I bought a Nova Craft PAL as I was starting to get into canoeing, id like to say I bought it for looks performance etc but in truth I bought it because it was the right place at the right time and cheap. I thought it would be a cheap stop gap until I could find a prospector. I was wrong!
Some paddlng over here in the UK seems different to the states and the technique and styles. My paddling is very general taking in grade 3/4 rivers and open waters in winds up to force 4.
Open water is a dream in my PAL, put some edge on and it digs in to maintain a solid reliable line, it tracks lovely in open water, turns smoothly and keeps a decent speed in gliding. It seems relatively unaffected in wind compared to boats with higher freeboard and carries all my gear for over nighters up to 6 day trips around Scotland and Wales. I tend to paddle from a kneeling thwart behind the carrying yoke apart from when I’m solo sailing where I sometimes use the stern seat with my luggage up front.
White water is fun! It’s predictable, it turns fast when needed and provided I’m committed it generally does what I want it to do. I was worried that the low sides (compared to prospectuers) would take on a lot of water but it really doesn’t. I paddle rivers with 60” airbags front and rear and it seems to ride over most waves and holes. It does take on water but no more than my peers do on the same sections with their higher sided boats.
I’d still like a prospect for big rivers but until Nova Craft donate me one I’ll happy making do with my PAL. If I won the lottery I’d maybe have a prospector for river and a PAL in aramid for open waters.
The Royalex seems very light and forgiving and although it covers every rock it touches in splashes of blue the hull doesn’t seem to be missing any! Just changed my gunwales from pvc to ash and wish I’d done it years ago, all my future boats will be Ash
