Years in Business
1892 - 1961
The Canadian Canoe Company was founded in 1892, following the destruction by fire of the Ontario Canoe Company. In the 1920's it was gathered together with the Chestnut Canoe Company and Peterborough Canoe Company under the umbrella of Canadian Watercraft Ltd. As en entity, Canadian Canoe Company folded in 1961. For the most part, the wood & canvas canoes from the three companies were the same, having been built in the same factory.
Serial Numbering
The serial number, if present, will be stamped on the inboard upper face of the stem. Canadian Canoes are known to use a format of two leading digits, which are the model number, followed by a serialized number. No information apart from the model can be gathered from the serial number.
Models Offered
| Canvas Canoe Models | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Number | Model Name | Dimensions | Notes |
| Pleasure Models | |||
| Breeze | 14 x 32 x 12 | ||
| 42 | 15 x 34 x 12 | ||
| Balmy | 15 x 34 x 12 | ||
| 44 | 16 x 34 x 12 | ||
| Hiawatha | 16 x 34 x 12 | With outside stems. | |
| Airfloat | 16 x 33 x 12 | Sponsons and outside stems | |
| Habitant | 16 x 34 x 12 | ||
| 50 | 16 x 34 x 12 | Special Canvas Canoe | |
| Trappers and Lightweight Canoes | |||
| 90 | Feather | 11 x 34 x 12 | Lightweight |
| 39 | Pup | 12 x 32 x 12 | |
| 40 | 13 x 30 x 12 | ||
| Cub | 13 x 30 x 12 | ||
| 41 | 14 x 32 x 12 | ||
| Rat | 14 x 32 x 12 | ||
| Mink | 15 x 34 x 12 | ||
| Carry | 15 x 34 x 12 | ||
| 95 | Carry | 15 x 37½ x 12 | Lightweight |
| Cruiser Canoes | |||
| 45 | Patrol | 16 x 34 x 12 | |
| 46 | Tourist | 17 x 35 x 12 | |
| 48 | 18 x 37 x 13 | ||
| Forester | 18 x 37 x 13 | ||
| Prospector Canoes | |||
| 51-P | Leader | 14 x 34 x 13 | |
| 51-S | Scout | 14 x 34 x 13 | Square Stern |
| 52-P | Surveyor | 15 x 35 x 13½ | |
| 52-S | Lookout | 15 x 35 x 13½ | Square Stern |
| 53-P | Camper | 16 x 36 x 14 | |
| 53-S | Tripper | 16 x 36 x 14 | Square Stern |
| 54-P | Geologist | 17 x 37 x 14½ | |
| 54-S | Miner | 17 x 37 x 14½ | Square Stern |
| 55-P | Hunter | 18 x 38 x 15 | |
| 55-S | Explorer | 18 x 38 x 15 | Square Stern |
| Voyageur | 16 x 37 x 13½ | Square Stern | |
| Voyageur | 18 x 39 x 16 | Square Stern | |
| Sectional | 16 x 36 x 14 | Square Stern | |
| Freight Canoes | |||
| 60 | 17 x 45 x 17 | ||
| 60-S | Pioneer | 17 x 46 x 18 | Square Stern |
| 62 | 18 x 46 x 18 | ||
| 62-S | Trader | 18 x 46 x 18 | Square Stern |
| 70 | 18 x 50 x 21 | ||
| Factor | 18 x 50 x 20 | Square Stern | |
| 71 | 19 x 51 x 21 | ||
| 71-S | Supplier | 19 x 51 x 21 | Square Stern |
| 67 | 20 x 54 x 20 | ||
| 67-S | Distributor | 20 x 54 x 20 | Square Stern |
| 74 | 22 x 62 x 24 | ||
| 74-S | Packet | 22 x 62 x 24 | Square Stern |
| Notes | |||
| Model numbers and dimensions drawn primarily from the 1959 catalog, supplemeted with information from 1941 and 1956. Dimensions may vary between catalogs, so those given here should be considered representative. Actual canoe dimensions may vary from catalog specs; the Chestnut/Peterborough/Canadian products are especially known for this. | |||
References
- Canadian Canoe Co. Canoes. Reprint of 1894 Catalog. Roger MacGregor, publisher, 1999.
- MacGregor, Roger. When the Chestnut was in Flower: Inside the Chestnut Canoe. Plumsweep Press. 1999.
- Solway, Kenneth. The Story of the Chestnut Canoe: 150 Years of Canadian Canoe Building. Nimbus Publishing. 1997.
Filed Under: