Hello all,
I purchased a Duralite Hellman Prospector, and have been very happy with her. I've found her very suitable for the solo-paddling I've been doing along the east-coast of Vancouver Island, and have been using her extensively. I live six months a year in a remote cabin, on a sparsely occupied island in the Discovery Islands, and paddle through the tidal-rapids of Surge Narrows as part of my commute to work on another island. She handles current very well, and winds fairly well. With a following sea, she shines. She seems a bit doggy plowing into the wind and waves. I've just paddled her 350 miles back to Victoria, the reverse of my trip North April 1st. Seven days of paddling, averaging 50 miles per day. I haven't paddled her tandem so can't speak to that.
She's quite fast when I push myself, and cruises along nicely when I don't. I paddle Northwoods-style 90% of the time. Finding the sweet-spot on edge took me awhile, but once I'm in the groove, it's like paddling a much narrower and faster canoe. It seems that peaky, four-foot waves are about my limit for this hull, I take on a bit of water when the bow plunges into troughs, not much, maybe half a gallon. Broaching was still controllable even in these conditions. Build quality was good, and I'm now seriously considering purchasing a Hellman Duratuff Slocan to serve as my pick-up truck up there.
The poor Prospector was taken for a joy-ride from where I had left her in Victoria for three days - city-people aren't as respectful or trustworthy as tiny-islanders - and was returned with a slew of new scratches, and an almost-puncture. Looks like it was dragged down a logging-road behind a car. Nothing gel-coat can't cover but still...
Freestyling in her is fun, she side-slips beautifully. I only wish she had slightly more rocker, and a longer curve to the chine - hence the Slocan. At 34" beam, with finer-ends, she's efficient. A reasonable compromise. Closest thing to her I've paddled is the Chesnut Cruiser. They're similiarly-shaped. Those fifty-mile days were easier, and far more comfortable, than in my last kayak. I spent a bit more time on the beach waiting out the white-caps though. She seems a bit more trim-sensitive, than other canoes I've tried - I like that though - moving a fifty pound pack forward and back is enough to change the canoe's behaviour quite dramatically. The ideal performance seems to be at about 350-450 pounds. I'd recommend this canoe for experienced solo-paddlers, she can be a bit of a handful when the breeze picks-up, though I found throwing her up on edge, I could tack upwind, and up-current quite nicely. I took the seats out as I paddle kneeling, bum resting on the bow-thwart, and found her very light to portage.
I found Hellman easy to do business with, the delivery was quick, the canoe well-packed for shipping, and the price very fair.