Considered by many to be the most popular design of all time, the Original Prospector Canoes, built by the Chestnut Canoe Company, date years back to when the original fur traders still traveled great distances in order to deliver their wares to the Hudson’s Bay Company.

So legendary was this design that even today many canoe companies offer a Prospector model. This being said most all “Prospector” canoes will vary to a certain degree from the original and in-turn with each other as the function of certain elements of the original design continue to be a topic of debate and interpretation to this day. The one thing that is not debatable however was the overall intended purpose behind the Prospector design, which was for a versatile, stable canoe that was capable of handling large loads along with a variety of conditions.

Dimensions 

• Length 16’

• Rocker 2.5”

• Maximum beam 34"

• Beam waterline 32"

• Beam gunnel 34"

• Bow height 20"

• Centre Depth 14"

• Capacity 1,050 lbs

Weights and materials

• Fiberglass: 45-55 lb

• Whitewater Expedition: 50-55 lb

• Kevlar/Carbon: 40 lb

Learn more about our materials here

Attributes

• Very Stable

• Good Tracking

• High load capacity

• Versatile hull design

• Ability to handle windy conditions, choppy water

• Child / Pet friendly

Ideal Application

• Large lakes / Flat water

• Mild to moderate moving water

• Tripping / Camping

• Family recreational paddling

• Paddling with small children, pets, new or novice paddlers