The Genius of Trees
A Material Like No Other
Wood has attributes that man-made materials have yet to equal. It’s strong and rigid, yet resilient when stressed – perfect for shaping into our distinctive hulls.
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Our canoes are hand-planked with marine-grade wood from the okoume tree. Then the entire hull is bonded, waterproofed and reinforced inside and out with epoxy and fiberglass cloth, a composite construction method that makes our boats exceptionally durable, lasting for years with minimal upkeep.
Our okoume wood is a continually renewed resource grown in sustainably managed forests. It’s not only good for the earth, it also supports the people and economy in Gabon, West Africa. Read more about the responsible development of wood.
The Green Light
Our boats are 95% wood. We add just enough modern material to seal and reinforce them, greatly increasing their durability and still preserving their natural beauty.
The Finishing Touch
Our boats are finished with multiple coats of water-based varnish, one of the most durable marine varnishes available. It’s easy to reapply to renew the finish across seasons, when needed. It’s nearly scent-free and cleans up easily with water.
Clean + Simple
By design, our process requires no harsh solvents. We use only vinegar as needed to clean up uncured epoxy, and water for varnish clean up. That’s it.
Plank by Plank
Our boats are built by hand in our shop. Each one takes on its own unique qualities as it is constructed.
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There are natural variations in the wood, each origin tree being unique: Grain can be more or less pronounced across the planks. Color and tone vary slightly. Density (weight) varies slightly from tree to tree. And so weights will vary slightly between individual boats. No two will be identical. Yours will be as unique as you are :-)