Nova Craft Prospector 16' TuffStuff

Few canoe designs have earned the kind of loyalty the Prospector has among Canadian paddlers, and Nova Craft has been building their version of these iconic Chestnut lines since 1984. The Prospector 16' in TuffStuff is the sweet spot for paddlers who want the full Prospector experience in a layup that's tough enough for serious backcountry use without the weight of fibreglass.

The shallow arch hull delivers the self-righting stability and dry ride in waves and whitewater that have made the P16 the go-to wilderness tripping canoe for generations of Canadian paddlers. It tracks well on flatwater, carries an impressive load, and handles river conditions with a confidence that builds quickly with experience. At 56 lbs, the TuffStuff layup strikes a solid balance between durability and portageability for a canoe with a 1,000 lb capacity.

The Special Edition takes things further with a clear gel coat interior and exterior that reveals the striking black and white weave of the basalt and Innegra fibres underneath. It arrives fully kitted out with anodized aluminum trim, factory-installed skid plates, black webbed seats, a contoured ash yoke and thwart, and custom greyscale branded decals. It's a backcountry-ready canoe that also happens to be one of the best-looking boats at the put-in.

• Length: 16 ft / 488 cm
• Width: 36 in / 91.4 cm
• Centre depth: 15 in / 38.1 cm
• End depth: 23 in / 58.4 cm
• Rocker: 2.5 in / 6.4 cm
• Capacity: 1,000 lb / 454 kg
• Weight (TuffStuff): 56 lb / 25.4 kg
• Hull: Symmetrical, shallow arch, moderate rocker
• Special Edition includes: Clear gel coat, anodized aluminum trim, factory skid plates, black webbed seats, ash yoke and thwart, custom decals
• Made in Canada: London, Ontario