FOR SALE: 16' cedarstrip

Collected out of a boat house on Lake Muskoka, this is a circa 1977 16' cedarstrip canoe built in Burleigh Falls, Ontario by the Kawartha Metis. They are reminiscent of boats built by Peterborough Canoe Company, Lakefield, The Canadian Canoe Company and so many others from before the turn of the last century into the mid-1900s. Check back to follow the progress on this boat. It has two piece butternut decks and cherry kneeling thwarts, and will look stunning when done.

Our preferred method of transporting boats and canoes during the slop and salt of winter, the vehicles always have straps and plastic wrap since we never know what will turn up during our travels!

Now to unwrap and get her ready for the water for spring. Work will include stripping, bleaching and oiling the hull prior to varnishing, as many as 6 or 7 coats. This canoe will require new steam bent coamings and kingplanks on the decks, originally ash and missing they will be done in cherry to compliment the kneeling thwarts. Floorboards will also be made to complete this tender, fast paddler.

UPDATE: boat is nearing completion, with new cherry coamings and kingplanks to match kneeling thwarts, originals made of ash were no longer serviceable and were a poor match.

Boat is nearing completion, with the decks completed and brass stembands to go on. A new set of floorboads will be milled, and she hits the water. A very nice all round example of an all-wood Canadian boat, like those built since before the turn of the last century, and before canvas covered boats were common.

Hang it in the boathouse and cottage, or leave it dockside to be ready for paddling at a moments notice.

To purchase this boat call or email us for more information.

UPDATE: Sold, gone to a new home in Niagara.

FOR SALE: 16' Chestnut Prospector, 1977

Pictured is a 1977 Chestnut Prospector, with a painted interior in the tradition of the old workhorse freighters. The canoe has new cherry thwarts, decks and slat seats. Next it will be canvased, filled and painted.

With Chestnut closing its doors forever in 1979, this is from the final years of production, and has held up well. Finished in a new canvas and painted a dark green with white Chestnut script decals, it will be a tremendous boat for extended tripping, or just paddling lakes and rivers. It also has the correct factory decal on the bow from the Oromocto NB factory where operations had been moved from Fredericton.

Acquired as a wreck, it was destined to be cut into bookshelves, as common fate for wood boats that are no longer serviceable. It was, however, in terrific shape despite some rot to the decks and gunwale tips and missing seats and thwarts.  Now fitted with slat seats per the originals and trimmed in cherry with ash inner and outer gunwales, it will be ready for adventures once again.

Nearing completion, the prospector will get a final coat of dark green before new gunwales and stem bands are attached, and white Chestnut script decals.

Update: Sold, gone to a new home in Central Ontario

On Georgian Bay with new owner..

16' Peterborough Champlain

Below is a 1940s Peterborough Champlain, finished in dove grey. Colour is achieved by mixing a tube of cobalt blue artist paint with grey enamel marine paint.

The paint on this canoe was an exercise in replicating the dove grey colour noted to have been created by Tom Thomson for his canoe. This colour set his canoe apart from so many green and red canoes, and is a fact that comes up when the events of his death and discovery are recounted. Of course the canoe differs from his, as it is almost 40 years newer. 

We are always on the lookout for early Chestnut canoes, and would like to find a Cruiser from before 1920, and the subsequent fire that wiped out the original Chestnut forms. When everything was rebuilt, the boats changed significantly. If you think you have one or know of one, we would be pleased to hear from you.