Whereas, I'd vote AGAINST the XL series if the OP is expecting to
continue as a serious whitewater paddler. The XL series is obsolete
and it would be a matter of a short length of time before he would want
to sell it for something more current. Buying a used, and slightly
obsolete boat is probably a good idea until he knows exactly what he
wants, but buying something as primitive as an XL is probably a false
economy.

The Probe 14 is a much better suggestion, but if you (OP) check
Mohawk's website (I'm too lazy to do it for you) I'll bet you will find
that your weight is within the range of some of the Probe 12 series. A
great long whitewater boat (with a rabid cult following) is the
Bluehole Sunburst, but there will be a bidding war if one comes on the
market, since Bluehole is again out of production. Another good
big-guy boat that has been around long enough to show up on the
used-boat market is the Outrage X. Two years ago I would have killed
for a used Rival; then I got my Prodigy X!

But if you spring for the price of a new Bell Prodigy X you will want
to kiss me when we meet on the river one day; the expensive Prodigy X
is one schweeeeeeet whitewater canoe!

Generally speaking, you should consider what kind of whitewater you
like best: if you like big water you could get one of the longer boats
suggested here, but if you like (as I do) tight, technical streams then
you should go for a shorter boat that is rated to carry your weight.
Something in the 12' to 13' (I think my Prodigy X is 12'4") range
should make a pretty good all-rounder for someone of your size (and
mine -- 200 and a variable bit) that will be able to handle technical
streams.

-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
--
================================================== ====================
Richard Hopley Winston-Salem, NC, USA
.. rhopley[at]earthlink[dot]net
.. Nothing really matters except Boats, Sex, and Rock'n'Roll
.. rhopley[at]wfubmc[dot]edu
.. OK, OK; computer programming for scientific research also matters
================================================== ====================



Grip wrote:
I mainly paddle WW kayaks, but also have an XL-13 Mohawk I got cheap. Very
stable, pretty dry on class III, not super fast, but the stability and
handling is good. It was a good choice when deciding to try a new craft on
WW. I vote the XL series as well
"Steve Cramer" wrote in message
...
You would probably like the Mohawk XL14 or even XL15. Wide, forgiving,
should be pretty cheap used. A step up would be the Probe 14.

Steve

Richard Ferguson wrote:
I am planning to buy a whitewater canoe, preferably used. I looked a
little on the web, but found little on how to choose a whitewater canoe.

I have been running whitewater in my Old Town Camper canoe, not exactly
the right canoe for the job, but I have successfully run class III. I
got carried away and added a removable saddle and thigh straps, sort of
like putting racing stripes on a VW bus. The people I paddle with have
been bugging me to get a real whitewater boat, they say that I have the
skills, I just need a better boat.

Given that I have been paddling a 36 inch wide and 16 foot long canoe, I
don't want too radical a change, although any whitewater canoe would be
a big change. One of the local people had a boat for sale, but he said
that it was probably more extreme than was appropriate for me. I weigh
200 pounds, so I need a larger boat, especially if I add camping gear.
Are there any common models that I might find used that I should look
for? Are there any relatively inexpensive new models worth considering?
I suppose I am looking for a whitewater canoe appropriate for larger
intermediate whitewater paddlers.

Since I have no experience to speak of in whitewater canoes, I am
inclined to think that a paddle test is of limited use for me. When I
have paddled whitewater canoes on flat water they feel very strange and
unstable. I guess if I sat in one and flipped it in flat water that
might be a reason not to buy it. ;-) Rather than depend on my own
uneducated taste, I would rather get an appropriate whitewater boat and
gradually become accustomed to it.

Comments? Suggestions?

Richard



--
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA