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My wife and I are considering buying a Mohawk XL-14 in Royalex or Royalite. Royalite saves about 4.5 # which is a factor for us. We have two questions:

How do Royalite and Royalex compare relative to hull stiffness and dent resistance?

Is Mohawk making good boats under their latest ownership?

Thanks, Bill

Bill
Nice to see you on the forum, and buying a new boat! Did the old one wear out or have an accident?

As for buying a Mohawk XL-14 in Royalite to save weight I think that makes sense for you too. Stiffness shouldn't be that much of an issue (remember this is a new boat verses that monster you have been paddling -- I think from way back when).
As for Mohawk making good boats under the new ownership I heard there were some quality control issue (more material supplier related if anything) at first but that they were actively addressed.

Have you thought about a composite boat - that would cut the weight in half even with a heavy lay up. You two are not really hard on a boat (I've seen you paddle ) in that you keep things pretty much on line and with limited carnage. Check out the boat search info in the upper left drop down to see if there is soming else you might like.

I'm sure others will join in with suggestions too. Are you still focusing on II-III? If your upping the game you might need a bit more beef but that will add weight.

Hope to see you out there again in the near term. Paul C.

Don't know why canoe weight would be an issue when there is two of you to carry it and paddle it. Unless your focus is slalom. Then the suggestion to go with composite is a good one.

If you want durability, I'd go with Royalex. Royalex is light enough these days and rocks haven't changed at all in how hard they are.

Two other boats I would consider would be the Mad River Caption (revived version of the great Dagger canoe) and the Esquif Vertige X. Both are excellent whitewater tandem playboats.

The last time I talked with Mohawk, they weren't making boats in
Royalite yet. This may have changed. Also, no wooden gunwhales.
But, they were working to resolve that. Howabout the Probe 14?
I would think the Probe would be more Fun.