Sneak Preview Part V- Testing New Canoe Prototypes

Hello Again Paddling Enthusiasts,

If you've been following us these last few months, then you know that Swift has been working on some big things for 2011. The feedback has been fantastic, and we're excited about what's in store the upcoming paddling season. In Parts I-IV of our Sneak Preview series we've given you a behind-the-scenes look at how new boat designs go from idea to water, and in Part V of our 'Sneak Preview' series we're going to show you the next stage in the evolution of a canoe: the testing stage.

Back in Part I we showed you how we design and engineer new canoe prototypes. Unbeknownst to everyone, however, was that David Yost and the Swift team were actually developing not one, but three new canoe designs, two of which you'll see right here. You can read all about the construction and development of the prototypes here and here. Now in Part V of Swift's 'Sneak Preview' Series, we're going to give you an inside look at how we test potential canoe designs before they reach the production stage.

A couple weeks back the Swift boys, along with our good friend Don, ventured out in search of some open water to test the new designs. Being that this is Canada in January, finding open water isn't always easy. Even more, canoeing in January isn't always warm either. But the boys strapped on their snowshoes anyway and went out in search of a testing ground. We took two new boats with us, the Prospector 15 and another prototype that shall still remain nameless (mysterious huh?). We found a great spot at the Muskoka River locks in Huntsville and put each boat through it's paces. Here's the scoop:

Swifty leading the charge

Look, it's Davey Crockett. I mean Bob, Store Manager of Swift South River. Lookin' good Bob.

The boats leaving on their maiden voyage

Bob in the first solo test for the Prospector 15. This boat has already gotten a tonne of positive feedback and has already gone into production. Bob loved it!

Bob testing the solo configuration of the Prospector 15. Looks good!

Bill testing the solo configuration of the unnamed prototype

The consensus amongst the crew is that the new prototype is unbelievable. You can expect to see this boat in production soon.

Tandem testing

Tandem testing. Are you cold guys?

Don and Bob heading out in the Prospector 15

The after-paddle focus group

You can expect more information about these designs in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to find out more. We've already begun taking orders for the Prospector 15 and 17, so if you'd like more information call us toll free at 1-800-661-1429 or e-mail us at swift@swiftcanoe.com

You can also check out our other online sources:

The Swift Paddling Database- a collection of awesome paddling articles and helpful information. You can also check out the new 2011 Swift Canoe & Kayak catalog here as well.

Swift on Twitter- keep up to date with all the latest Swift events!

Swift on Facebook- the hub for interacting with the Swift team. Check out pictures, articles, and interact with fellow paddlers.

The 2011 Swift Catalog is Online!

Hey paddling people,

Swift Canoe & Kayak has been pretty darn busy this off-season getting ready for 2011. And as you know, we've already spilled the beans about some of the new things we're releasing this year. Well to make things easier for everyone (ourselves included), we also designed a catalog so we could read about the boats online and look at lots of shiny pictures (and occasionally drool on the pages). The 2011 Swift Canoe & Kayak catalog has all the information you could possibly want to know about our boat models, our laminate and construction processes, color and trim options, our store locations and facilities, everything! Check it out HERE.

And since you're already on the computer, you should check out our social media websites. They're full of awesome paddling information:

- Swift has started an online database of cool paddling articles. Read up on the finer points of paddling, learn new techniques, and uncover the secrets to becoming a great paddler!(www.Scribd.com/SwiftCanoe)

- Follow us on Twitter and keep up with all the latest happenings at Swift (www.twitter.com/Swift_Canoe)

- We're developing an online library of cool paddling videos, so check out our Vimeo page and tell us what you think (it's a work in progress). Check it out at http://vimeo.com/swiftcanoe

Happy reading paddling scholars!

The Toronto International Boat Show Starts Tomorrow!

Good day paddlers and paddling enthusiasts,

In case you didn't get the memo, the Toronto International Boat Show starts this weekend! This is THE biggest boat show of the year, and believe us, we'll be pulling out all the stops. We'll be bringing several new boat designs with us, including the new Aqua and Glacier kayak color schemes, the new Prospector 17 canoe, and a couple more little secrets we haven't even told you about yet.... (more on that soon). We'll also be bringing the new 2011 Hobie MirageDrive kayaks, Scott Canoes, Wilderness Systems Kayaks, and Perception kayaks, just to name a few.

The show runs from Saturday January 8th to Sunday January 16th at the Direct Energy Center in downtown Toronto , so if you're in the GTA (or frankly, even if you're not) you should come out and see what it's all about!

The Details:

The Official Toronto International Boat Show website- www.torontoboatshow.com

Every year, TBS builds a giant indoor lake inside the Ricoh coliseum. Check it out:

The demo area at 'The Lake'

The Sea-Doo demo at TBS 2010

http://www.torontoboatshow.com/features/indoor-lake/. From January 8th-16th, Swift will be performing Stand-Up Paddle Board demos everyday at "The Lake" where visitors can join in and learn how to "SUP" with the best of'em! Check out the lake schedule on the TBS link above.

Follow us on Facebook and keep up to date with the latest Swift news and events. We'll be updating regularly throughout TBS- http://www.facebook.com/SwiftCanoeandKayak

We'll also be running some contests and giveaways during the Boat Show, so follow us out on Twitter to get up to date information- http://www.twitter.com/Swift_Canoe

If you haven't seen some of the new toys we'll be unveiling this year, here's a sneak peak at a few we've already let out of the bag (and there's more coming too..)

1) The new Swift Prospector Canoe Series- http://swiftoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/12/sneak-preview-part-iv-creation-of-new.html

2) The all-new Two-Tone Glacier kayak color scheme- http://swiftoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/12/sneak-preview-part-iii-introducing.html

3) The all-new Aqua kayak color scheme http://swiftoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/11/sneak-preview-part-ii-introducing.html

4) The creation of a new Swift Prototype (more on this little guy soon...)- http://swiftoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/11/behind-scenes-new-swift-prototype-is.html

Hope to see you at TBS!

Sneak Preview Part IV- The Creation of the New Swift Prospector Series

A new canoe is born.

The Swift team took a well deserved break for the holidays, but that doesn't mean we sat around sipping egg nog all day. We've got a lot of things in store for 2011 and beyond, so we've been focused this off-season on designing and implementing several new designs. In part 5 of the Sneak Preview Series, Swift Canoe & Kayak is excited to bring you another behind-the-scenes look at 2 new canoe models we've got in store for 2011.

Back in Part I of the "Sneak Preview" series we showed you the building of a Swift prototype. Well, that wasn't the only prototype being built at the time. Forever mischievous, we wanted to save a few surprises until later (and we still can't tell you the name of that first prototype. Not just yet.). David Yost and the Factory Team have designed and tooled 3 new canoe moulds for the 2011 season, and now is the time to unveil them. So without further ado, we present to you 2 new additions to the Swift Prospector Canoe Series, the Prospector 15 and 17.

The plug is made from hand-laid pine wood strips by our principal designer David Yost. From here, the plug will go to our factory where a final mould will be created for large-scale production. You can see DY in action in Part 1 of the Sneak Preview series here: http://swiftoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/11/behind-scenes-new-swift-prototype-is.html

The completed Prospector 15 plug the day it arrived at the shop. Once the plug is completed, it is test paddled by the Swift staff so we can finalize mould specifications, seat placements, yoke placement, and so on.

The Prospector canoe design has been a figurehead of Canadian canoeing since the beginning, but it's design has been stagnant for the last several decades. And that's not a bad thing; the Prospector design has maintained itself because of its strong performance and versatility. People always say, "if it ain't broke, don't fit it," but at Swift we believe that just because it isn't broken doesn't mean we can't improve it. So that's what we did.

After consulting with the Swift manufacturing team and our designer David Yost, we went about re-shaping the Prospector design and expanding the capabilities of classic Canadian canoe designs. These new models offer more versatility than the traditional Prospector and give paddlers a better mix of options when searching for the "classic" canoe to suit their needs.

The Prospector 15 is our way of showing that we were listening to our devoted followers when they asked us for a smaller symmetrical tandem canoe. Designed with the solo paddler in mind, but considerate of the tandem tripper, the Prospector 15 is equal parts fast and smooth. It's quick and maneuverable in a solo position, and smooth and stable as a tandem. It offers paddlers a better multi-purpose canoe for solo and/or tandem adventure tripping.

The Prospector 15 waiting to go out on its first test paddle.

The Prospector 17, meanwhile, has all the classic features of the Prospector design but with a higher weight capacity. For paddlers who need space for gear, kids, or pets, it's got a high-volume hull design that offers great stability. It's also surprisingly responsive for its size, making it a great fit for young families or for those who like to pack everything including the kitchen sink when they go tripping.

The Prospector 17 plug in it's very first photo shoot at Swift Headquarters in Gravenhurst, Ontario.

The completed Prospector 17 mould, ready for production at the Swift Factory in South River, Ontario.

The Prospector 15 and 17 will be available for order at the Toronto International Boat Show, going on at the Direct Energy Center from January 8th to the 16th. And to top it off, we'll be showcasing the very FIRST Prospector 17 during the 2nd week of the show. So if you want to come see them first hand, come down for the second week of TBS and you can see the Prospector 17 in the flesh. And as we've hinted before, we will be unveiling more new stuff leading up to the Toronto Boat Show. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to speed on all the latest news!

SWIFTMAS IS ENDING TODAY! LAST CHANCE TO DANCE!

Well, it's the last day of Swiftmas. And we HAVE to go out with a bang. It just wouldn't be right if we didn't. So for TODAY ONLY, we're offering $700 off ANY new Kevlar Fusion or Carbon Fusion boat. Yep, $700 cajones off ANY Kevlar Fusion or Carbon Fusion canoe or kayak in stock. These prices won't be lower at the Toronto Boat Show, or in the Spring, or at any other time in the next 17 years (give or take). So if you've been twiddling your thumbs about whether or not to splurge on a new boat, now is the time to throw caution to the wind and get a boat at an insanely low price. So power dial your phone and call us toll free at 1-800-661-1429 and see what's in stock. You can also check out the inventory online at www.swiftoutside.com and click on the 'Boat Inventory' link. Don't delay, after today our stock boats will go back to regular retail prices and we're going to covet them like the beautiful unicorns that they are!

The SWIFTMAS Self-Imposed Hiatus is Over! IT'S BAAACCKK!

Well, Swiftmas is almost over.... I know, I know, it's tragic. And our apologies for the 2 day hiatus. We're not going to offer any excuses (although there are some good ones that I came up with- like the fact I slept in yesterday), so we're going to claim that it was an intentional tactic to build suspense. Exhilarating huh? So to make up for our jerkish tactics, we're going to go out with a bang. A boat bang! So for TODAY ONLY, all of our new Kevlar Fusion and Carbon Fusion boats are $500 OFF! That's right, ANY new canoe or kayak in our inventory is $500 off the regular retail price. We've got plenty of kayaks, including some in our new Aqua color scheme, and boatloads of canoes in all makes and models (see what I did there? Ha, boatloads...). We've got Adirondacks, Kiwassas, Saranacs, and the like. We've got Kipawas, Algonquins, Keewaydins, Dumoines, you name it. You can even check our inventory online at http://www.swiftcanoe.com/sales/index.htm. So call us toll free at 1-800-661-1429 and pick up a great boat today. This is your second to last chance to capitalize on Swiftmas!Ka-BOOM!

DAY 9 OF SWIFTMAS IS HERE!

Well, it's time to pull out the big guns...

The Swift posse likes to row, especially since some of us rowed in university, and not only is it great exercise but it's also a great way to splash your coach with a huge rowing oar! What can I say... we like to enjoy ourselves. So for TODAY ONLY, we’re going to put up one of our Alden Rowing Shells for an unreal price. This tandem rowing shell is normally $7495 with 2 sets of splash-efficient carbon hatchet oars, but today we’re selling it off for only $6995! With those savings, you could buy the world’s biggest super soaker and drench your rowing buddies from the comfort and safety of the dock. Some people say that's mean, but we here at Swift say Game On! This sweet rowing shell is cherry red, comes with riggers, lightweight carbon hatchet oars, and it will make you the world’s greatest rower. That’s a fact. Yeah that's a little exaggerated, but hey, enthusiasm sells. Whoo! Yeah!! Rowing!! Row yourself into Swift Muskoka and check it out, or give us a call splash free at 1-800-661-1429 for more information.