Swift Canoes Prospector 15

A Superb Lightweight Short Kevlar Fusion Laminate Canoe

The Prospector canoe shape is one of the oldest and most well loved open canoe styles ever created. Swift have put their own spin into this Swift Canoe Prospector 15, by cleaning up the lines, bringing the overall shape up a little further and put the tumble home of the canoe right at the top of the freeboard. All this with a little more rounding in the lower chine area of the Prospector 15, this allows a more stable feeling when the canoe is loaded and the more rounded lower chine area allows for waves and chop to roll more easily under the canoe with less of a rolling feeling for the paddlers. Swift smoothed the hollows at the bow and the stern to allow the Prospector 15 to cut through the water better with a much smoother feeling.

This canoe in a standard spec is ideal for couples wanting to tandem paddle looking for a lightweight day tripping canoe. The compact 15ft design enables this can to be less affected by the wind and conditions allowing a much more controllable open canoe. If you are looking for a canoe that can also be paddled solo then it might be worth while looking at the Versa Bow Seat. This seat offers a more comfortable solo paddling position. Swift have widened the bow seat by a full webbing strip and contoured the rear of the cherry wood seat, so when you reverse the boat for better trim while solo paddling, you are not only slightly closer to centre of the canoe but are able to paddle much more comfortably in a seated or kneeling position. Thanks to the rear of the Versa bow seat being contoured down and slightly angled, this takes the pressure from the under side of your legs so you feel in a more natural paddling position.

The Prospector 15 is available in a Standard Outfitting with 2 lovely Cherry Wood webbed seats bow and stern, as well as a fantastic sculpted Cherry Wood carrying yoke in the middle of the canoe at the balance point which is ideal for solo portages.

If you are looking for a canoe that can be paddled easily solo, tandem or with 3 people it is worth considering the Prospector 15 Combi, the Combi version of this canoe comes with a removable centre seat allowing for an extra person to come paddling occasionally, but when removed you have a standard Prospector 15 with all the tripping capacity and space. This removable centre seat can also be used for paddling solo, bringing you right to almost the centre of the canoe, allowing for much better trim & control without needing to add a kneeling thwart. This seating position not only enables the paddler to canoe paddle either seated, kneeling or part kneeling heeling the Prospector 15 Combi over, should the paddlers skill levels permit, but also allows for the Prospector 15 Combi to be paddled with a kayak paddle. Paddling solo with a longer than normal kayak paddle is perfect for some tripping style paddling and gives the canoe a really great feel on the water with brilliant tracking. The Combi outfitting also comes with a removable cherry yoke that is sculpted to be superbly comfortable, so solo portages are simple and really make the most of that super lightweight canoe.

Swift Canoes offer some brilliant lightweight materials and trim options. Kevlar Fusion is the most popular material used in these exquisite laminate canoes. Offering the best strength to weight ratio Kevlar Fusion canoes are made with a urethane resin system for top durability and longevity along with a thin layer of exterior gel coat. The hull is constructed of an exterior layer of polyester as well as S-Glass and Kevlar cloth layers sandwiching a durable foam cored ribbing system. The laminate fused together with a high impact and flexible urethane acrylate resin system injected during high pressure infusion process produces an optimal dispersion and laminate consistency. Based on a laminate material construction Kevlar Fusion is a popular material as it offers great abrasion and impact resistance. These canoes can be finished in some wonderful colours giving a real vibrant exterior look. Swift have also developed a UV shield that they are now using protect their hulls even further, this reduces the impact of UV on their laminates and also reduces the weight slightly as well. The UV shield also adds some scratch resistance to the hull, while scratches will still be visible initially, after some 303 aerospace protectant being applied they are much less visible and deeper scratches are protected again. Don't forget as with any laminate boat, a single application of this protectant will only last for a couple of trips.

Finishing off a wonderful looking Kevlar Fusion canoes with a Carbon Kevlar Trim not only makes a Swift Canoe one of the lightest on the market but also using their unique process enables them to infuse the canoe hull and gunwales as one part by making a bond between the hull and trim. This stunning looking trim is maintenance free meaning this super lightweight canoe is a pleasure to use.

Swift Canoes are one of the leading manufacturers in lightweight laminate canoes and can also offer as massive range of bespoke custom outfitting options, so you really can make your dream canoe. For some of the options in materials, trims and optional extra outfitting's take a look out our ' Materials & Trim' or 'Custom Options' Tabs. We import and advertise the top selling Swift Canoe models, specs and colours based on UK paddling, however we are always more than happy to help if there is a custom model, material, trim or outfitting option you require for your dream canoe.

Please Note: Custom option lightweight Swift Canoes generally have a longer lead time and it is best to Contact Us to enquire about spec, price and current lead times. For more UK stock options check out the Swift Canoes Range.