FROM CANOE AND KAYAK MAGAZINE "CANOES FOR CRUISIN' "
JULY 2000 A REVIEW OF OUR 17' PIONEER BY STEVE SALINS

The Pioneer 17' took time to earn it's points with me. The pleasant cream-colored gel coat makes a nice initial impression, and some finishing touches suggest thought and care in construction. I'm a sucker for laced wood frame seats, and the ones hanging by wood spacers in this canoe throw me back to an earlier era and prove to be very comfortable. Handles are curved and slender in the middle, which is easy on the hands. End caps are molded tightly over the stem of the hull as well as the gunwales. The resulting unusual shape catches the eye, it makes for a fine fit.

This hull is stiffened with a thin diamond-shaped foam core; however at 78 pounds [*1] this particular test boat, which was actually built heavy for a rental outfit, feels heavy to load on my van. For some reason, North Woods installs the yoke facing the stern.[*2] Out of superstition I always load my canoes bow forward on a vehicle, so this throws me for a loop. The yoke is highly polished, but without much depth in the cut-out. [*3] It slides off my shoulders too readily for comfort in carrying, and it never does feel quite right.

We paddle the Pioneer 17' on a small lake adjacent to a county park. With the first stroke, this canoe shows stability and smoothness in the water way beyond my expectations. I'm always hesitant to say that a designs well blended because I wonder if I'm overlooking something. Yet the Pioneer 17' cruises nicely, tracks well, turns easily and never feels unstable or particularly tippy. We lean the gunwale to water's edge with plenty of confidence and comfort. Paddling with straight-shaft paddles, we run a leisurely course around the windy lake without any argument from the hull. With bent-shaft paddles a higher cadence, and more speed, the Pioneer 17' moves along right smartly.

This is one large canoe and would be plenty suitable to carry a load on an extended trip. The manufacturer reports a six-inch freeboard capacity of 1,150 ponds, which indicates a lot of volume for this length. The capacity is partly due to the deep 14.5 inch center depth. The boat is quite comfortable. Seats are low enough that paddlers can lock their knees under the gunwales, yet high enough for comfortable kneeling. Personally, I think the front seat is mounted to far back.[*4] There is a huge amount of leg and storage room in the bow, and bow paddlers notice a quite wide paddling position. I'd reduce both the room and the paddling width by moving the bow seat forward. The stern position is comfortable for both body and paddling efficiency.

The Pioneer 17' proves itself to be a wonderful tandem canoe for general recreational use. It's not a hot cruiser, but it does so much else well in an understated manner that it's hard not to like it.

A FEW NOTES FROM NORTH WOODS CANOE COMPANY LTD.
ABOUT THE REVIEW:

[*1] WE USED A STANDARD PRODUCTION RUN CANOE AND DID NO SPECIAL PREPARATION TO THE CANOE, FOR THE REVIEW BY CANOE AND KAYAK MAGAZINE, LIKE MOST MANUFACTURERS DO. THE STANDARD WEIGHT OF THE 17' PIONEER IS 69 POUNDS.

[*2] THE YOKE IS POSITIONED TO FACE THE STERN SO THE FRONT SEAT DOES NOT RESTRICT YOUR VISION WHEN YOU ARE CARRYING THE CANOE.

[*3] A VARIETY OF OPTIONAL DEEP DISHED YOKES ARE AVAILABLE.

[*4] THE FRONT SEAT CAN BE POSITIONED TO SUIT YOUR PARTICULAR NEEDS AND WE ALSO HAVE AN OPTIONAL SLIDING BOW SEAT AVAILABLE.

NORTH WOODS CANOE COMPANY LTD. WOULD LIKE TO THANK STEVE SALINS, HIS CREW AND CANOE & KAYAK MAGAZINE http://www.canoekayak.com FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS REVIEW.