"My dad introduced me to canoeing when the paddle was taller than I was. And from the day I caught that 5 pound trout on a fishing trip, you couldn't keep me away from our old wooden canoe. Fifteen years ago, the canoe was showing its age. I put it away and stopped canoeing. On a recent trip through Grand Forks, I saw a beautifully restored canoe in front of Kettle River Canoes. I talked to Mike about working his magic on my canoe. The next spring, we were back on the water again. Here fishy fishy. Come to papa."
Restoring canvas canoes and kayaks is all we do at Kettle River Canoes. Whether you want to get your old canoe back on the water or you have always wanted a wood-canvas canoe and are willing to pay for the restoration, we provide the care and expertise to put you back in touch with a piece of history.
OLD FRIENDS TOGETHER AGAIN. NOW YOU CAN BOTH PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.
WHAT'S IN YOUR SHED?
We are located on Highway 3 (695 Central Avenue) in beautiful downtown Grand Forks, BC. Look for the heritage house.
We welcome your feedback on this site.
Comments, Questions, Requests
KETTLE RIVER CANOES
P.O. BOX 2324
GRAND FORKS, BC
CANADA V0H 1H0
(250) 442-0312
Award Winning Small Business
Top 10 Business People 2010 - Kootenay Business Magazine
Tanya Laing Gahr of Kootenay Business Magazine profiles Mike Elliott of Kettle River Canoes as one of the Top 10 Business People for 2010.
photo- Laura Wilby
2009 Entrepreneur of the Year - Community Futures
On October 21, 2009, Kettle River Canoes won the "Community Entrepreneur East Boundary" award at the 2009 Community Futures Small Business Awards in Grand Forks, BC. The award was presented by Dave Marshall (left) to Mike Elliott (right). The award, recognizing the "Entrepreneur of the Year" was voted on by the business community in the region.
photo - Christy Luke
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Are You a Wood-Canvas Canoe Fanatic? - Visit my blog for weekly articles on canoe repair tips as well as stories about wooden canoes and the people who love them. Once there, you can comment or include your own stories about the canvas canoes in your life.
FACEBOOK - Kettle River Canoes is now on Facebook. You will find all of the pictures taken of the canoes that I am doing now as well as those I have recently completed. If you become a 'fan' of the page, you will be notified when I up-date the site with new pictures.
TWITTER - Connect with Kettle River Canoes on Twitter.
GALLERY - Here are some of the projects we have completed. Read some testimonials and a little bit about us too.
CANOES FOR SALE - An 18' Chestnut Freighter (V-stern) is yours when you pay for the restoration as are a 12' Minto canoe, a 15'6" Huron canoe and a 16' Tremblay canoe. Other canoes become available for 'adoption' on a regular basis. Check out the custom handcrafted accessories. These include: custom-carved portage yokes, hand-woven cane seats and detachable seat backs.
WORKSHOP - What happens to your canoe once it is in the shop? Come and see the process step-by-step. We also describe our policies, procedures and pricing.
DO-IT-YOURSELF - Three easy tips to help you with your canoe.
Tip #1 - How to Care for and Maintain a Wooden Canoe;
Tip #2 - How to Refinish a Wooden Canoe (fool-proof varnishing);
Tip #3 - How to Fill and Paint the Canvas on a Wooden Canoe.
This Week in the Canoe Restoration Shop
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I have completed the woodwork repairs on the 15'6" Huron Canoe from Grand Forks, BC. The new wood has been stained and the last thing to do before applying linseed oil is to sand the exterior smooth. Meanwhile, I am closing in on the completion of repairs to the Chestnut Pal from Terrace, BC (pictured above). By next week, I'll be ready to canvas this Pal, the Huron and three other canoes.
To see all of the pictures of the current work in the shop, go to FACEBOOK, When you become a fan of the business, you will be notified when I upload new pictures.