Wood/Canvas canoes in the UK

[Timothy Patrick]

I haven't seen many threads on cedar/canvas canoes in the UK and can't remember clicking on any blogs with one as the key transportation.

Do you guys over there have anyone who has a shop that makes c/c canoes? It would be fabulous to be able to get your hands on one, those of you who post up the blogs from those awesome locks and quiet meandering rivers. Those places seem like the idea setting for a nice paddle in a cedar/canvas canoe.

For what it's worth, I grew up paddling a 17' chestnut guides special cruiser that the owner's of the camp we camped at had for use in the early 70's, and there is absolutely nothing, to me at least, that compares to the experience of pushing off in one. The composites and aluminums just can't approach the total zen of a nice cedar/canvas. Yeah, there are those rivers and places that make it impractical to use one and something royalex would be in order but with those beautiful locks and lovely old rivers, well, that would be the end of the world, canoe wise, with those beautiful misty mornings.

Can any of you guys get a UK built cedar/canvas? I imagine the availability of good cedar and ash would be a significant factor here. Might be costly too to import the wood.

If you can get one, get one, it's an absolutely magical experience!!

cheers from NE Ont.,
tim

[slamdunk]

I had a cedar/canvas canoe from Great Spirit - a Pal made on an original Chestnut mould/form. It was an absolutely beautiful canoe, perhaps not as perfect as some in it's finish, but nothing that you'd really notice. Paddled really well and was a joy to be in (it's the one in the Avatar pic).

Sadly I made the decision to sell it on as I just wasn't getting enough use from it, and here's why; I live in the south of the country - a long way from the lochs you refer to in the blogs. Whilst there is a local flatwater river about an hour from home, most of the rivers i wanted to paddle to improve my ability were typical of the shallow, narrow, rock strewn streams and rivers we have over here. I just couldn't bear to get it scraped/torn and dented by scraping it down our typical shallow 'whitewater' rivers.

It may be difficult to picture, but the rivers and waterways typical in Canada and the northern US just don't really occur in any volume over here; it's a tiny country with relatively speaking few waterways (especially in the south), draconian access laws reducing use of the small resource even further and very little of the freedom to paddle that can be enjoyed in north America. I don't have the skill or space to repair canvas etc and unfortunately at the time couldn't afford to keep it and buy a new royalex boat. I want a canoe to use, not to admire in the garage and so I parted company with it. Murphy's Law meant that had I waited a while I'd have kept it (for the occasional flatwater trip) and bought a royalex boat for knocks and scrapes as circumstances changed; that's life!

I'd love to get another wood canvas canoe and haven't given up on it altogether - one day

For now, a real 'user' of a canoe is the practical, if less romantic, option. At least I can be out paddling more, not turning down trips because the rivers would exact too high a toll with their shallow, spiky and evil rock strewn bottoms!!

May be we'll just emigrate instead......

[tisme]

I'm hoping to build one soon here http://homepages.tesco.net/~moosehea...%20canoes.html

Been looking for a while to buy one but no luck so far.

Pete

[Adrian]

I am pretty much the same is tisme

Graham (moosehead) lives down the road from me and I would love a wood canvas, "one day". If I ever do get round to building a canoe it is very hard to justify doing a stitch&glass when these are so gorgeous, not much more work and a world expert is close by to help

I gather Graham does still sell them, and they arent that dear

there are a few members on here who have them (eg PWC), one or two even brought them in from US/Canada, in my travels only ever seen one for sale in a UK dealer, for £2500 !

[David Perry]

I've seen the odd one or two. Never seen a new one for sale though.

[retro]

Valkyrie canoes make them from £2000 in Northern Ireland good boats.

http://www.valkyriecraft.com/cedar_canvas_canoes.htm

[Sundown]

I haven't seen many threads on cedar/canvas canoes in the UK and can't remember clicking on any blogs with one as the key transportation.

Do you guys over there have anyone who has a shop that makes c/c canoes? It would be fabulous to be able to get your hands on one, those of you who post up the blogs from those awesome locks and quiet meandering rivers. Those places seem like the idea setting for a nice paddle in a cedar/canvas canoe.

For what it's worth, I grew up paddling a 17' chestnut guides special cruiser that the owner's of the camp we camped at had for use in the early 70's, and there is absolutely nothing, to me at least, that compares to the experience of pushing off in one. The composites and aluminums just can't approach the total zen of a nice cedar/canvas.


Tim

Agreed, Tim

I Grew Up In the Old "Lands and Forests" Chestnuts.

Reckon You Remember When the L+F Went OMNR and to Aluminum?

I Know You Paddle Aluminum, Tim... and, I Spent a Lotta Time In OMNR Aluminum... Workhorses, Too...

But, I Do YEARN for that "Cedarstrip" Glide-Slice of Old, Too.

Sundown (L+F Son)

[Timothy Patrick]

cottages and camps were the only places that had c/c canoes.

Definitely c/c canoes have their places and certain rivers cry out for royalex or other types of canoes.

I'm just blown away with the river access problems you guys have over there. You would think that given the few rivers that you do have in the southlands, there would be a right of way for paddlers. I mean, there's no pollution going on here and I can fathom how they would be so uptight about canoeists and kayakers floating through. It should be looked upon the same as a roadway. They should be for the people, all the people. The rivers were there before the castles and estates and it's like living near the freeways, can't complain about the noise eh!

Here in Canada, the crown owns the lakes and rivers and they don't deny access to them to boaters. All motorized craft operators must have a pleasureboat license and the boats must be properly licensed and outfitted and all safety measures taken and that's about it.

Great to hear that c/c canoes are available in the UK and that there are some real craftsmen making them. On suitable lakes and rivers, it's the absolute zen of paddling.

The plans this winter are to have a 16' Kruger (cruiser) made from a builder in Quebec who has the original Chestnut mold, that's if they can fit me in.

Love those cruisers.

cheers,
tim

[ringo]

ok marra

[keyhavenpotterer]

Do the Geodesic Airolite boats count as modern versions of wood and canvas. Plans are low cost and minimal materials used. This boat weighs just 30 lbs.



http://gaboats.com/boats/snowshoeexplorer14.html

There was a new canvas and wood frame canoe on eBay only last week, starting at £50 but the listing disappeared before the auction ended.

Brian

[yellowcanoe]

There is a chapter of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association in the UK.. yes there are wood and canvas canoes.

Here is a contact. I know David has outings.

England

David Houghton
Wayside House
Moorlands Dr
Pinkneys Green
Maidenhead
Berks SL6 6QG England
United Kingdom
01628 674666 or International +44 1628 674666
Email: Houghton.d@btconnect.com

[Perthshire Wood Canvas]

Here you go, hence the user name. A Graham Warren Peterbrough. Although to be honest I spend most of my time bashing around in my NC Prospector. Plenty of lochs and wild rivers up here in the North (but not many jobs unfortunately - same old story)

PWC

[tisme]

Very very nice I'm green.

Pete

[LAS247]

That truly is a beauty PWC. How 'robust' is it for everyday paddling?

[Perthshire Wood Canvas]

It's pretty tough - I've never gashed the canvas but I have to confess I've never been down a boney river in it. I know Graham takes his wood canvas boats on serious trips, as did Bill Mason of course, and they survive pretty well. When I first did the Bowron lakes, the lead guide, Chris Mason, was paddling a wood canvas and he had no problems at all with rapids, shingle beaches, wading / lining etc.

I think you are either fussy over them, and simper over every scratch, or you just bash them and repair them. I don't fuss over my other boats (the more scratches the better), but I do over this one !

PWC

[Stravaiger]

http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=14571

Timothy, Have a look at this post and the other ones on canoe restoration by Caibach (Member on here).
He does a brilliant job. I'm not at all jealous .
Regards,
Stravaiger

[slamdunk]

I think you are either fussy over them, and simper over every scratch, or you just bash them and repair them. I don't fuss over my other boats (the more scratches the better), but I do over this one !

PWC

It's very difficult not to fuss over them with our boney rivers!

[Timothy Patrick]

http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=14571

Timothy, Have a look at this post and the other ones on canoe restoration by Caibach (Member on here).
He does a brilliant job. I'm not at all jealous .
Regards,
Stravaiger

Jeez, I missed that one! Wow, does that ever look good in blue, kind of makes me do a rethink on the Kruger color, might just go blue.

That pic with the dog looks like it could have been on any of our waters eh Sundown? One of the finest canoe pics I've ever seen. Thanks for the link Stravaiger.

Yeah, as mentioned not the best choice for boney rivers but in the proper places, it's an awesome paddle.

The guy has talent!!

Can't get over that blue.

cheers,
tim

[dougoutcanoe]

I have an old Huron Cedar Canvas Canoe, it is the sister boat to Caibach's.

I am getting materials together for the restoration of "Peapod" and hope to have it completed by May for the Severn Canoe Rally.



Ready for my first paddle in "Peapod" and the children who named her.

I patched her with gaffer tape so that I could have a paddle in her.

Beautiful to paddle.

Dougoutcanoe

[Sundown]

That pic with the dog looks like it could have been on any of our waters eh Sundown? One of the finest canoe pics I've ever seen. Thanks for the link Stravaiger.

tim

Reckon So, Tim

Minds Me of Ole Shep...
We Couldn't Afford a Net, So When I Hooked One,
I'd Just Swing'er High Inta the Canoe and Shep'd Fourpaw'em.

Thanks Stravaiger

Sundown

[Huskytone]

I have a 1960`s cedar canvas Chestnut Deer (Pal)- basically a Pal with smaller ribs for lighter weight & cane seats. This was the canoe paddled by Bill Mason in a number of his films (the same model that is not the actual one!). I also have 2 original Chestnut paddles that came with the Deer.

It was brought over a while ago by Lloyd and bougt in Fredericton, New Brunswick. I love this canoe, though don`t get the opportunities to use it as much as I would like. I live right on the coast so tend to do more sea kayaking. I have to fight off the temptation to sell it when can feel the credit crunch pinch though. Can`t seem to upload pics- Help!

[Perthshire Wood Canvas]

So sounds like a pretty small club in the UK :

Dougoutcanoe / Huskytone / Keyhavenpotterer / PWC. Anyone else got one here at the moment ?

PWC

[Koen]

Well, I have one with the wrong finish, glass and epoxy on the outside that is!!

I do use it very regularly and love it. Have taken it down rivers a little too shallow and that means work. On the other hand, I’ve just done the repairs and it looks like new again so I’m not too worried about the sound off scraping rocks any more, most off them are being absorbed by the keel anyway. The construction is definitely strong enough for regular heavy use.

For the people whom don’t know yet, it’s an Evergreen Canoe Co Vomo 15 ft:

[Stravaiger]

That's a lovely looking boat PWC

So sounds like a pretty small club in the UK :

Dougoutcanoe / Huskytone / Keyhavenpotterer / PWC. Anyone else got one here at the moment ?
PWC

Think Caibach still has his two? Wonder if there are any more out there in the UK in need of a bit of TLC. I'd willingly offer one a good home

Jeez, I missed that one! Wow, does that ever look good in blue, kind of makes me do a rethink on the Kruger color, might just go blue.
The guy has talent!!
Can't get over that blue.
cheers,
tim

Timothy / Sundown
He surely has talent.
You are welcome folks. One of my favourite bloggs ever. Love that blue Huron.
Regards,
Stravaiger

[GT2200]

I have a Wood and Canvas too, http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?10649-It-s-yours-now-son!

Sadly there's not been a great deal of progress this last year, but i'm actually considering having the wood veneer taken off the hull and putting her back to original, hopefully this year she'll make it onto the water!

[caibach]

I've just come across this thread, nice to see our boats have already had a mention. I guess that goes to show how few wood canvas canoes there are over here. Anyway, here are a few pictures of ours.







Paddling a beautiful wooden canoe across a perfectly still lake at first light really is food for the soul!

[Perthshire Wood Canvas]

Nice Derwentwater picture ! I've had my w/c boat out on there a few times as well. If we ever managed to co-ordinate and paddle there together it would make for some fine pics !

PWC

[caibach]

Nice Derwentwater picture ! I've had my w/c boat out on there a few times as well. If we ever managed to co-ordinate and paddle there together it would make for some fine pics !

PWC

We should do that some time

[Stravaiger]

I've just come across this thread, nice to see our boats have already had a mention. I guess that goes to show how few wood canvas canoes there are over here. Anyway, here are a few pictures of ours.

Lovely photos. Just remembered, Mr. Mears has a Red Cedar/Canvas Prospector he must have brought over from Canada. Not as nice as that Blue Huron though.
Regards,
Stravaiger

[TGB]

Beauty...



in its element.

TGB

[terry. young]

I'm hoping to build a cedar /canvas Have got most of the cedar in plank form, brass tacks dvd and plans for a15' pal[ami] from Alex Comb stewart river boats.Have cut the station moulds .Now trying to find somewhere inside to build it ,May have to build it outside when the weather improves .I want to make all the components so its like a kit .Will build a 1 off canoe form so less materials and less time constructing it.

[caibach]

Just remembered seeing a blogg by TOPTEC with his w/c canoe here http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/for...e-2010-Derwent

Anyone here had any involvement with the uk chapter of the WCHA?

[caibach]

I'm hoping to build a cedar /canvas Have got most of the cedar in plank form, brass tacks dvd and plans for a15' pal[ami] from Alex Comb stewart river boats.Have cut the station moulds .Now trying to find somewhere inside to build it ,May have to build it outside when the weather improves .I want to make all the components so its like a kit .Will build a 1 off canoe form so less materials and less time constructing it.

I worked with Alex for a few months last summer.

You gonna be using western red cedar then?

[terry. young]

No white cedar. He suggests northern or was it eastern white is best apparently not so brittle for planking .suggests red can be used for ribs as and alternative.The cedar i have was from a local woodyard so hoping it will be ok to use .

[caibach]

Terry,

If you have enough white cedar for the ribs I would use it there as well, red cedar will be more difficult to bend and is more prone to splitting when nailed. The ribs on our Morris (in the second two photos on the above post) are yellow cedar, they contrast well with the red cedar planking but it is a slightly heavier wood.

Tim

[Nomad Rush]

I bought a cedar ? and canvass canoe last year,
It was home built from plans published in a magazine " Amateur mechanic "published in 1936 ,
I dont know exactly when the canoe was built or what wood was used,hence "Cedar ? canvass canoe "
The kind folks on WCHA managed to identify it and even found the plans in the magazine for me !
It needed a couple of ribs replacing and a few planks too which were cracked,
and a new canvass,
It,s currently stripped and awaiting me finding the materials to make the repairs ,
I want to find a source of brass or bronze tacks and canvass and filler here in the UK does any one know of any suppliers ?
I,ll try and post some photos if I can suss out how to do it !!?
Noel

[TonyRoss1]

I picked this up (see link below) last year and had it shipped over from the Maine to the UK. She's a Northwoods Canoe Company (Rollin Thurlow) 15' Cheemaun. Looking forward to getting her out again now that the weathers heating up.

http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/for...288#post238288

[caibach]

Thats a very pretty canoe you have there Tony, bet you are looking forward to getting her on the water again.
Tim

[TOPTEC]

Yes put my name on the list too, as mentioned by Caibach.I took it sailing last weekend for the 1st time on Coniston, when we got some wind it really started to move.
Perhaps we could arrange a lake distrct paddle for them?
Steve

[jörg wagner]

Hi,
I have got several WC-Canoes, among them a Morris from 1908, Prospector, some EM Whites etc.. As soon as I can, I will post some pictures and for those of you who will come to Kringelfieber in Germany, I offer a tour through my Barn.
Hope to see some of you in person.
Jörg Wagner

[GT2200]

Quick update from me.......

Had a great day out yesterday and had the chance to meet Graham, aka Moosehead, and his wife, who i have to thank for entertaining my little lad, whilst Graham and I talked about my old girl.



I'm delighted to say that a plan of action is in place and hopefully later on this year Viola will finally get some much needed love and attention and this will lead to a re-launch after 30yrs off the water