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MATERIALS in all the strip built canoes and kayaks consist of:
Full length, clear, vertical grain bead and cove WESTERN RED CEDAR strips covered inside and out with 6 ounce fibreglass cloth and W.E.S.T. System Epoxy.Once built, all the surfaces are coated with Epifanes Gloss varnish-full of U.V. blockers.
Gunnels are of full length WHITE ASH. The seats, decks, thwart (or yoke) are made from a variety of Ontario hardwoods including walnut, cherry, ash, or maple.
Brass stem bands cover the ends. Ash keels and/or deep dish carrying yokes are an optional item.
The images shown are partly from the workshop but always some are shown in real life use. Woodstrip-epoxy watercraft are often described as 'too beautiful to put in the water'.
Well. maybe; but, we make them to be used as much as admired.
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For the 2012 season, the following SIX models will be available:
RANGER- (from the Prospector family of canoes popularized by the Chestnut Canoe Co.) --15' long with a maximum beam of 35.2" and the gunwale beam at 33.5". The depth at the ends is 22" and at the centre it is 13.5". On average, this canoe weighs 53 pounds. The canoe in the image below is a Ranger on its first canoe trip in the Kipawa Forest region of Quebec.
This canoe will do you well for single day outings and up to 10 days with gear on a canoe trip. With two decent paddlers using bent shaft paddles, the Ranger will average 4 miles per hour across a 6 hour day of paddling.
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- carved ash carrying yoke $ 95.00 --- ash keel (shoe or lake style) $ 65.00
The Ranger sells for : $ 5,800.00 (options extra)
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BOB'S SPECIAL -definitely a stable canoe, the 'Bob ' is also 15' long with a maximum beam of 36" and the gunwale beam at 34.5". The ends are only 19" deep which means that cross winds will have less impact on the canoe than those with deeper ends. At centre, the canoe is 12.5" deep. This is a good canoe for working a fish if that forms part of your paddling experiences or sitting on the bottom with a camera or easel. And, weighing only 54 pounds, this canoe can be carried over a portage to get at those trout that no one else knows about.
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- carved ash carrying yoke $ 95.00 --- ash keel (shoe or lake style) $ 65.00
The Bob's Special sells for : $ 5,700.00 (options extra)
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COTTAGE CRUISER - at 15'6" and the ends at 20" deep, this canoe was designed for a good day's paddle on the lake along with a good partner, a lunch and the family dog. The Cruiser measures 33" at the gunwale and is 13.5" deep. It will carry a load of 400 pounds even though it weighs only 57 pounds. What we have heard is that this canoe is easy to paddle and makes even a modest J-stoke look like a real pro was at the helm.
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- carved ash carrying yoke $ 95.00 --- ash keel (shoe or lake style) $ 65.00
The COTTAGE CRUISER sells for : $ 5,600.00 (options extra)
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the Prospector FORT this is the much talked about, often copied, and almost always called "THE Prospector" which is inaccurate. The Chestnut Canoe Company had a GROUP of canoes known as PROSPECTORS. The 16' version (this one) was actually called The FORT. The first 2 canoes in the image below are indeed 16' Forts. They are a definite favourite among people who do canoe trips as they have great capacity (up to 500 pounds) and they are much more paddler friendly (stable) when loaded. Empty, they have such displacement that only a small part of the hull is in contact with the water- unless both paddlers weigh 260 pounds each !
The FORT measures 34.4" at the gunwales and has ends which are almost 20" deep. The ends are generous which gives bigger paddlers plenty of room to stretch out the legs. The hull is nicely rockered such that this canoe is easy to maneuver particularly with draw and pry strokes -a nice feature when moving around solid objects which are in the path of the canoe.
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- carved ash carrying yoke $ 95.00 --- ash keel (shoe or lake style) $ 65.00
The Prospector FORT sells for : $ 5,900.00 (options extra)
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NOMAD- is really closely connected with the Ranger and Fort. It is the 17' version of the trilogy of traditional canoe tripping canoes for use on the Canadian Shield (a landform which covers 50% of the land mass of this country). The Nomad measures 34" at the gunwales but 35" at maximum beam which translates to the fact that the canoe has one inch of 'tumblehome'-a desirable feature for the paddlers. At centre, the Nomad is 14.5 " deep and at the ends, it measures 25" deep. This canoe has LOTS of capacity (up to 650 pounds!) and, quite frankly, like the Fort, is a much better canoe to paddle when it is loaded up with people and gear. Of course, with extra canoe comes extra weight (about 64 pounds worth).
For certain, we know of one Nomad which has had quite a few rapids pass beneath (and over!) its hull--and there are the scratches there to prove it ! As an all around tripping canoe, this is one which works.
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- carved ash carrying yoke $ 95.00 --- ash keel (shoe or lake style) $ 65.00
The NOMAD sells for : $ 6,000.00 (options extra)
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FREEDOM 17- this canoe is one of a group designed by Steve Killing (who has had his very capable hands and computer involved in all the designs we use). Steve has created the FREEDOM as an asymmetrical hull with almost plumb ends. (in other words, it sure don't look like what we have seen for years!) Check out the cross sectional view below:
The FREEDOM is 17' long with a slim, narrow bow end which first meets the water and, the widest point of the beam width is AFT of centre-not at all traditional. At the gunwales, the beam is only 32.5" and those ends are only 19.5" deep with the centre depth at 13.25".
The FREEDOM is capable of carrying up to 500 pounds. And, once you have gotten used to this definitely unconventional shape, be prepared to have longer rest periods on a canoe trip as you wait for the others to catch up to you- this canoe was born to go.
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- carved ash carrying yoke $ 95.00 --- ash keel (shoe or lake style) $ 65.00
The FREEDOM 17 sells for : $ 6,000.00 (options extra)
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For the 2012 season, the following TWO models will be available:
ENDEAVOUR 17 - it seems that the Endeavour really is the ideal touring kayak. In the image above and below, we know the paddler and he is a big man.
Touring kayakers seem to have a knack for being minimalists-they don't have the luxury of space that a canoe possesses; equally, they can go paddling on days when the paddlers are shore bound.
The Endeavour measures 16'11" long with its gunwale beam set at 23.5" and a centre depth of 7". With or without a load aboard, the Endeavour is a most stable craft. And, with all the options aboard, the kayak is 58 pounds.
Standard with the kayak: fore and aft hatches with lock lever style opening devices..bungee cords fore and aft of cockpit for attaching gear on deck--2 poly plank foam bulkheads --cockpit rim with wider top layer for holding a spray skirt and flanges for knee bracing--comfortable foam and nylon mesh seat with adjustable back panel--brass stem bands at the ends to deal with rough terrain on landing.
The ENDEAVOUR 17 sells for : $ 6,400.00 (options extra)
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- steering rudder assembly (connects to foot pedals which are standard with any kayak) $ 215.00 --deck mounted dome shaped compass $ 145.00
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RESOLUTE - is just a little shorter (16'6") and a bit beamier (25.5" at the gunwales) than the Endeavour. The hull has been 'flattened' a bit to make this kayak very stable. With the increased width comes a larger cockpit which may be just what a more robust paddler or someone with creaky knees would appreciate. With all the options, expect this kayak to weigh in at 56 pounds.
Standard with the kayak: fore and aft hatches with lock lever style opening devices..bungee cords fore and aft of cockpit for attaching gear on deck--2 poly plank foam bulkheads --cockpit rim with wider top layer for holding a spray skirt and flanges for knee bracing--comfortable foam and nylon mesh seat with adjustable back panel--brass stem bands at the ends to deal with rough terrain on landing.
The RESOLUTE 16' sells for : $ 6,000.00 (options extra)
Options: --geometric pattern side panels $ 165.00--- steering rudder assembly (connects to foot pedals which are standard with any kayak) $ 215.00 --deck mounted dome shaped compass $ 145.00
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Canadian Canoes offers one rowing boat, the Ontario WHITEHALL.
The Whitehall design- often defined by the champagne glass transom shape as seen below, is a design with some 300 years vintage. Originally, this shape was made exclusively as a harbour boat; it was a taxi, a cargo vessel and all purpose boat for harbour activities. The original plans for the Ontario Whitehall were based on one of these designs but proved to be one which did not translate well to woodstrip-epoxy construction. Simply put, it floated too high in the water and was not efficient. Designer Steve Killing came to the rescue and redrew the boat such that it now is lower and sleeker than the originals and sits deeper in the water which is quite appropriate for the recreational use of this boat.
Our Ontario WHITEHALL measures 16 feet in length with a maximum beam of 47" with a centre depth of 15". The Ontario WHITEHALL can carry loads ranging from 160 to 780 pounds.
This boat is constructed of the same red cedar bead and cove strips which are used on the canoes and kayaks. However, the fibreglass cloth is a heavier grade which absorbs more epoxy resin and is simply a tougher hull. The image above shows a Whitehall with the cloth and the first (of three) coats of resin.
The interior seating is composed of two simple bench seats (for the galley slaves) and a comfortable "Queen Seat" at the aft end.
The vee-shaped hull would be uncomfortable for good rowing and sitting; to solve that problem, transverse floors then longitudinal floor boards are added to create a horizontal floor in the interior. The Ontario WHITEHALL can be rowed by one person or by two.
The Ontario WHITEHALL sells for $9800.00; it has all the brass hardware for two position rowing included.
Options: geometric side patterened panels $165.00--laser burned deck designs and/or text ($45.00 to $125.00 depends on complexity of work) --Queen Seat cushion (exterior grade material such as Sunbrella) $ 175.00 --rain cover $ 465.00-- wood oars, spoon blades, with leathers and stop collars $ 210.00 for a pair (7' or 7'6" long suit this boat well).
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This is the traditional method of making canoes (well, after dugouts and bark) which allowed a builder to use a predictable shape and make many copies of that shape. The interior wood is most often Eastern White Cedar particularly in the ribs. However, some high end canoes have specially sawn planking made of Western Red Cedar. In Ontario, the inner and outer gunwales are generally made of dependable white ash. The trim items such as seat frames, thwarts or yokes and decks are most often made of local hardwoods including ash, maple, black cherry and walnut.
(The mold for making the 16' Algonquin with about half of the steam bent ribs attached with ring nails to the inner gunwales.)
Once the ribs are all in place and sanded to a fair line, we seal the back sides with varnish. Following this, the planking or sheathing is attached. These are long strips of cedar usually measuring 5/32" thick by 3" wide. They are attached to every rib using 3/4" brass canoe tacks which, upon meeting the steel bands, turn inwards much like the shape of a pig's tail. This has a riveting effect which holds the two parts together. There are about 2500 canoe tacks in any one canoe.
Once fully planked, the hull is removed from the mold, turned right side up and goes through a number of finishing tasks. One of these is to seal the outer surface with three applications of spar varnish. Then the traditional #10 canvas is stretched over and attached to the hull. Although many builders use the traditional linseed oil based 'filler' to impregnate the canvas, Canadian Canoes uses epoxy. The epoxy is much harder than the traditional finishes, can be sanded to high degree of smoothness (less friction when paddling) and certainly preserves the canvas as it is saturated with epoxy. The cured epoxy is sanded smooth then completed with an undercoat and a two part epoxy paint available in a variety of colours. The canoe is completed with the addition of outer gunwales, seats and thwart or yoke all of which are varnished.
For the 2012 season, TWO models will be available:
the 15 foot CANADIAN EXPLORER --this canoe is 15' long with a 34" gunwale beam and is 13" deep. The canoe weighs 62 pounds.
This model is built on the original mold aquired from the Chestnut Canoe Company after they closed. It was part of the Prospector group and known as the Ranger. Since we make a Ranger in woodstrip-epoxy, it was decided to give this canoe a new name - the Canadian Explorer.
Price: $ 4,900.00
Options: hardwood keel $ 65.00 Carrying Yoke: 95.00
the 16 foot ALGONQUIN this model is built on a reproduction of the 16' Prospector FORT canoe. It is the one in the second image above. The finished canoe measures 16' long with a gunwale beam of 36" and has a centre depth of 14". It weighs in at 66 pounds.
Price: $ 5,100.00
Options: hardwood keel $ 65.00 Carrying Yoke: 95.00
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