Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe in carbon fiber with black trim

Leo 17' Kevlar Touring Canoe

Our most popular model. The ideal two-person touring canoe, light, stable, and fast.

Starting at $3,595

Built to order, one canoe at a time. The starting price includes a 3-layer Kevlar hull, two seats, and silver trim. Choose your options below and see your total as you go.

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Build your Leo 17

Every Leo 17 starts at $3,595 and includes:

  • 3-layer Kevlar® and epoxy hull
  • Natural aramid (yellow) finish
  • Silver aluminum gunwales, matching thwarts and handles
  • Two large webbed seats
  • Contoured ash carrying yoke
  • Ribbed floor, or foam-core flat floor at no charge

Choose each feature below. The price on the right of each row shows what it adds (or saves), and your total updates as you go.

Included
Included

More custom materials, such as Mirage or Hypetex carbon, are available at additional cost and take longer to get. Choose “Other” and Benjamin will go over options, pricing, and timing with you before setting a build date.

Included

$70 each, up to one per seat.

Included
Included
Included
Included
Reserve this build

Deposit today: $1,000

Deposit policy: Your deposit is fully refundable until Benjamin has talked with you and you've agreed on a build start date. After that, it becomes non-refundable.

Build time: about 3–4 weeks for a standard canoe, 4–8 weeks with custom options, from your build start date.

Pay by PayPal or by debit/credit card. No PayPal account needed.

Want to talk first?

Prices updated September 2026. Something else in mind? Just ask. Some options add a little weight to the finished canoe.

Specifications

Length17'4"
Width35"
Weight~44 lbs
Depth14"
Bow height20"
Rocker1.25"
HullShallow arch
Max recommended load750 lbs
Seats2 standard, 3 optional

About the Leo 17

The Leo 17 is the ideal 2-person touring canoe. This is our most popular model, offering light weight, stability, and speed. It has enough capacity to take two adults and lots of gear across the water. Choose this canoe for a tandem design that works great for both light recreational paddling and for serious tripping. It can be configured with two or three seats and a removable yoke, for an extra paddler or for occasional solo paddling. Max recommended load, 750 lbs.

Favorite configurations

  • Stock: Two seats for tandem paddling.
  • Solo front thwart: Alternate thwart placement allows a paddler to face backwards from the front seat. Makes balancing the canoe easier with an adult / kid paddler combination or for solo paddling. Makes a little less room for gear in front of the yoke.
  • Three seats: I love this combination, and think it makes the most versatile canoe around. An ideal tandem canoe, or bring a 3rd paddler, or solo paddle with a 2-blade paddle. Works well with the removable yoke option, or the combo seat-yoke option.

Not sure between sizes? Compare the lighter Cygnus 16 and the larger Pegasus 18.5, or see all canoes.

Video

Photos

Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, black trim
Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, black trim
Leo 17, Epoxy-color, green, black trim, extra seat
Leo 17, Epoxy-color, green, black trim, extra seat
Leo 17, extra seat, silver trim, red hybrid carbon fiber
Leo 17, extra seat, silver trim, red hybrid carbon fiber
Leo 17 with portage pads
Leo 17 with portage pads
Leo 17, red Hybrid carbon fiber
Leo 17, red Hybrid carbon fiber
Leo 17, Solo padding, red hybrid carbon and black trim
Leo 17, Solo padding, red hybrid carbon and black trim
Leo 17, Epoxy color keel blue
Leo 17, Epoxy color keel blue
Leo 17, front-seat solo paddling
Leo 17, front-seat solo paddling
Leo 17, Red hybrid Carbon, extra seat
Leo 17, Red hybrid Carbon, extra seat
Leo 17, Epoxy color, green, black trim, 3 seats
Leo 17, Epoxy color, green, black trim, 3 seats
Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, black trim, extra seat
Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, black trim, extra seat
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Leo 17, optional bucket seats
Leo 17, optional bucket seats
Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, black trim
Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, black trim
Leo 17, hybrid red carbon, small skid plates, silver trim
Leo 17, hybrid red carbon, small skid plates, silver trim
Leo 17, Red hybrid carbon fiber, black trim, extra seat
Leo 17, Red hybrid carbon fiber, black trim, extra seat
Leo 17, Red kevlar, silver trim
Leo 17, Red kevlar, silver trim
Leo 17, Solo-friendly front thwart
Leo 17, Solo-friendly front thwart
Leo 17, Carbon fiber, black trim
Leo 17, Carbon fiber, black trim
Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, silver trim, extra seat
Leo 17, Carbon Fiber, silver trim, extra seat
Leo 17 canoe, Red Hybrid Carbon, black trim
Leo 17 canoe, Red Hybrid Carbon, black trim
Leo 17, 3 seat, Carbon fiber
Leo 17, 3 seat, Carbon fiber
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe
Nighthawk Leo 17 canoe

What happens next

  1. Reserve your build above with the $1,000 deposit, or send it to Benjamin without paying if you'd like to talk first.
  2. Benjamin gets in touch to go over your options and agree on a build start date. Until then, your deposit is fully refundable.
  3. Your canoe is built: about 3–4 weeks for a standard canoe, or 4–8 weeks with custom options.
  4. When your canoe is finished, pay the balance, then pick it up or have it delivered. Shipping & delivery details.