Prospector River Canoe Plans

Looking for an excellent 16ft, 2 person river tripper canoe? The Prospector Canoe Plans are the plans you want.

I first built this boat in the early 80's for a trip on the Yukon River in Alaska. All my research at the time pointed to this design as being just perfect for floating rivers. And where I lived in Alaska had no shortage of running rivers.  This boat proved to be everything I had hoped it would be, and in fact I still have this boat over 30 years later.

The Prospector, however, is a misunderstood design.  Somewhere along the line, it was reported that this design is a good all around canoe for both rivers and lakes.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I tell people who ask, that every canoe in my yard (and I have a few), would have to have a large hole in the bottom of it in order for me to take this boat out on a lake.  However, if I am heading for a river, this canoe is at the top of my list.

All of the design characteristics that make this a great river canoe make it a poor flat water boat.  The high sides and flare to the stem, keep breaking swirls of river water out of the boat, but act as a sail on flat waters and make it hard to keep the boat traking.  The rocker to the bottom of the hull allow a savy river runner to dig in their paddle and avoid that approaching rock, or stump, but the rocker also makes it very difficult to keep the boat going straight on flat water without making constant corrections to your strokes. 

I could go on, but suffice it to say, "GREAT" river canoe, not so great lake canoe.

Anyone who tells you that any one canoe is great on rivers and lakes likely has little paddling experience or is simply trying to sell you something.  A canoe design can be acceptable on both, but by simple laws of physics, mechanics and hydrodynamics, it is simply imposible for one design to excell in every condition.

If you are looking for a lake canoe, we have a number of them from which to choose - from family canoes to a solo canoe.  But, if you are looking to run the river then this is the canoe for you. You will be dreaming of the river as you strip this boat, thinking of all the possibilities. 

We strongly recommend that you purchase the streaming video with the plans. However, we realize that for some of you this may not be your first time building a strip boat and have given you the option.