Canoes

Admirably, tradition and technology have had a long and comfortable marriage in some old towns. For over 50 years and even a century for some, townsfolk have been handcrafting some of the finest wood ribbed canoes around.

Canoes are primitive light boats that are typically slender and open, tapering to a point at both ends, propelled by paddles or sometimes sails and traditionally formed of light framework covered with bark, skins, or canvas, or formed from a dug-out or burned-out log or logs, and now usually made of aluminum, fiberglass, etc.

A good canoe manufacturer makes canoes that are the perfect combination of traditional design, superb wood working, and modern hull materials. Some even make signed and numbered, wood reinforced, heirloom quality canoes that your family will be enjoying for generations.

During 1898, there are canoe makers who built their first wood-and-canvas canoe, a more durable, lower maintenance improvement on the Native American birch bark canoe that was its inspiration. Some companies did the same thing with the kayak in 1940, rendering the traditional seal-skin design in more durable wood-and-canvas.

This same spirit of innovation led a canoe-making company to introduce lightweight fiberglass versions of their kayaks and canoes in the 1950s and '60s. And it has continued into the 21st century, as they continually strive to advance the art of paddling through better designs and lighter, more durable materials, like today's PolyLink3™ and SuperLink3™.

These are the type of companies that value tradition. As much as they look ahead, they always keep their eyes on the past, continuing to be inspired by the best of classic boat-building traditions.