Mike Elliott was lulled to sleep in canvas canoes as a new-born baby with colic in Northern Ontario (at least that’s the story). While working with youth-at-risk in 1994, Mike and a colleague helped a group of boys build epoxy/cedar canoes before taking the group on a canoe trip. This project gained him local notoriety as ‘The Canoe Guy’. Soon afterwards, he was given a rotting wood-canvas canoe. Once he had restored it, friends and friends of friends started to ask him to restore their canoes. What started as a weekend hobby developed into the birth of Kettle River Canoes in 2003. The business became a full-time concern in 2006 and is now restoring about 25 canoes a year.
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August 5, 2009 at 8:06 am
Dear Mike,soory about my english, hopefully you can read it.
I found your Blog by searching for “streching canvas” Nomaly I sell canoes and kayaks out of epoxi but now I found an old boot and I tooked it for some money when i was selling a new one. I gues it is an old town but don’t know. Of cource I will renovate the boot. May you tell me what kind of boot it is? You’ll see it here:http://koenigsboote.de/index.php/restauration/restauration-aktuelle-projekte/ It will be very kind if you see a chance to figure out what kind of canoe it is. It is 18 foot to 3.5foot. And, thats really fantastic, I found the boot in east germany near Berlin. Kind regards and all the best
Dirk
August 5, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Dear Dirk,
Thank you for the message. I’m afraid I can’t give you much information about your canoe. It is not a make I recognize. It appears to be an American-style canoe — wide, flat-bottom with no centre thwart. Beyond that I can’t say. The decks have a shape that I’m not familiar with. I hope you enjoy your restoration project. It looks like a fine canoe.
Mike Elliott
June 13, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Mike,
found you website today and have probably an odd request. I grew up on a river not far from where I live, and we spent every summer from the time i was around 3 until i was 16 or 17 canoeing, tubing (floating in an old intertube) and playing the river. With fathers day coming up, i have a couple of the paddles we used to use, and I have been trying to think of unique ways of making a display for the paddles. I realize i may have to break or cut the paddles, but wanted to see what ideas you may have for a case. Most of what i have been able to search is around sword display cases, either in a shadow box or shield….any ideas?
Thanks,
Logan Maienschein
loganm12@ymail.com
June 13, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Logan,
I would not break or cut the paddles. I would create a display case. For ideas on the design, I would talk to folks at the Canadian Canoe Museum – http://www.canoemuseum.ca – Jeremy Ward is the curator and would probably be able to suggest people to contact or resources to use.
September 12, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Dear Mike,
I have an old canvas on wood, open 3 man kayak. My dad bought it when he was 19 from the guy who built it. The man was in his late 50′s when he made it and was 19 then. That puts it in the 1930-1940 area.
I recently found out that it may be a kit sold then. We used it while I was growing up in lakes for fishing. I was interested in fly tying so we bought a Herters vice and accessories and I began.
The kayak has been haging in the garage upside down since then. It is now a fishing pole holder. Since it is in excellent shape I would like to find someone to enjoy it. I have had many fruitless searches for information. I had one guy interested a couple years ago but he never followed through. I live in SW Washington state. Could you point me in the right direction?
Thank you, Don.
September 13, 2010 at 1:24 am
I’m afraid I can’t offer much in the way of help in your efforts to find a good home for your kayak. I suggest keeping it listed with Craig’s List and/or the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (they have a classified ad page on their web site).
Good Luck.
September 12, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Mike, I made a mistake. The guy made it when he was 19 and sold it in his 50′s to my dad. I didn’t proofread it. Sorry, D
April 4, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Hello Mike,
I bought a w/c canoe last year a New Brunswick Chestnut 16’ build late 50’s early 60’s, and it needs to be refinished. It is in very could condition and it has not been used for the last 20 years. I would like to strip the inside of the canoe; do I have to be concerned about paint remover seeping between the wood and canvas? The outside only need sanding and a fresh coat of paint. I restore old vehicles for a living so a lot of sanding is not a problem for me. The plan is to use this canoe.
Thanks, Koen
April 4, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Hello Koen,
If you are not planning on re-canvassing the canoe, I advise against using chemical strippers on the interior varnish. What I do is scrub the interior with a solution of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP — available at any hardware store) or lye. Then wash out the interior with clean water and let it dry. Then rough up the existing varnish with medium steel wool and vacuum the interior. Get rid of any remaining dust with a damp cloth or a tack cloth. Then apply the varnish (thinned 12% with paint thinner/mineral spirits) and leave it alone for 48 hours before applying a second coat.
July 14, 2011 at 2:44 am
Mike,
Just spent the last couple of hours reviewing your archived articles. Very informative.
Couple of questions: first, is your book ready and if so where can it be purchased? Second, where can I find supplies to repair a Peterborough?
Tony Manning – Toronto
July 14, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Tony,
The book is about to be presented to some major publishers. I’ll up-date everyone when there is something to report.
In Toronto, you can get supplies at Tendercraft Boat Shop http://www.tendercraftboats.com/
March 27, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Mike,
Your March, 2011 archive about babiche is deleted. Any chance you can email me a copy, or put it back on your web site?
Regards,
Jerry Fruetel
March 28, 2012 at 12:19 am
Jerry,
Here is a link to the article:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150116672517696&comments
Cheers,
Mike
March 29, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Thanks, Mike!
April 27, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Hi Mike,
I just wanted to say how much i enjoy looking through your blog… what a wealth of knowledge and lovely photos to look at. Thank you for the inspiration! Best wishes!
Jon
May 6, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Hey Mike, I was doing research on cedar strips and came across this site. I am currently refinishing my grand fathers old cedar strip canoe. Not really sure where it was made. All I really know is that its 15 feet long (fiberglassed over) and it was given to my grandfather who lived in Bathurst New Brunswick. I was given a 17 foot length of ash for the gunwales but I don’t have enough to do all of them. I was wondering what your thoughts were on making a scarf joint to an existing piece that’s still healthy. Just trying to think of how I can do that. The guys from great spirit canoes here in fredericton mentioned they use gorilla glue with a 1:12 scarf joint. I also can’t seem to find any green paint for the outside. Just trying to get help from anyone I can really haha.
Thank you
Keith
May 7, 2013 at 3:23 am
Hi Keith,
Historically, many canoe companies made long length gunwales by splicing two pieces together with a 12:1 scarf joint. The people at Great Spirit Canoes certainy know their business — I too use Gorilla Glue for this joint. As far as paint is concerned, any oil-based alkyd enamel paint will do a great job (Tremclad or any other “rust paint”). In Canada these days, these paints are labelled “For Metal Use Only”. Just ignore that and apply it to the filled canvas.
May 7, 2013 at 11:30 am
Thanks Mike! I read through your posts on Huron and chestnut canoes. Mines 15 feet long with 2 3/8 ribs with 2″ spaces between them and 3/8″ thick but the seats are laced. Just trying to find what kind it is. Might even be someone’s project.
Keith
May 7, 2013 at 4:41 pm
The Chestnut Canoe Company built economy versions of their pleasure canoes that were sold through Eaton’s department store (and possibly others). The seat frames were laced with wide rawhide in a very sturdy pattern. The name of the 15′ model was the Doe.