Developed after umpteen trips to Quetico and other places to survive wind, waves, and weather typical of Ontario, the Quetico Tripper II 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: $4500 for the improved Quetico Tripper II canoe, plus shipping. Extra features are negotiable as required. This is surprisingly reasonable considering the quality and craftsmanship; remember “no staple holes”, and unique design.