What you need to
know about buying....
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Few things have a stronger grip on the Canadian imagination than the canoe. Designed for our landscape of flat lakes and fast-running rivers, it has been part of our history for thousands of years. And if the canoe is quintessentially Canadian, there are few places with geography more perfectly suited to it than Muskoka, this land of waterways and rocky islands waiting to be explored. At Walter Page's Muskoka Store you can find canoes to suit all kinds of needs and tastes, as well as a selection of high quality paddles and other essential paddling gear.
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Canoes |
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Wood
Made by skilled builders using methods developed over generations, wooden canoes are made from strips of wood steamed and curved to form the shape of the canoe. The outside planks of the wood may be covered with canvas to make the classic wood and canvas canoe, which was the most common model until after World War II. Wooden canoes look beautiful and last for decades if well cared for.
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Fiberglass
Fiberglass is polyester plastic reinforced with glass fibers, a resilient and versatile material that has been widely used in canoe-building since the 1960s. Fiberglass canoes can be made in bright, attractive colours, and they are lighter and faster than wooden ones. However, fiberglass is difficult to repair and less durable than wood.
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Kevlar
Kevlar was developed by DuPont in the 1970s, originally for aerospace applications. A light, very tough, fireproof fiber, it was used in spacesuits, to replace steel cords on aircraft tires - and, before long, to make strong, lightweight, fast canoes. Because of its low weight and its strength (Kevlar is five times as strong as steel) it has been said that a Kevlar canoe is "the ultimate canoe."
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Kevlar Lite
Kevlar Lite is Kevlar combined with carbon fiber, to make an even lighter canoe.
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Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a plastic resin material whose main advantage is flexibility. Polyethylene canoes can be molded very precisely, making it suitable for specialized whitewater and racing designs. It also holds a 'memory' and will bounce back to its original shape if bent after hitting a rock.
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Design |
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A number of variables in the design of a canoe affect its stability, speed and
maneuverability. Generally, longer and narrower canoes are faster. A wider canoe will be more stable and have more capacity, and a shorter one will be easy to turn. |
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"Rocker" is the curvature of the canoe when viewed from the side; more rocker makes the canoe more maneuverable, while a canoe with little or no rocker will hold its course better when travelling in a straight line. |
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A flat bottom feels more stable on flat water, and a rounded bottom allows the boat to tilt in rough water without tipping over. A V-shaped hull helps the canoe stay on course, while a shallow arch makes it easier to turn.
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Factors to consider
when choosing a canoe include durability, weight, speed, capacity, and appearance - a canoe is an aesthetic object as well as a practical one. Here are some suggestions for selecting a canoe based on your planned use.
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Day tripping
Look for a comfortable touring canoe with a flatter bottom, designed for stability on flat or slow-moving water, and one that will achieve reasonable speeds without too much effort.
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Canoe camping
If you will be making fairly long trips in the wilderness, look for a good cruising canoe that is fast enough to cover the distance. Make sure you select a big enough canoe to hold your gear comfortably. If you will be portaging the canoe, weight is an important consideration. Some canoes have shaped yokes that make portaging more comfortable.
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Fishing/ hunting trips
Choose a stable canoe with enough stowage for transporting fish or game home. One option for covering longer distances is a canoe with a flat stern where an outboard motor can be attached.
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Canoeing accessories and resources at Walter Page's Muskoka Store
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The essential canoe accessory is a PFD (Personal Flotation Device), which canoeists are obliged by law to wear. Walter Page's Muskoka Store has a selection of Coast Guard approved vest-type PFDs in various sizes and colours. Our adult PFDs are sized by chest measurement; choose one that fist snugly but allows you to move comfortably. There should be enough space for you to fit your hands behind the PFD over your chest, but if you pull the PFD at the shoulders you should not be able to move it too much. If you think you will be wearing bulky clothing under the PFD, allow for that in the fit. Kids' PFDs are sized by body weight, and have a lower strap that fits between the legs for added security. |
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The canoe has inspired thousands of words, photographs and paintings. At Walter Page's Muskoka Store you can find a wide selection of books on canoeing, from practical guides to strokes, paddling routes and construction to beautiful hardback books in praise of the canoe, suitable for the coffee table or as gifts. We have that tiny classic, Omer Stringer's Canoeist Manual - essential for any paddlers - as well as a number of maps and whitewater guides to the area. You can find Canoe and Kayak magazine in the magazine section.
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Don't forget the gift section, where you can find miniature birchbark canoes and souvenir wood paddles.
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Paddles |
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Walter Page's Muskoka Store carries a range of wooden paddles created by expert paddle- makers like Upper Canada, Nashwaak and Red Tail, as well as our own Walter Page paddles. Our wooden paddles are made of ash, cherry and walnut, which are optimum paddle woods due to their strength, flexibility, and straight grain.
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Comfortable paddles for cruising have a tulip-shaped grip which is comfortable to hold. The shaft may be round or oval; choose one that feels comfortable in your hand. Blades come in beavertail or teardrop shapes.
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The beavertail is easier for a novice to handle, while the teardrop shape displaces more water. The Walter Page racing paddle has a bent shaft for higher speeds.
To choose a paddle that's the right length for you, make sure your upper hand will not rise above eye level when you are paddling. The Complete Book of Canoeing by I. Herbert Gordon suggests sitting a canoe and measuring the distance from your nose to the waterline. This should be the length of the shaft from the grip to the top of the blade.
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The Muskoka Store - info@muskokastore.com
Highway 11 North
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Canada
P1P 1R1
705-687-7751
FAX: 705-687-7789
Order Line: 1 800-MUSKOKA
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