Hand-crafted canvas on wood canoe from Maine
“The Wood and Canvas American Beauty is a 13 foot version of the popular 17 1/2 foot Atkinson Traveler. In keeping with its Maine Guide canoe lineage, the Beauty is an excellent all-purpose canoe. It tracks very well, yet its modest rocker and short length ensure easy maneuverability. Designed primarily as a solo tripper, it can also be used as a tandem canoe. Its light weight and ease of carrying make it an excellent canoe without the extra size and weight of the traditional model.”
This is the description of the hand-crafted canvas on wood canoe we had made for our daughter’s graduation present when she graduated from UNH (U of New Hampshire) back in 2005. We actually ordered the canoe in the summer of 2003 at Wooden Boat Magazine’s Annual Wooden Boat Show in Rockland, Maine after seeing the incredible hand work and attention to detail done by Northwoods Canoe Co., 336 Range Rd, Atkinson, ME 04426. This canoe is very light and it is gorgeous. Right now it’s in a storage unit in New Hampshire while our daughter is living in Seattle in a tiny apartment. She’s used it a few times and it will be here waiting for her to reclaim it at any time. I just had to mention this company. I don’t know what kind of a backlog they have at any time, but we were on a year and a half waiting list back in 2003. They were not mentioned as exhibitors at the 2009 Wooden Boat Show, but their website is up and active. If you are looking for a really well built canoe or you need a restoration these are the guys. You’ll probably have to wait, but the wait will be well worth it.
Rollin Thurlow taking the 13' American Beauty hand-crafted canvas on wood canoe for a spin.
Click Link Below for YouTube Video:
Canoe maker Rollin Thurlow discusses his craft and the heritage of the wood and canvas canoe.
