Prospector 14

I have paddled my expedition Kevlar Prospector 14 for 3 years now and have logged over 800 miles/1287 km on Florida rivers and the Okefenokee Swamp. Very proud to showcase fine Canadian craftsmanship around Florida and south east Georgia. I regularly carry up to 140 kg loads on trips up to 5 days in length. Nice balance of maneuverability, stability and toughness to keep me happy on the water.

I have owned my Swift prospector 14 for over 6 months and feel ready to offer a review. I had three primary objectives when I bought the canoe.

1. Light weight for ease of transport and portaging. At only 30lbs, this is a very light canoe.

2. Comfort, I am 6’+ and over 200 lbs. The multi-height seat pods are great for providing both comfort and stability when needed.

3. High winds/waves – I live on Narragansett Bay and often have to deal with high winds and waves. While I prefer a single blade paddle, the narrow beam allows me to use my double blade paddle which is far superior in rough conditions.

Overall I have been very happy with this boat and would recommend it to anyone looking for an all around solo canoe.

I recently picked up the Swift Prospector 14 Solo, and I gotta say, it’s kind of the canoe equivalent of finding the perfect camping coffee: light, strong, reliable, and makes you look cooler than you probably are.

🐾 Why I Bought It

I wanted a solo canoe that could handle backcountry camping trips with my Border Collie sidekick and still leave room for gear. Something that wouldn’t break my back on portages or spin me in circles every time the dog sneezed. After some test paddles and a bit of standing around pretending I knew what rocker and tumblehome meant, I settled on this beauty.

I bought it from the Swift Canoe shop in Dwight, near Algonquin — awesome staff, very patient with my indecision.

💺 Setup & First Impressions

I went with the adjustable seat (high/low positions) and foot braces, because apparently I like options. Both setups are super comfortable, whether I’m kneeling, sitting upright, or slouched in existential reflection somewhere mid-paddle.

It’s so light, I can lift it without making “old man noises,” even after a long paddle. I’m pretty sure it weighs less than my dog when she’s wet and excited.

🌊 Where I’ve Paddled So Far

• Lake Bernard – Floated around the lake a few times and made the trip to High Rock and back. It was a dream, glides smooth, tracks well, and didn’t fight me in the wind.

• Grand River (Paris, ON) – Handles well in current. Not a whitewater beast, but that’s not what I bought it for.

It’s stable enough that my dog can shift around without me thinking we’re going for an unplanned swim.

🛶 Paddle Testing: Canoe vs Kayak

I’ve tried a few setups:

• Kayak paddle: Great for open stretches or when the wind decides to show off.

• Single blade (long and short): More chill for quiet paddles or shallow water. I like having both options on hand—like switching between sneakers and flip-flops.

⚖️ Weight Distribution Pro Tips

Here’s something I learned the awkward way: if you load it too front-heavy, you’re going to end up paddling in artistic but useless circles. Keep things balanced and she tracks like a dream.

🐕 The Dog Test

Plenty of room for my Border Collie to ride up front like the proud expedition leader she believes she is. The canoe handles her fidgeting just fine—bonus points for not flipping every time she spots a duck or tries to eat the lake.

🏁 Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a solo canoe that’s light enough to carry, stable enough for pets, and smooth enough to paddle all day, the Prospector 14 Solo should be high on your list.

“It’s built for those of us who find joy in the quiet moments, a good paddle, and a dog that thinks every canoe trip is the adventure of a lifetime.”

Have now paddled extensively throughout Maine, NH, and Cape Cod in my P14, and just returned from a weeklong trip on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Had some funny looks at my boat from folks based on its size and the whole Kevlar thing. It was a small group that included a couple of excellent, experienced paddlers. They all asked to paddle it eventually and by the end of the week they were all huge fans of the boat. We did an extra 12 miles of the St. John at the end, which included some 2+ rapids, and there were some fun, rocky rapids on the Allagash which were affected by the high cfs, including Chase. For better or worse, I beat the hell out of that boat, and it has the character marks to show it. But it’s exactly as advertised – a tough, versatile canoe that does everything pretty well – tracks with or without weight, maneuvers through tricky water, and looks good doing it. Used a double blade occasionally in high winds with the lower seat position, and when I wanted to keep up with the tandem boats without as much effort on 20+ mile days. Even the traditionalists admitted it was a useful option. All in all a great boat – already scheming to get another Swift.

After months of research online, drove down from NH to CCK in CT to make a final selection. Melissa, Sue, and Jack couldn’t have been more patient, helpful, and friendly. Looked at, sat in, and lifted half a dozen models, and ended up selecting this beautiful red Kevlar Expedition Solo model with a foot brace. Also picked up a Badger La Bonga paddle. My springer spaniel and canoeing buddy Ripton approved, and I think the three folks at CCK were as excited about my choice as I was.