Prospector 16
The Prospector design has been a figurehead of Canadian canoeing since the beginning, and the Swift Prospector 16 is our contribution to its legacy and rich heritage. Built from the foundation of a hundred years of dependability, the Prospector 16 has plenty of room for gear, surprising responsiveness, and stability that will put any paddler at ease. Lightweight yet durable, the Prospector will take you wherever you want to go!
Ideal For; Recreational Paddling, Multi Day Canoe Tripping, Cottage Paddling, Easy Portaging
Standard Options: Contour Seats, Contour Yoke
- Optimum Load Range: 350 - 600 lbs
- Industry Capacity: 1100 lbs
- Hull Shape: Symmetrical
Specifications
- Length: 16'
- Gunwale Width: 33.5"
- Maximum Width: 35"
- Waterline Width: 32"
- Centre Depth: 13.5"
- Bow Height: 21"
- Stern Height: 21"
- Bow Rocker: 2"
- Stern Rocker: 2"
Laminates & Weights
Aluminum Trim
- Kevlar Fusion41 lbs.
- Expedition Kevlar47 lbs
Carbon Kevlar Trim
- Kevlar Fusion35 lbs
- Expedition Kevlar41 lbs
- Carbon Fusion33 lbs
- Expedition Carbon38 lbs.
Read more about our trim systems
"Serenity" My Dream Canoe
After many years of renting canoes for backcountry canoe trips, I finally decided to take the plunge and get a canoe of my own. I spent many months researching and defining the parameters that would best meet my needs (not to mention watching countless hours of the Swift YouTube channel!).
At the end of the day, I was looking for a very versatile boat that could be used for solo and tandem backcountry trips, with a removable 3rd seat (so I could take my 2 boys, ages 11 and 8, with me). While the combi models included the removable 3rd seat, I knew I didn’t want the removable yoke that typically comes in that configuration (would require an additional thwart for rigidity, not to mention one more loose part to manage). I was also looking for something that would be lightweight for longer portages, low maintenance (life is VERY busy), and durable. The qualities I was looking for started to look like a pretty tall order for one canoe to fulfill, but I didn’t have the space or budget for multiple high-performance canoes.
At this point, I reached out to Bill Swift to get his insights and advice on how I could potentially fulfill my wish list, or decide on the trade-offs I may need to make. Working with Bill and his team was nothing less than a fantastic experience. After talking through a few different configurations, we landed on a design that amazingly seemed to fit the requirements perfectly:
– Prospector 16,
– Carbon Innegra Textreme with Champagne Bottom (close match to the colour of any scratches)
– Carbon Tech Package,
– Reversible “Versa” Bow Seat (this was the first time it was available in carbon!)
– Detachable Center Seat in the “Kid’s Position” (to avoid removable yoke),
– 1 Carbon Footbar with 2 Sets of Rails (for stern as well as reversed solo positions),
With such an exciting spec, I felt this canoe needed to be named something special. Whenever, I’m going out on the water or into the forest, whether alone or with a friend, it’s to try to escape the hectic pace of life for a little while; to seek a sense of serenity. And with that, she had a name: “Serenity”. As the cherry on top, they were able to put her name across the bottom as a custom graphic, styled after the “Serenity” spaceship from the show Firefly (one of my favorites).
While she wasn’t cheap, she was absolutely beautiful. We picked her up at the end of May and it was love at first sight. More importantly, as good as she looked, she paddled even better. I couldn’t believe how fast and smooth she could go with such little effort! I think I had gotten so used to rentals that have been used and abused, that it didn’t even occur to me how much of a difference the smooth bottom of a new canoe could actually make. The final weigh-in based on this configuration was 39.2 lbs, but it actually feels like less (probably due to the incredibly comfortable padded yoke).
Since picking her up at the end of May, we’ve had her out on the water 4 times, and each time was an absolute delight. It’s also been fun to see the number of heads she’s been turning (or just straight-up staring).
Our first backcountry trip is coming up next weekend, and I can’t wait to really put her through the paces on the lakes, rivers, and portages we have planned. Thank you Bill, Carmen, and everyone else at Swift that helped bring my dream canoe into reality!
Ease of carry
We sold our twenty year old Kipawa (reluctantly) and a couple of older canoes passed on to us and bought the Prospector 16 Carbon Fusion for ease of handling and carrying. As seniors weight was a big issue, but not any more!
There is a bit of a learning curve for handling and for ballast when paddling solo but we have no regrets. It’s comfortable, manoeuvrable and, to top it off, quite good to look at.
Thanks, Bill, and everyone at Swift.
Fast & Light
Purchased our Prospector 16 last fall, and aptly named her ‘Taylor Swift’ Very impressed with its weight and stability. We’ve managed to explore some of the waterways of Ontario, Alberta, and B/C. Portages are a breeze with the Kevlar fusion model. She’s fast on the water, but very light and the wind catches her easily, especially using it as a solo canoe. Add some weight for the solo stuff.
We manage to easily load her up with our dog and gear to head out on 5 day backcountry adventures.
She’s taken a bit of abuse here in the Rockies, she’s not a battleship, and light weight and durability are two words that don’t usually go together. But I’m impressed with the durability so far. We look forward to many more seasons of exploring lakes & rivers.
Fantastic tripping boat
This boat is a dream to paddle and portage. It handles the wind well when soloing, if you compensate for weight distribution. It is also a great boat for tandem canoeing. It is stable for tandem paddling and heels over nice and stable when soloing. Love the colour (sapphire blue).