15' Chestnut Prospector vs 15' Peterborough Minetta

[Robin]

Douglas Ingrahm from Red River Canoe (http://www.redrivercanoe.ca/p/canoe-models-and-pricing.html) has these two in his shop right now and posted this on FB,

In the shop this week: a few side by side comparisons of the 15' Chestnut Prospector and the 15' Peterborough Minetta. While similar, at 34.5" the Prospector is 3" wider, a little deeper, the stem is slightly rounder at the top, and the end ribs are slightly more "V" shaped. Both are lovely canoes!

Prospector foreground

Prospector

Minetta

Prospector

Minetta, narrow ribs like a Chestnut Chum

Prospector in new canvas,

 

[Robin]

I get so excited when I see these canoes I'll respond first to my own thread, Thanks for posting that, made my day, makes me want to go out and get one, anybody want to trade one for my wimpy composite, can I double blade one, how much does it weigh, how much is it worth..

I think the winter is beginning to effect me

 

[Canotrouge]

I get so excited when I see these canoes I'll respond first to my own thread, Thanks for posting that, made my day, makes me want to go out and get one, anybody want to trade one for my wimpy composite, can I double blade one, how much does it weigh, how much is it worth..

I think the winter is beginning to effect me

Hahaha Robin... I to would like to have one of these boat, w/c that is. maybe in a few years... I want to go build one with Doug... Just need the money, time I have but money not so much. One day!

 

[memaquay]

I'd like to get my dirty mitts on that 15 foot prospector, be the ultimate solo for a fellow like me!

 

[Doc.]

Indeed,made my day! Thanks Robin.

 

[Bob B.]

I talked to Hugh earlier today at Headwaters ... my canoe should be ready end of April - early May ... Stintson Maroon, grade #2, 15 foot prospector. Man I can't wait!!! Jake and I have plans to take her out to some wilderness and walleye adventures this summer. Great post Robin.

Bob.

 

[JagDaddy]

What should a guy expect to pay for such a craft?

Oddly enough wood/canvas canoes show up on craigslist in AZ. Lots of lakes and vacation cabins.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/boa/5401944755.html

 

[Odyssey]

I get so excited when I see these canoes I'll respond first to my own thread, Thanks for posting that, made my day, makes me want to go out and get one, anybody want to trade one for my wimpy composite, can I double blade one, how much does it weigh, how much is it worth..

I think the winter is beginning to effect me

Ha!! Good first post. Took the words right out of my mouth! Well, most of them. I love that Minetta.

 

[JagDaddy]

Another :- )

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/clt/5430548939.html

I'm attracted to theses classic canoes but I've never paddled one :- (

 

[Robin]

Hi JagDaddy,
I think the first one is overpriced, but if you where looking for an 18' OCTA with a sail kit it might be worth it.
The second one is way overpriced, imho.
Those canoes in the first post are nice canoes, the Minetta is similar to a Chestnut Chum and I paid $500 for one in just the same condition as the one in the picture, I doubt I could get much over $13-1400 for it restored, which would take about $400 in material and alot of hours to finish.
The other canoe, the 15' Chestnut Prospector is hard to find but probably wouldn't get much more than $1700 restored, probably more like $1500-1600 around here in the northeast, prices are way down on wood canvas canoes.
I could be wrong and would welcome other's thoughts on these canoes.

 

[Mihun09]

At 8 grand that one will be hanging there forever. The other for 2k, still a bit high despite all the sail rigging. If it has been "glassed" it ain't worth much at all since you cannot fix it.

 

[JagDaddy]

Thanks for the replys.

$1600 or $1700 doesn't seem all that expensive in the big scheme of things. A restoration would seems to require a pretty specialized skill set.

My pick would be the 15' Prospector, that style of boat was high on my list when I was boat shopping. Finally settled on the Supernova because it felt like a 'performance' Prospecter haha and I like that on the seasonal runs in the SW :- )

 

[Iskweo]

Ahhhh yes pricing. Well it is a supply and demand kind of thing. Also keeping in mind that "there is a sucker born every minute", canoe pricing is pretty subjective. That prospector is very hard to find. Even in canoe mecca ( Quebec/Ontario). We find some nice boats here occasionally and if I wanted one that was usable I would look to spend about 1500-2000. You wont get much for less than 1200. A boat neeeding repair is best acquired for the least amount that you can pay for it. I rarely pay more than 300 for a hull.

There are always people with prices right out in left field and I simply ignore them. The boats are often misidentified or really badly mauled. Clear glassing them is a current craze that renders them pretty short term options. It's very tough to fix an epoxied canoe. And most of those ones are butchered to begin with.

There are a number of places that will build you a new one and that ranges from @2500 to 4000. There are some pretty nicely built canoes out there for that money.

Robins prices are pretty on the mark for the current economic climate.

Doug Ingram is likely going to cost those folks in the nieghbourhood of 2500 for what he is doing. Just because he is the King, and is worth it. And he deserves every penny. So basically the cost of a cheaper composite canoe to repair your classic.

 

[Bob B.]

Kate from Headwaters sent me some pics of my canoe ... sounds like she will be ready by late April, early May. Here are a few pics of the hull, a 15 foot Chestnut Prospector.

On the form

Hull is built

Hull is oiled up - waiting for canvas.

 

[Robin]

WOW!!!!

Look at that Prospector bow, if it was mine I would be very much looking forward to Spring.

 

[Odyssey]

That's beautiful Bob. What colour will it be?

 

[Bob B.]

Currently, my plan is to have the outer gunnels either stained or painted a darker color, and the canvas will be a deep, dark maroon color - Stinson Maroon.

Bob.

 

[Rippy]

Very nice Bob! Happy for you.