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MODELS People, just like canoes, come in many shapes and sizes. The object is to make a good match up of the user, the canoe and the use. The canoe you want for paddling at the cottage and courting on moonlit evenings may not be appropriate for a month long canoe trip or moose hunting. Canoeing is very much a felt activity. The most important thing in purchasing a canoe is not what the manufacturer says, but how it feels to the paddler. We are firm believers that people should paddle a number of canoes when trying to decide what model is appropriate. We are happy to give you a canoe or two to try out for a day. There is good paddling within 10 minutes drive of our shop. So, the following general descriptions are an overview of the canoes we make, not a definitive statement of which canoe is best for what. |
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Prospectors Prospectors have a greater than average depth, good beam and are efficient big load carriers. They are used by tripping camps and also function well as family canoes. |
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Cruisers Cruisers are narrower and rounder than Prospectors and taper more sharply towards the ends resulting in a smaller carrying capacity. However, these same features make them very responsive to paddle or pole and very speedy. Built with 1/2" rib spacing a Cruiser then becomes known as a Guide Special. The Muskrat is a small cruiser suitable for young people or the solo paddler. |
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Bob's Special The Bob's is lightweight with good carrying capacity due to its wide beam. It is quite flat bottomed and, thus, very stable . Its low ends minimize wind problems. This canoe is frequently chosen as a cottage canoe. |
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HISTORY OF THE MODELS The 16' Cruiser,16' Guide Special, 16'Prospector,18'Prospector and 18' V-Stern are all made on original Chestnut forms. We purchased these from the Chestnut Canoe Company of Fredericton, New Brunswick when it ceased operation in 1979. The other models are built on forms which we have constructed over the years. Lines were taken off Chestnut canoes in our possession. We have adhered rigidly to the original shapes and specifications. The Muskrat, also a reproduction, was made by the Peterborough Canoe Company . The lineage of our canvas covered rowboat is different. A
few people in our community asked if we could build a rowboat
like the one Sven uses to go fishing and poking around with his
young sons. Sven's grandfather built the boat in his backyard
in the 1940's. So, as a result of popular demand, we took the
lines off Sven's boat and made a form. It can also be used with
a very small outboard motor. OPTIONS Canvas Weights We normally use #8 canvas (18.75 oz./sq. y.) on the Cruisers and Prospectors and the lighter #10 canvas (14.35oz./sq.yd.) on 14' and 15' canoes. Depending on the model, canoe weight can be reduced 5-10 lbs by using #12 canvas (12.35 oz./sq.yd.) filled with butyrate. However, butyrate is an expensive product and labour intensive to apply Keels We normally do not install keels except on the Bob's Special which is built with 1'4" thick ribs and the V-Stern which is used with a small outboard motor. However, we can install a keel on any canoe if the customer requests it Half Ribs Short narrow ribs can be installed on the floor of the canoe between the main ribs. This gives the sheeting extra strength in the heavy wear areas. Cherry Trim Package Seats, decks, thwarts and outside gunwales can be made of black cherry. Colours Our standard colours are green, red, grey and blue. Other colours can be used although not all paints and colours perform equally well. Butyrate can be obtained in a very wide range of colours. Seats Seats are available in either hand woven cane or babiche.
Babiche is also known as rawhide and is what you see in a traditional
wooden snowshoe. We have a regular weight seat and a lightweight
seat. CANOE GRADES No. 1 Grade On No. 1 canoes we use the finest select wood with no knots
or blemishes. Wood grain is more carefully selected than on No.2
canoes. Also more attention is given to details of sanding, varnishing
and painting in order to obtain a finer finish on the inside
and outside No. 2 Grade No. 2 canoes utilize wood which has small knots, discolouration or imperfections from the milling process. Seaworthiness is not compromised. This is the grade used by canoe tripping camps. Bush Model This is a No.2 grade with the inside of the hull painted in a colour complementary to the outside colour. The seats and thwarts are varnished and the outside gunwales are painted. |