Where's your solo? I prefer my Tranquility in BWCA - mostly lakes and some big - and Swift Prospector in ADK streams and small waters. I'm doing a stretch of NFCT from Saranac to Eight between work weekends and it seems more like broad flat water, so thinking Tranq.
There is pretty much nowhere I wouldn't go with a Prospector 14 - that boat can haul a considerable load, is stable and deep enough to drive you through some nice rapids and big water, and in expedition kevlar is pretty tough to boot. I took my Merlin on the Yukon this past summer and ended up wishing I had a P14 for the extra load and freeboard it offers. While there are certainly better tracking boats, if you're going on a longer trip with rivers and/or lakes, you could do MUCH worse than your P14. It really is a "go anywhere do anything" boat, perhaps not the best at either, but very good at both lakes and rivers. This all being said, if I were doing mostly lakes I would take my Merlin without question. But if I had both a Merlin and a P14, the P14 would be going with me on a river trip for sure...
I had an Rx Argosy for several years. It was great to use on the local rocky streams. I do not think I’d use it with a load on big lakes. Best for moving small water, loaded modestly. Not real good hauling an antsy cow dog, which is why I sold it. Probably should have kept it. My dog is pretty sedate these days. Royalex is a great material for that boat.
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I wouldn't claim to have a "ton" of time in the P14, but from what I could see in the few times I have paddled one it is more maneuverable than its 1" of rocker would suggest. I think it's sort of like the Penobscot 16 in that way, perhaps a better downriver boat than a whitewater boat. It really is a prospector in design - jack of all trades, master of none. I would still love to try and compare it to the Nova Craft P14. As far as center depth, I am actually surprised that it's smaller than the Phoenix - with respect to freeboard the P14 doesn't feel lower to me when I've paddled one. I wonder if the hull shape keeps it higher up in the water than the more rounded Phoenix? I may be totally making this up however.
), but they are far more forgiving than the others...
I wouldn't claim to have a "ton" of time in the P14, but from what I could see in the few times I have paddled one it is more maneuverable than its 1" of rocker would suggest. I think it's sort of like the Penobscot 16 in that way, perhaps a better downriver boat than a whitewater boat. It really is a prospector in design - jack of all trades, master of none. I would still love to try and compare it to the Nova Craft P14. As far as center depth, I am actually surprised that it's smaller than the Phoenix - with respect to freeboard the P14 doesn't feel lower to me when I've paddled one. I wonder if the hull shape keeps it higher up in the water than the more rounded Phoenix? I may be totally making this up however.
To me the big things the Phoenix has over the Prospector 14 are a 2" narrower hull making it more sleek / faster and a more rounded bottom, faster to heel. Plus of course the IXP layup is amazing. But I'd bet money the P14 will haul a bigger load and be more stable doing so. The others you mention I wouldn't lump with the Phoenix and P14 personally, more "hotrod boats" that are superb river trippers to be sure (especially the SRT and Supernova), but also require a deft touch or you will be swimming down that river! Not that you couldn't flip a P14 or Phoenix (heck, I've been known to flip an Old Town Camper at times
No argument - I agree. I do not think the Swift P14 handles like a true Prospector (the only big Prospector I have paddled is a Nova Craft P16, and that boat solo turned similarly to the Swift P14 from what I can remember, but I paddled them years apart so it's not a fair comparison).
). In no way did I intend to imply that the P14 has the performance of the WildFIRE or Phoenix, rather I think it can carry more of a load than either and will be adequate on a river / lake expedition.
