Does any one know what float bags (brand and size?) used in the bow and stern of a NC prospecter 17 fit well? instaling the float bags seems easy enough, but im just wondering what ones would be best (and most cost effective). Where you you suggest to get them from?

If you plan on carrying a lot of gear, in bags so you can grab it out quickly for portages, and reload easily, then you might want just 30" end bags. If you plan on running serious whitewater now and then, you might want to go to 48" or more.

Of course, if you paddle tandem, you'll need to measure to see if even 30" end bags will fit.

Of currently available bags, I like Gaia Everlast. Fairly light, and just loose enough to fill the space under the laces. You can order direct, or get them from Kaz at millbrookboats.com ----That's a New Hampshire address.

You might want to get in touch with CCR member Alan Greve.

http://www.execulink.com/~eagreve/canoe ... index.html

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I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

Ray, Another consideration is that most tripping tandems are outfit with seats to suit an assumed usage. In the case of your canoe, the seat has been set for people who will use the canoe for any variety of family/touring/wilderness tripping usage. Few owners of your boat will outfit them with floatation. Heck, alot of people who trip on whitewater don't outfit their canoes with floatation. So you might choose to consider the placement of your seats at this time before buying the floatation bags. Often when running whitewater in a tandem, you want the hull to have as much hull bouyancy as you can get to keep the bow from burying in wavetrains. While the size of the bags won't do much to help with this, it makes sense to fill as much of that space in front of the bow paddler as possible too. Thus I'm not convinced that there is "one specific" size of floatation that fits all Novacraft Prospector 17's depending on specific usage.
One thing I can tell you is that when buying bags, you can almost always fit bigger bags in smaller boats. I have a set of 75+ inch bags that I currently have in the bow of my 11' Ovation. They fit fine in the cages. Unfortunately, you can't stretch a bag that is too small to fit into a larger canoe.

PK

Anything more than a 30" bag up front will start to comprimise leg room. You can use a larger bag but will need to size the cage so you're not cramped. You can probably go to a 36" in the rear. Harmony/Voyageur bags are the nicest (lightweight nylon). Worth the small $ premium over vinyl bags.

Yes I do carry stock nylon , 36", 48'', 54'', and 60'' bags.

Regards Al Greve

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

Hi,

A 17 ft prospector would be about the same as a 16,5 ft Esquif Canyon I think.
Don't agree with DougB... I used 36" Gaia float bags in my Canyon and these fit perfectly. Enough room available for knees and feet. 30 inch was just too small.

See link to previous topic:
http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=33409&hilit=gaia+canyon
Regards,

Michel

Nope prospector is a lot narrower up front. The seat is also placed closer to the stems.

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I like canoes

So then a 30" bag should be big enough?

I would think so.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca