to what I was traveling two seconds ago. Leaned over hard and paddling Canadian style will bring much of the volume out of the water increasing ease of paddling and handling even more. The weight is not so much of an issue to me. At 85lbs it is about half my body weight but learning how to pick a canoe up solo properly and building that muscle memory is the important part. Without learning how to roll a canoe up onto your shoulders properly even lighter canoes are a pain to handle. Once you learn the proper technique the 85lbs seems to melt away, at least until at end of the first kilometer of portaging! Also the Nova Craft stock yoke is a deep dish made of ash and is quite comfortable unpadded in comparison to anything else I have seen. Some people do not like the rope carry handles on the ends, and I have to agree, but after the first week I stopped noticing them. I always carry my canoe solo on my shoulders, it is just so much easier to be self reliant, so I only use the end ropes to tie the nose and tail down when on the car. This canoe is tough too, and will take a beating and still work like a million bucks. I have seen older Nova Craft Prospectors that looked like they had been through a war or something, but they were still graceful and dignified on the lake, even after taking on the arduous white water. This may be the best all around canoe in the world today coming in three different lay ups to suit individual needs, and the company is very easy to deal with as well. They have returned my questions the same day they I e-mailed them and even sent me replacement decals free of charge when they came off on a trip. This combined with a lifetime guarantee on their product has won my loyalty.

I would rate this canoe a 9.5/10 as is and if I could afford a custom build, to add a few minor changes I would give it a full 10/10. If you can only afford one canoe and you want it to do everything and last a life time, buy the Nova Craft Prospector.

I have test-paddled this boat twice in looking for a new canoe to replace my Mad River Explorer 17 with something lighter, shorter and more maneuverable, and believe it is the one I will buy, due to its versatility and relative ease of use.

This boat strikes me as handling and tracking pretty well, but I was testing it solo, with no load on a windy day and a shallow lake, so I had to work to control it. I imagine it would be much easier to steer with a bow paddler and even a light load.

Nova Craft is probably the best Canadian canoe maker and is upping its profile in the US canoe market, and runs with Mad River and Wenonah. Nova Craft is already miles ahead of Old Town in its boats. Nova Craft has designed some good hulls, including the hi-tech Retro Chestnuts, Bob Special and Prospector, and makes a good fit and finish boat. The Royalex Lite is a nice compromise for those who want Royalex's durability but not its heavy weight.

I am a little confused whether the NC Prospector 16 in Royalex Lite weighs 59 lbs. or 64 lbs.? I have seen it advertised at both weights, and the seller whose boat I tested told me 64 lbs. I was able to handle the boat better than my 75-80 lb. Explorer 17, and to get it up over my head and onto a car, so even if it is 64 lbs., it is quite a bit lighter than the Explorer, which is made of full thickness, bomb-proof, Royalex.

Plus, my seller's boat had vinyl gunnels and skid plates, which he puts on all his boats, standard and which add a pound or two to the weight. I do not know if you need skid plates initially on a Royalex Lite boat, especially if you do not plan to drag over or run into a lot of rocks.

At any rate, I am going to buy one of these boats and highly recommend it for all uses on lakes and rivers, based on my two test-paddles.

Dan, since outfitting a boat properly can really affect it's usefulness, would you mind sharing what you did to outfit your boat with the Mike Yee components?

I've had my Prospector 16 for about 1 year. I've been canoeing for about 1 year also. My prospector is a royalex, and weighs about 67 pounds. My wife and I have done flat water, and I solo in it and love it. It is very responsive to draws, prys, and tracks fine when soloing. It is a bit slow compared to other canoes I've been in, but the faster canoes I've been in don't manouver as well. We paddled the Henry's Fork of the Snake river this last weekend at Ashton Id. The water was moving fast, and was a class 1.4 or so, and our first time in fast water. We never felt any loss of control, and the canoe was so responsive I was surprised. When doing draws and prys the boat just did exactly what you asked. My wife was much dryer in the bow than the other two canoes. (A coleman and a Mad River Malicite) I love this boat, and would recommend it as a very good compromise boat. It does most things very well, which is hard to find in a canoe. It has good initial stability, and the secondary stability is great! I paddle solo with it heeled almost to the gunwales. Do yourself a favor and at least paddle one. I rated it an eight because I really haven't tried many other boats to compare it to.
Greg

Prospector 16 Kevlar/Spectra with cherry trim. Great boat on flat and moving water. Light weight (52 lbs). Slips and ferrys with ease. Bow floats over waves easily. Sucks solo in the wind. Great all around tandem tripping boat.

This boat is probably the closest your going to get to the perfect boat it tracks well even in wind but you have to kneel on the front thwart in big winds unless you have gear in it. Last summer I went on the black river and ran huge haystacks leges sous holes and rock-studded rapids for a joke. As long as you know what your doing. Turns on a dime. Great solo boat. I ran 3 and a half-foot stacks loaded down on a 7-day trip and sitting in the front and I didn't even get wet. If you do get one get a Royalex. I bought it used. I suggest you do the same, they're practically indestructible. Mine has 2-inch gouges in the side and you can't even see it from the inside. Nova craft makes it tougher where it needs to be. Don't get skid plates until you see white on the bow and stern and even then you don't need to. Great boat!

Classic Prospector lines done in Kevlar with Ash gunnwales and seats. Very comfortable portage yoke and the handling of the canoe is excelent. At 56 pounds the canoe is effortless to portage and manuver in tight places. I have had it for four years and have gone on many trips in both whitewater and lake tripping. The only thing I wish was a bit better would be the fit and finish of the wood work to the hull.