BUILD WITH US
This is a revitalized program (commencing mid June 2010) which was offered for many years
by Canadian Canoes in the three shops we operated over 30 years.
Perhaps some reading this will have been among the more than
300 people who came and built their own watercraft with us.
Time passes and it is time that a new generation of builders takes over.
To that end, Canadian Canoes has formed a business working relationship with Alastair Dempster who
has opened a shop at 150 Armstrong Avenue Unit 3 in Georgetown, Ontario.
Over the next months (not too sure how many!), the plan is to have Alastair take over and to offer courses, kits, restoration work and custom building.
What the shop offers ...
- a location to build a canoe/kayak/rowing boat/motot boat
- the mold and strongback setup on which the building is done
- the tools: hand and power
- the materials and supplies
- the stage-by-stage construction instruction (we demonstrate, observe as you take the next step, then try to keep out of your way!)
- assistance at critical stages such as applying the cloth and epoxy resin
What you do ...
Apply the "sweat" equity in the project; this will save you anywhere from 35-55 % of the cost of doing this at home.
The variability is in which tools and materials you may or may not have.
Timetable
We work to be flexible knowing that the best made plans do get interrupted by employment, family, weather, the flu, flat tires
and all sorts of events. Generally, Alastair and/or Ron makes a timetable arrangement with each customer and we proceed on a week-by-week
schedule. The shop will have day hours and evening hours and Saturday hours.
Based on past experience, you can anticipate 100 workshop hours to complete a canoe, 140 to complete a kayak, 190 to make an Ontario Whitehall Rowing boat.
That said, these hours will likely be spread over 4-7 weeks on the calendar.
THE COST TO BUILD WITH US ...
CANOES:
- woodstrip-epoxy $3500.00
- traditional wood-canvas (15' Canadian Explorer model) $ 2900.00
options: carrying yoke $ 95.00
keel $55.00
ROWING BOAT :
THE 16' Ontario WHITEHALL $ 4900.00
If you would like to see images of people Building With US in past years, go to:
Image Gallery and choose From the Shop to the Water.