Know How
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION. PHOTO: KAYDI PYETTE
Bluewater 17’ Prospector Golden Brawn SPECS
[ CANOE TREE ] Portage Pleasure BLUEWATER’S PROSPECTOR 17 IS AN ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT
It’s rare that a paddler enjoys the portage as much as the paddle, but that’s just what Bluewater Canoe’s lightest weight Prospector promises. Weighing a carefree 41 pounds, this 17-foot lakewater tripping canoe is an easy walk in the woods. “It wasn’t that long ago when a light boat couldn’t be very
strong, now you can have your cake and eat it too,” says Brent Wood, operations manager at Mid-Canada Fiberglass, parent company to Bluewater. Manufactured in an ultralight Golden Brawn lay-up, this canoe
consists of three layers of Kevlar and e-glass, a mixture of Kevlar and glass. “The blend creates strength, impact and abrasion resis- tance, as well as rigidity,” says Wood. The Prospector has long been heralded as the first choice of wil-
derness canoeists but each manufacturer has its own unique ver- sion of the traditional design. “We designed our 17-foot Prospec- tor to be a hybrid. It was designed on the success of Bluewater’s popular Saugeen series, and we incorporated some of the Scott Prospector’s ease of use.” Wood adds that this design is narrow in the paddler stations for efficiency and boasts increased depth. “It’s a very efficient, stable family canoe.” It’s the shallow-arch hull that provides ample stability for new- comers, yet also a feel that experienced canoeists enjoy. With
26 SUMMER/FALL 2013
Length ............................................17’ Width at Gunnels.......................36” Bow Depth ...................................20” Center Depth .............................. 15” Stern Depth .................................19” Optimum Capacity.... 450–700 lbs Weight .... 41 lbs aluminum gunwales ..............................44 lbs ash gunwales MSRP ........................................$3,199
www.bluewatercanoes.com
just an inch and a quarter of rocker, Bluewater’s design has less rocker than traditional, river-ready Prospector designs, creating enhanced tracking. Thanks to its symmetrical shape, it can be paddled solo as well. “It’s the perfect boat for family tripping,” says Wood. “You could
easily go for a weeklong trip—it’s a high-volume boat.” These fac- tors have made it a very popular canoe with outfitters in Canada and the northeastern United States. It’s a favorite at Killarney Outfitters (
www.killarneyoutfitters.com), where we picked up this tester. For paddlers looking to take to the river, Bluewater offers a more maneuverable 16-foot Prospector model. Standard outfitting is anodized aluminum trim, however, for
three pounds and about $300 more, paddlers can upgrade to northern ash wood trim. If the $3,199 price tag of this tripper is too much for your pock-
et book, Bluewater makes the same design in three other lay-ups, including fiberglass, infused Kevlar and Gold Fusion. By compari- son, the fiberglass model weighs 68 pounds and costs a budget- friendly $1,600. Whichever lay-up you choose, Bluewater Canoes has a legacy of
excellent design and construction. “We’re known for a long line of well-made boats, proven over time,” says Wood, “and they’re pretty too.” —Kaydi Pyette
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