Nova Craft - Prospector 17'

If you want a canoe that will handle a month’s worth of supplies to head out on a wilderness adventure, this canoe is for you. In the Prospector 17’ you’ll find all the great characteristics that have made this canoe a paddling legend in places like the Yukon and Canadian Arctic. With lots of volume to keep you and your gear dry in whitewater or waves it still tracks well with good hull speed on flatwater. Its durable materials and classic Prospector lines make the P17 the ultimate wilderness extended tripping canoe.

*Weights are based on year-long production averages and may vary.

*Adding options to your canoe will add to its overall weight.

Trim Systems

• • Aircraft grade black anodized aluminum gunwales come standard on Fiberglass, TuffStuff, TuffStuff Expedition composite hulls. Sleek looking, lightweight and tough. An additional benefit of the aluminum gunwales is that they are virtually maintenance free and can last forever.

  

  • Aluminum Lite gunwales, standard on the Aramid Lite and Blue Steel composite hulls. An anodized aluminum gunwale system with a slimmer profile than the regular aluminum gunwales to maximize weight savings. If you enjoy canoe tripping off of the beaten path, you’re likely no stranger to portaging. Shaving pounds off the total weight of the boat is usually very important to portagers; The new Aluminum Lite gunwales help keep this number as low as possible.

  

  • Ash gunwales provide many advantages. The most obvious reason to upgrade is aesthetic. Wood gunwales have a classic and traditional look that is tough to beat. But there are also some practical reasons why one may opt for ash over aluminum. Wood trim is quieter on the water. If you are interested in hunting, nature photography, or simply observing wild animals in their natural habitat, travelling very quietly is important. Animals are less likely to be scared away when paddles knock against wooden gunwales. Ash is also very comfortable to handle and carry because it is a non-conductive material. Aluminum, on the other hand, will heat up in the sun and get quite cold in low temperatures.

  

Materials

• Fiberglass is an affordable composite material with a proven track record of durability. The fiberglass hulls are among the lightest and most rugged on the market today. It uses woven fiberglass cloth to make a truly superior hull. Fiberglass canoes are great for recreational and cottage use and are a good choice for budget-minded individuals. 
• TuffStuff is a cutting edge proprietary composite made of basalt and Innegra fibers. Basalt fibre is made of melted basalt rock and Innegra is a fibre consisting mostly of polypropylene. When they are woven together into a cloth and infused with Nova Craft's high impact vinylester resin system, the result is simply amazing! TuffStuff canoes are a great choice for paddlers looking for a light canoe for extended flatwater tripping with more than enough strength to handle lots of abuse in the back country. 
• TuffStuff Expedition (TSE) is a more robust, heavier duty version of the standard TuffStuff construction. These canoes are an excellent choice for an expedition grade canoe for extended wilderness trips and some whitewater use. Stiff for great performance, incredible impact resistance and lightweight all in one canoe. 
• Aramid Lite canoes are the lightest boats Nova Craft makes and are intended for flatwater tripping. Built by infusing Aramid cloth with high impact resistant vinylester resin these canoes have great strength to weight characteristics. While they are ideal for wilderness trips involving lots of long portages, it is also wonderful just to have a lightweight canoe to put on and off the car. Nova Craft uses Twaron fabrics to give you the power of Aramid. 
• Blue Steel is an aramid and carbon fibre hybrid material. These canoes are light like Aramid Lite boats but are significantly stronger. Not only is the look of carbon fiber cloth very appealing but the carbon fibers add stiffness to the hull to increase paddling efficiency. Adding an inner layer of Innegra and infusing these hulls with high impact resistant vinylester resin makes a very rugged canoe. Blue Steel canoes are most at home in flatwater scenarios but have been proven very reliable on long Arctic river expeditions as well. 

Fiberglass: 69lb / 31.3kg

TuffStuff: 60lb / 27.2kg

TuffStuff Expedition: 65lb / 29.5kg

Aramid Lite: 48lb / 21.8kg

Blue Steel: 52lb / 23.6kg

Length: 17 ft

Width: 36 in

Center Depth: 15 in

End Depth: 23 in

Weight:
Fiberglass: 69lb
TuffStuff: 60lb
TuffStuff Expedition: 65lb
Aramid Lite: 48lb
Blue Steel: 52lb

Max Capacity: 1200 lb