I have a chance to buy a fully outfitted Mohawk Probe 12 for $300. Should I get it? I have been running Class II and some Class III in river tripping boats, both solo and tandem. My friends keep telling me I should buy a real WW boat. I tried out several playboats a while back including this one. It was not my favorite of the ones I tried, but I figure I can adapt. What I am wondering is what kind of reputation does the Mohawk Probe 12 have in the WW paddling community?

lots of discussion on boat recommendations on
www.cboats.net
unless tha absolute crap is beat out of the boat, that's not a bad price at all.
check fo soft spots and delamination

do you envision yourself playing or you comfortable with point and shoot? It's about what you want to do more so than what you run...
as for reputation...... the creekers will tell you one thing....the trippers/occasioal players will tell you another...... I think it's better than a tripping boat, it ain't going to scream into an eddy but it will keep you drier than your tripping boat
Mohawks seem to be tough boats, not the most nimble (i general) there are exceptions like the viper but they have a following

tell us what you want it to do?

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http://campfireblues.wetpaint.com/
home of the opinionated old farts!

Ah.... yes! The saddle and airbags are probably worth $300. The beauty of buying a used ww boat is that you save the costs of outfitting (almost half the cost of new hull). If it were super beat-up, I could take it or leave it, but if it's in good shape and re-sellable, I'd buy an outfitted anything for $300.

A Probe 12 is a decent ww boat, and will always be a decent boat. Hot-shot creekers and playboaters would recommend something shorter and edgier, but the Probe is a perfect starter as a real, dedicated ww playboat. It's a good transition from running ww in a tripping hull - it'll be fairly stable and track well (relative to other playboats). If you find you're loving the surfing, spinning, and catching really tiny eddies on very steep rapids, you can look for something hotter later, but the Probe is a great starter, and could also last you forever as a legit playboat for running ww.

Go for it!! If you don't like it or want to get rid of it eventually, you should be able to sell it again for about the same money.

PY.

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Learning to paddle is like learning a language:
It's easy to learn the basics, but will you be understood in a strong wind?

Gail and Pat-
I am not particularly interested in surfing. I do like to catch eddys, though. Mostly, I want to do Class III with something more stable, more manueverable and drier than my Wenonah Argosy. I would choose to do more miles of river in a day over trying to catch surfing waves all the time. The boat has only been used one season, and that was seven years ago.

Perfect! Definitely more manouverable and drier, and the secondary stability is a whole new ballgame - it may not feel more "stable" when you first start paddling it around, yet you'll be able to to tilt it with confidence (Remember, stay loose in the hips and tilt the boat with your kness; don't lean your body - keep your head over the your centre line).




You lucky guy! A solid, outfitted, reputable ww canoe for $300 is a great bargain.

I don't recall what boats you might've tried that you liked better, but I'm quite sure that if you described your needs and asked for recommendations, the Probe would be near the top of the list.

I'm sure you'll find yourself looking for a path through the next V's and tongues a little bit less, and looking for a route among the rocks and eddies and little bit more. Don't be shy, have fun!

Pat.

_________________
Learning to paddle is like learning a language:
It's easy to learn the basics, but will you be understood in a strong wind?

As stated it sounds like a really good deal, and given the boat was only used for one season I'd pick it up! That said.... if there ever was a better older model starter boat , its the Rival. If I had to pick between these two boats I'd take the Rival over the Probe. But I take it you don't have that option.... this boat will work perfect for what you're looking for. Now you did say you didn't want to surf..... give it time and you'll be on every little surf wave you can find!!!!!! WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!!!!

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Al Greve http://www.canoewateradventuring.ca South Western Ontario's canoeing specialist

John....300 is chump change in buying a boat
.....seriously a bargain
even if you are not a fan, the boat will serve you better than the argosy for a river running white water day tripper in class 3......number of folks in the Southern states use them on big stuff.

I don't personally like the boat... but I cannot find fault with it as a solid platform to get you down a river and catch some eddies. It is stable, it will be drier and it will get you into more places than your Agrosy....and if you store it indoors you will be able to recoup your cost in a couple years

With a big footprint it will not stay in small eddies, and with a long waterline it isn't going to turn on a dime....but who cares? it fits your needs and it's way too cheap for what you described. Stored indoors or out?
I passed on a genis in the states for 350....only becasue we didn't have space on the roof rack to bring it back (we bought a caption the same weekend) we had no need for it but we were going to reajust and rig it as a tandem play boat for the girls.
300 is a paddle for some....go for it

_________________
http://campfireblues.wetpaint.com/
home of the opinionated old farts!

If you don't want it I will buy it for Erin.

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I like canoes

Dan,

Just of curiosity, do you have a legit/affordable plan to transport a canoe from eastern WA to Ontario?

John,

Here's from the Mohawk website (the Probe 12 is now called the 13):


And Dan has a good point - if you don't buy it, I would - just to get a cheap canoe available in Vancouver for the next person I know who wants to try solo ww.

By the way, at Paddletrails Canoe Club in Seattle, there's a Mad River Rampage that's taking offers, you could probably get it for next to nothing - it's about 13' and is the early version of the OutrageX.

Pat.

_________________
Learning to paddle is like learning a language:
It's easy to learn the basics, but will you be understood in a strong wind?

No.




But when has that stopped me before? I figure $300 should get it to buffalo and I can pick it up from there..... That makes $600, still a steal. I can probably get the vendor to kick in 1/2 the shipping cost. If it is sitting in his garage for 7 years unused he probably doesnt have a buyer for it. $150 bucks is better than nothing.

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I like canoes

Well Folks, I'm too slow at the switch. The Mohawk Probe is Sold!!!
It was in Portland Oregon- six hours away. I am going to have to wait or save my money for a trip to Nunavut instead. I did get to compare the Probe against an Outrage-X a few weeks back and I liked the Outrage-X way better. So I am not too disappointed. Nice to know that it is considered a good boat, though.
Thanks to all who replied.