Swift Canoes Cruiser 17.8

The Ultimate Ultra-Distance Solo Canoe

The Swift Canoes Cruiser 17.8 is a fast, efficient canoe. Really fast. Designed for ultra-distance paddles, fitness users looking for a speedy responsive canoe or indeed those looking for a very quick expedition tripping boat, the Cruiser 17.8 is the boat to choose. Also, popular with those who want a longer fast expedition boat but are not wanting to get into a closed cockpit sea kayak, the Cruiser 17.8 offers easy access with minimal compromises.

A foot longer than it's smaller brother the Cruiser 16.8, and critically 2 inches narrower, the Cruiser 17.8 has the same volume but in an even more efficient hull. With this long water length and narrow beam comes a very quick gliding canoe, which can keep up with marathon boats (in the right hands). It features a good amount of tumble home and minimal rocker, which allows for the boat to be agile and turn well despite its length. While the more bulbous water line width gives the boat good volume when loading up for expeditions and can happily accommodate for multi-day trips. All the Swift Cruisers features the same S-Shaped gunwales through the catch area (the points between paddling entering and exiting the water), this allows for a more positive paddling stroke driving the canoe forward and level rather than turning, while also reducing the likelihood of catching your hand on the gunwales.

The Swift Cruiser 17.8 is available with our without buoyancy chambers, if you are looking (or required) to add additional buoyancy bags for competitions or races then it is easier to fill the void without the tank. We at Manchester Canoes would recommend that if you are not looking to retro-fit buoyancy bags Swift instal the float tanks to give your Cruiser 17.8 the required flotation.