Monday, February 21, 2011

Sneak Preview Part VI- From Prototype to Production

The Prospector 17 Is Here


Hello again paddling enthusiasts,


In Parts I, IV, and V of the Sneak Preview Series, we showed you how a canoe goes from just an idea to a full-fledged prototype. We've brought you along so you can see how we build and test each new design. Well, now it's time to see the finished product. As we announced in January, Swift has designed two new additions to our Prospector series, the Prospector 15 and 17. These new designs are now complete with finished moulds, and the first boats have already gone through production. With that said, Swift is proud to show you the first Swift Prospector 17 ever built:

Moments after coming out of the mould. It still needs trim, interior wood, and decals, but it's beginning to take shape.


The boat was made in Kevlar Fusion, with our Carbon-Kevlar trim, in champagne white, with cherry wood interior. The Swift factory team finished the boat this week and it immediately headed out for it's maiden voyage.

We decided to take the boat down to our good friends at Bay Creek Paddling Center in Rochester, NY. The gang decided on Irondeqouit Creek, a tributary of the larger Irondequoit Bay that feeds into Lake Ontario. It was a cold, snowy day but Dave and Morgan from Bay Creek braved the weather and put the boat through its paces. We're going to make them honorary Canadians for being such good sports. According to them, the boat paddles exceptionally well and is very maneuverable for it's size. It's also got tonnes of cargo capacity and glides nicely through the water, even with a light load. Here they are in action:


They've even got their toques on. Yes, it's a toque. It's not a hat, or a cap, or a chapeau, it's a toque eh!

A nice day for a test paddle. Kinda.

Like a couple of seasoned voyageurs

The Prospector 17 will be making its debut this weekend at the Outdoor Adventure Show, going on at the International Center in Toronto. Stop by the Swift booth and check it out!

In cased you missed it:

The Sneak Preview Series