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 Handcrafted Canoes ofNorthern Ontario Design technology is constantly changing as state of the art materials are developed in a bid to build a faster, lighter more durable canoe. Despite advances in technology, the basic principles of canoe design developed by Native North Americans are still adhered to. A number of fine craftsmen who maintain a strong appreciation for the graceful lines and traditional look of the wooden canoe are presently plying their craft in Northern Ontario. Borrowing the technology from the likes of the Peterborough and Chestnut Canoe companies, the Temagami and North Bay Canoe Companies currently produce high quality handcrafted cedar-canvas canoes. The Geisler boat company in Powassan currently builds a cedarstrip canoe without canvas, a slight departure from the cedar - canvas craft.
The great strength to weight ratio of Kevlar is responsible for the recent popularity of this material for the manufacture of canoes. At twice the cost of fiberglas, kevlar affords added peace of mind while manoevering through rock - strewn waterways. In his repertoire of fine canoe building skills, Bill Schorse of the North Bay Canoe Company also handcrafts superb quality Kevlar canoes.
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Post - war technology in waterproof glues and fiber- reinforced resins allowed the advent of the woodstrip - epoxy method of construction. These elegant looking craft are essentially a cedar strip construction without the ribs, covered in a thin layer of reinforced fiberglas resin inside and out. The Ellery Canoe Company in Trout Creek at one time built as many as 300 canoes annually before they went out of business in the 1980's. The Vintage Canoe Company has recently resurrected the Ellery workshop and continues to manufacture these inepensive yet elegant canoes. The environmental movement and a return to healthier living in the 1960's saw a renewed interest in canoeing. This resulted in the mass production of fiberglas and aluminum canoes that were economical yet strong. Although these boats are relatively durable, the look and feel of the traditional wood canoe was compromised. The stable fiberglas and aluminum canoes quickly became popular with families and outdoor enthusiasts. Handcrafted fiberglas canoes are currently produced by Mid - Canada fiberglas in New Liskeard, Ontario and by the North Bay Canoe Company in North Bay.