Blue Mount to Sparks (7.8 miles), Glencoe Gauge 2.0 and falling
1/9/05
OC2 - Topher Reynolds, c2g, Molly, Ruthie, Tom Wilhelm, Lauren
Wilhelm, Bob Wilhelm, Mike McCrea, Cooper McCrea
OC1 - Frank Weichold, Theresa Alexander
K1 - Vic Chenowith

Same stretch of river as last time but to Topher's relief, different
boats. In order to make a valid head-to-head comparison we took the
kevlar Wenonah Prospector and the Blue Steel Nova Craft Prospector
(both 17 footers) down the Gunpowder, recreating our previous test
paddle in the plastic fantastics.

I can see why Lilydipper and others are such fans of the Prospector
design; both the Wenonah and Nova Craft are marvelous hulls and are
nearly identical in their dimensions - both 17 feet long, both 15"
deep, both with deep stems (25" on the Wenonah, 23" on the Nova),
both in the 36" max width range with 4" of rocker.

The differences in these two Prospectors are subtle variations in hull
shape and less subtle differences in outfitting and materials. The
Wenonah maintains sharper stem lines, while the Nova Craft comes fuller
faster. The stern seat in the Nova is a bit pinched for paddlers
sporting a maximus gluteus maximus while the bow seat in the Wenonah
offered less knee room due to the slightly sharper stem line.

One design element that has begun to bug me more and more in some
canoes we have tested recently - thwart placement. You would think
that with 17 feet of hull to work with thwart placement would not be an
issue. Think again; the front thwart in the Wenonah is absurdly close
to the bow seat, and the rear thwart in the Nova Craft, while not quite
as bothersome, was still awkwardly close to the stern station. I've
noticed similarly awkward (and similarly unnecessary) issues with
thwart placement in several other canoes recently. What's up with
that?

Nova Craft Plusses - Beautiful brightwork (nice to see that quality
woodwork still exists). An amazingly comfortable yoke that was
exquisitely balanced and the sculpted carry handles are a nice touch.
The Blue Steel composite material (kevlar/carbon/spectra) is incredibly
tough stuff. The nylon-laced seats are surprisingly comfortable and
drier than cane or webbing.

Nova Craft Minuses - Narrow stern seat station and rear thwart
placement. The deeply hung seats are a bit wobbly (would benefit seat
trusses instead of dowel-style hangers). The dark Blue Steel hull shows
every scratch.

Wenonah Plusses - The dished seat frames are very comfortable and the
metal plate seat drops provide excellent rigidity. The Wenonah seemed
markedly lighter on the shoulders although it is listed as being nearly
5 lbs heavier (I'll have to weight them). The stern seat is a bit
further forward, providing ample room. The kevlar hull (red) was
unblemished after a few low-water dings and scrapes. The acceleration
and glide were a touch better but the canoe was still plenty
maneuverable.

Wenonah Minuses - The bow seat seemed overly deep and the knee room
at the bow station was a bit tighter than the Nova Craft. The fore
thwart placement was wayyyy to close to the bow seat. The combination
of two aluminum thwarts with a commemoratively inscribed (Lewis &
Clark) wood yoke was esthetically unappealing (and Lewis & Clark had
what exactly to do with Prospector canoes?).

Overall - Two of the nicest tripper canoes I've ever had the
pleasure to paddle. Both are solidly built, easily responsive and
maneuverable; the Wenonah a bit superior choice for a mix of lake and
river paddling, the Nova Craft the better selection where downriver
tripping is the order of the day.

Oh, yeah, this was supposed to be a trip report, not a boat review.
Nice day, fine company, good to have the kids and dogs along. And,
having done nothing but tandem paddling for the past couple of months
while reviewing these tripper hulls I am psyched to get back to
paddling solo. No offense to my bowmen Dave, Frank or Cooper, but
I've had my fill of that obstructed view stern seat.