Like J. Henry Rushton before him, Starr prides himself in communicating with the customer in order to build the perfect, custom made canoe. By corresponding with Starr by phone or email (or in person), you can discuss what kind of boat is right for you. He will then build the canoe based on the designs that you both agreed on, and you will have the perfect, one of a kind canoe, built to suit your personal needs. It will be built solidly to last, to be passed down as an heirloom for generations to come.

If you do not want to be so intimately involved in the design process, Starr can use his own designs or those based on Rushton’s historic models to create a unique canoe  for you. Starr can also build canoes by your own design. He cannot, however, build exact replicas of other published designs. Starr can also build paddles to suit particular measurements or requirements.

We also have a selection of canoes that have already been built and tested that we would be happy to sell. Contact us for more information.

The Quetico Tripper

Developed after umpteen trips to Quetico and other places to survive wind, waves, and weather typical of Ontario, the Quetico Tripper can carry about 650 pounds, or two adults and all their stuff for ten days in the wilderness.

This canoe is 17 1/2 feet long, 32 inches wide. It normally weighs 50-55 pounds depending on materials, but may be made somewhat lighter by using softwood for the seats and gunnels, but not recommended. The canoe is made of cedar with a cypress sheer strake for added strength at gunnels. Sandwiched in fiberglass and epoxy. Laminated stems. If ribs are desired, fiberglass is only on the outside. Ribs are cedar, steam bent and epoxied in place. Decks are stripped, in your choice of redwood or cedar, with a cypress coaming. It also comes with a yoke and two hardwood seats usually of oak.

The magic of this construction technique is that no staples are used, but the strips are clamped together by a proprietary special technique  Bottom strips are ship-lapped, i.e. rabbeted, to add strength and provide extra gluing area. It has at least 5 coats of varnish, usually more. Scuppered inwale. Hardwood outwale (probably ash.) If it is to be used in rocky areas, extra fiberglass can be applied to the bottom, which increases weight. If really rocky, a Kevlar bottom can be applied, at additional cost, and a certain rustic appearance. Fiberglass reinforced caned seats. The yoke is sculptured to fit your shoulders. Seats are about 9 inches above the bottom of the canoe; may be installed to fit long or short legs, if required.

Price:  $3500 for the improved Quetico Tripper canoe, plus shipping.  Other canoes negotiable.  Extra features are negotiable as required. This is surprisingly reasonable considering the quality and craftsmanship; remember “no staple holes”, and unique design.

canoe carried on top of car
The canoe rides safely on top of a car without racks using foam and ratchet straps- demonstrated on board a Neon, which safely made it to California and back.

Delivery approximately 3 to 6 months after ordering.
$500 deposit required for materials. Balance upon delivery. No credit cards- sorry! Cash or check only please.

Shipping: The finished canoe may be delivered at nominal mileage cost within a 500 mile radius of Ft. Worth/Dallas. Otherwise, to be shipped via train or truck, whatever is cheapest, or preferably picked up. The best way of shipping the finished canoe to your area would have to be researched, and a quote given. It could entail crate-building charges plus the actual shipping cost though.