This is a copy of a boat review on Mohawk's 14' Sport by Steve Salins that appeared in the May 1998 issue of Canoe and Kayak Magazine. P.O. Box 3418 Kirkland Wa 98083
SPORT 14
I generally like Mohawk canoes. They're straightforward, do the job assigned, and usually have some feature that makes me wonder, “Why didn't I think of that?” The Sport fits the mold. It's a clean-looking craft with vinyl gunwales and ABS end caps* trimming the top of a Royalex R-84 hull that is clearly designed for stability. There's nothing fancy about the outfitting: Mohawk uses wood-frame, nylon-webbed seats dropped from the gunwales with round plastic tubular spacers (which I like far more than the more common square wood spacers). Seats have a curved front piece for more comfortable kneeling and are most comfortable for sitting as well. A metal brace on each seat adds to lateral stability. Mohawk installs four nylon web loops at the gunwales where the seats attach, which makes sense as tie points in a Sport canoe. Why didn't I think of that?
The end caps have built-in handles. I found them too large and didn't much care for them, but my small partner liked them quite well. Go figure! End caps also have holes at the end to drain water when the canoe is stored upside down. Those of us who have begun perfectly good canoe trips all wet from lifting an upside-down canoe will greatly appreciate this small but significant touch!
The center yoke is attractively curved and carries two metal/foam shaped shoulder pads. At first, the pads seem to be an awkward appendage on the otherwise clean lines of this canoe, but after the first carry, they become beautiful, not awkward! Don't leave them behind. (The Yoke pads are an accessory item available separately and at an additional cost.)
The Sport has a straight-keeled, very slightly arched hull. I expected great stability, moderate paddling performance, and some flex in the hull while under way. And that's just how the Sport paddles. We tested it at the same time as the Old Town Osprey. The Sport feels a bit more sluggish getting under way (with two large paddlers, 430 pounds) but handles better and has more comfortable paddling positions than the Osprey, in our opinion. This canoe is easy to maneuver and holds its course plenty well for a paddler who knows how to steer. As we paddled, I found this to be a fine canoe for general family use on a small lake. There is flex in the hull, but as mentioned earlier, it's a worthwhile trade-off to get lighter weight. When paddling hard, I noticed some torsional flex in the hull and sides. It's not a problem for its intended use, but I'd probably add a thwart to help stiffen the canoe. Furthermore, a thwart would give a balanced solo paddling position. We found that paddling solo from the front seat leaves the canoe too far out of trim. The Sport handles quite well solo when trimmed level. Using the front seat, I added weight to bring it into trim. Kneeling just behind the center yoke also gives good solo performance. This canoe is reasonably stable for standing; it's one of the boats in this review I'd consider for occasional standing activity.
Overall, the Sport does what it's supposed to do. It's stable, maneuvers easily, carries plenty of gear, provides plenty of paddler comfort and room, and is easy to carry. If I needed a canoe for sport activity, would I buy this namesake? Sure would.
*Our decks (end caps) are rotationally molded polyethylene, which are much more impact resistant than ABS.