Wooden Canoe, Kayak and Small Boat Kits and Plans
About Bear Mountain Boats
Joan Barrett and Ted Moores have been helping people build their own canoes, kayaks and small boats for 45 years. Lessons learned in the Bear Mountain workshop have been passed on to hobby builders through their how-to books, including the classic resource Canoecraft, as well as in classes and online forums.
From high quality cedar strips and building materials, to complete canoe kits and canoe plans, Bear Mountain Boats can provide you with everything necessary to build your own beautiful wooden craft using the woodstrip epoxy method.
Bear Mountain Boats also produces 30' Canadian sprint racing canoes, builds one-off custom boats including the electric fantail launch Sparks, and has restored historically significant watercraft.
Read Our Latest Blog Posts
History in Every Canoe: Doug Brentnell's Repurposed Wood Craft
When Doug Brentnell shared his building story with us, we couldn't resist asking him to write something for our blog. Doug's canoes are rich with history and personal significance, and we were moved by his comparison between canoe building and quilting. Here's the story of how he set out to build a canoe for each of his kids and grandkids using repurposed woods.
Howard Shepherd's Y2K Canoe: A Bob's Special 21 Years in the Making
Some builders are eager to get started as soon as their kit arrives; others savour having a long-term project to chip away at. Sometimes life intervenes, and a canoe build has to be moved to the backburner for awhile. That was the case for Howard Shepherd, who ordered a kit in 2000. His Bob's Special was finished and launched 21 years later, completing a decades-long dream. The canoe was a continual source of inspiration, and we're grateful to Howard for sharing his story. Read on to hear it in his words.
Do Canoe Keels Really Work?
Are there advantages to adding a keel to your canoe, or are keels just a drag? We asked the designer of our plans, Steve Killing, to weigh in on the subject.