Nova Craft Canoe Catalogue 2010

Spring 2010

Spring 2010

40 YEARS AND STILL LEADING THE WAY -Mary Garland This year, Nova Craft Canoe celebrates its 40th anniversary as a leader in canoe manufacturing.

In the last 40 years the company has progressed from making custom built racing canoes to an internationally recognized canoe brand with a dealer network spanning the world. Through it all: expansion, change of ownership, relocations, and technological growth, Nova Craft has stayed true to its classic Canadian canoes and to the people who paddle them.

Nova Craft’s founder, Ken Fisher, started building canoes as a teen and in 1970 he went into business building racing canoes through his interest in marathon canoe racing. Ken wanted his canoes to be as efficient as possible and he discovered that flaring the canoe aft of the midpoint compensated for the stern paddler’s weight. He built this asymmetry into his racing hulls as well the Tripper and Haida recreational canoes. By the 1980’s Nova Craft marathon racing canoes were the best available and in high demand.

When Tim Miller and his partners purchased the company in 1986, Ken had just started producing the classic Prospector model in 16’ and 17’ lengths.

At this stage the new owners decided to direct all of their attention to the recreational market and a wider spectrum of paddlers. Nova Craft continued to produce the Prospector, Tripper and Haida, and added the 15’ Bob Special for cottage use. Two more Prospector models followed, and then more recently two cruising models, the PAL and Cronje, were added to the family. Nova Craft is now introducing another classic design, the Rob Roy 3.9.

Nova Craft has always led the way in innovative canoe construction. In 1974 Ken was the first builder to use Kevlar fabric to make lighter boats.

In 1989 Nova Craft introduced Spectra cloth into continued on page 3

Photo, Dave Hood

Photo, Dave Hood

Photo, Mark Dalpe

Photo, Peter Mather

Photo, Peter Mather

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WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE I BUY A CANOE? Think of a canoe as a long term investment; you will probably go through a few computers, TVs, and even vehicles before you start to see the end of your canoe’s usefulness. The longevity of a canoe will help you create and reflect on lots of fond memories; from your first quick solo day-paddle, to a weekend adventure with your best friend, to a long expedition with a group of fellow paddlers.

To choose the right canoe, please consider the following: 1. What type of paddling do you want to do?

Will the canoe be used on flatwater, whitewater, or both? A great flatwater canoe will not be the best in big river rapids. Conversely a great whitewater canoe will not be the best choice for crossing lakes. A flatwater canoe should be more straight keeled to assist in tracking. It should also be shallower to reduce the effects of wind, be narrower and have finer entry lines for speed. A good whitewater canoe needs to have some rocker to facilitate quick turns. They will also be deeper and will usually have fuller ends for a drier ride. If you are looking to paddle on both flatwater and whitewater you will need a canoe with good multi-purpose characteristics.

2. What will the typical trip duration be?

Will you only be out for an hour or two at the cottage or are you going to go downriver for two weeks? A typical cottage canoe can be small because it will probably only hold the paddlers and a small amount of gear. An expedition canoe will have to have a larger volume to hold all your food, tents, and packs for your entire time in the interior.

3. How many people will be using the canoe at one time?

You need to make sure there is enough room in the canoe for everyone. A family canoe that needs to carry four people will obviously need to be bigger than one used for solo paddling.

Don’t forget to include pets into the equation. Big dogs that like to move around a lot can easily be equal to one human passenger.

4. How light does it need to be for portaging and car-topping?

If you plan on doing a lot of portaging you need to consider the weight of your canoe. You also need to remember that while you may not portage, you still may need to put your boat on top of your vehicle from time to time. Make sure you can lift it comfortably and safely.

5. What material is best for your needs?

Composite canoes are lighter and offer better glide through the water whereas plastic boats (Royalex, Royalex-Lite and SP3) are tougher and are more appropriate where severe impacts may occur. Whitewater canoes will need to be made of more durable materials to cope with impacts. Flatwater canoes can be made of lighter materials for portaging from lake to lake.

6. What is your budget?

As a general rule, lighter canoes are more expensive. While you may have decided that you need a high end boat, the practical matter of expense must be considered.

Also see page 10.

For a better understanding of boating terms and characteristics, please visit novacraft.com/canoepurchase.htm

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Spring 2010

THE UBIQUITOUS CANOE: A BRIEF HISTORY

By Rolf Kraiker The last pink and purple hues of a glorious sunset fade over the horizon, gentle waves lap quietly against rocks of a wilderness lake, flames of a campfire spread gentle warmth and tying it all together are the beautiful lines of a canoe now upturned and resting waiting for the adventures of a new day.

Canada is a vast network of lakes and rivers providing easy corridors of passage to the original peoples of the land. Over countless generations, early inhabitants perfected a craft ideally suited to the landscape. Working with materials gathered from the forest, skilled craftsmen shaped bark and cedar into utilitarian works of art that varied in shape by region adapted to variations in the local landscape. Looking back in history, early examples of the canoe show not only how hull shapes evolved to suit the variety of waterways they were employed in, but also exhibited the pride of builders - not only in the craftsmanship of construction details, but often in decorations carved in their hulls.

Canoes today no longer serve the wide variety of purposes they once did since they're mostly for recreation, but even so there is still a wide variety of hull shapes for a paddler to choose from. Modern science has played a role in recent canoe design - space age materials adding strength while reducing weight and computer modeling to improve performance. This has led to advancements in specialization but in spite of that, many of today's popular canoes have change little from the original hull shapes that evolved through countless generations of adaptation by aboriginal craftsmen.

When European explorers first arrived on the shores of the “A craft that harkens back new world, many to an era when canoes were journals documenting impressions of as essential to everyday life discovery remarked on as the car is to modern life.” the canoes that came to greet ships.

Accustomed to rowing boats to and from shore, Europeans were surprised at the speed and agility of native canoes - and not surprisingly, the fact that occupants in canoes faced the direction they were headed was an obvious advantage not lost on masters of the ships. It wasn't long before it became apparent to early explorers that rowboats were not suitable for travel if they wanted to discover the mysteries lying out of reach in the virgin forest.

When the fur trade made it viable to spread out tendrils of commerce throughout the new territories, it was the canoe that made it possible.

It wasn't long before European craftsmen adapted traditional bark construction and replaced it with more readily available canvas, but the basic hull shapes were so perfectly suited to the waterways that lines of those early canoes can still be found plying waterways as they have for countless centuries. It is still possible to purchase a brand new canoe that is almost indistinguishable in shape and form from . The joy of quietly sliding over a wilderness lake still passes from paddle to paddler unaltered, a direct link to the history of exploration of North American wilderness.

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CONNECTING US WITH WATER A few words from Tim Miller, President, Nova Craft Canoe I have always had a fascination with water: I remember using sticks for boats and spending hours on end holding races down the street gutter in early spring in front of our house.

Water is definitely our world's most precious resource. It is the essential medium for life here on Earth. There are 326,000,000 cubic miles of water in our biosphere and it covers 70 percent of the planet's surface. Even our bodies are 75 percent water.

It is no wonder then that we have this fascination with water. We find ourselves drawn to the shore, mesmerized by waterfalls, enchanted by a languid pool, and we continue the desire to explore water to the farthest reaches. From the earliest human time the canoe has been a simple but incredibly versatile craft to satisfy our need to interact with water.

Throughout our history craftsmen have applied the best materials available to build

Tim Miller, President, Nova Craft Canoe

the finest boats possible. Through all that time the canoe has endured. From ancient dugouts, to birch bark, to wood and canvas, to modern space age plastics the canoe has remained a viable and engaging connection with water.

At Nova Craft Canoe we strive to carry on that custom by marrying contemporary technologies with the greatest classic canoe designs

available. Across a misty lake of glass, down a wild rollercoaster rapid or along an islandstudded coastline, we have a model and material to get you there safely, efficiently and comfortably.

You can connect with the natural world knowing that you have selected a craft that achieves a synergy between the science of today and the Spirit of the Water.

40 YEARS OLD AND STILL CHANGING 2010 is a big year for Nova Craft. After all, turning 40 is a milestone for anyone, and we are no exception. To mark the occasion we have created a special “40 Years” logo that will go on all canoes made this year. If you already have one of our canoes and would like to get a set of the new decals just get in touch and we will gladly send some to you. The biggest news of the year is the introduction of our new, decked solo canoe, the Rob Roy 3.9. This is our first decked canoe and takes us in an exciting new direction. You can see details of the Rob Roy on page 8. But there is more going on at Nova Craft than building boats, and we want to tell you a little more about it.

Locally, we are proud to be involved in several positive community events. We are long-term sponsors of the Thames River Clean Up (thamesrivercleanup.ca), an annual event that sees thousands of volunteers get together

to clean up our local watershed. We also regularly participate in London’s Clean & Green Makeover (cleangreen.london.ca) and try to spruce up our own neighborhood by cleaning up litter in the area. We are strong supporters of National Canoe Day (nationalcanoeday.net) and are happy to be involved in the London and area celebration of that event. We are also involved with Paddle for Life (paddleforlife.ca), which is an annual fundraising event that celebrates cancer survivorship.

This catalogue is a great way for you to keep informed about who we are and what we are doing. Our website is another and it has the added benefit of staying more up-to-date. We encourage you to visit novacraft.com and read the What’s New and Special Events sections on a regular basis. These will keep you apprised of the most current Nova Craft activities such as where you can come for a demo day

paddle. Our website now has a new live chat feature to make communicating with us even easier, plus you can now register your canoe with us, submit and view user photos, and upload your own testimonials. If you can pull yourself away from our website, you can also use Facebook to see what our most current news is: Become a fan today!

Our Ambassadors are a select group of paddlers who represent our brand and help to promote paddlesports. Some of the ways they do this are through offering lessons, writing books, maintaining blogs and websites, getting photos and articles published in magazines, appearing on radio and television and of course appearing in person to do live presentations. We encourage you to visit their websites and blogs. Check them out on our website.

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designs are offered in this very rugged plastic.

The proprietary R-Lite material is very popular with trippers and recreational paddlers due to its durability and light weight.

After moving to a larger facility in 2001, Nova Craft installed a rotomoulding oven and began producing the Aqua Fusion line of recreational kayaks in polyethylene plastic. The Prospector 16’ and 17’ SP3 models in polyethylene followed and are a top choice for outfitters.

More recently Nova Craft started customizing laminate canoes by using printed fabrics to produce plaid, tie dyed and other uniquely coloured canoes. In 2009, Nova Craft worked with the Fanshawe College’s graphic design

students to produce three unique theme canoes which can be viewed on the company’s website at www.novacraft.com.

Nova Craft stands behind its brand by offering a quality product that is backed by personal friendly service. Throughout the years, as Nova Craft expanded its technological and manufacturing base, the company built up a dealer network that reaches throughout Canada and the U.S. In the 90’s, Nova Craft began exporting overseas, expanding into Europe through distributors in Germany and the UK followed by Norway, Australia and New Zealand. From a small start in Glanworth, Ontario, people all over the world now paddle Nova Craft’s classic Canadian canoes.

the lightweight canoes to build boats that are more robust than standard Kevlar laminates.

This was followed a few years later with the company’s unique Blue Steel carbon-Kevlar hybrid cloth. To improve the laminating process with these materials, Nova Craft first upgraded to a vacuum bagging system, then in 2002 developed a unique resin infusion system to further improve its laminate canoes.

In 1996 Nova Craft installed the equipment to produce Royalex canoes. The Prospector models were an instant success in Royalex for whitewater paddlers and now nine of Nova Craft’s classic

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THE JOYS AND SORROWS OF PADDLING WITH GREENHORNS

By David Lee I've had the privilege of canoeing with many partners. My experiences in a canoe would not be as rich, if not for tripping with a few paddling neophytes.

Years ago I was asked to plan a canoe trip with my David Lee co-workers. What I didn't know or expect was the varying degree of ego that masked the inexperience of these friends. When a group of guys trip together no one wants to be seen as a rookie. Well, all I know is that once the trip starts, nothing is more evident.

Take for instance when some of my gear was redistributed into a newbie's pack so I could accommodate some other bulky gear. Did I know he brought a soft case cooler with ice in it? When it came time for our first snack break, he realized there was water inside his waterproof pack. Yes, ice does melt even in a

cooler! So out came my sopping wet sleeping bag and pad. Or how about another greenhorn on a wetter than normal trip that was convinced if he duct-tapped his socks they would be waterproof. I advised against it. He did it anyways and found out it was neither waterproof nor could he get them off his feet! They ended up being cut off and chucked into the fire.

How about hanging a food bag? Should be fairly simple with some basic instructions, right?

Well, they got the instructions ok, but when I woke up the next morning the food bag was hanging right above my tent! Is it just me, or can someone not see the problem with that scenario? Then of course the most classic of all. Everyone seems to know how to steer a canoe. I usually put an

experienced guy in the stern but most everyone thought it was easy enough and wanted to prove themselves. On flat water most could manage somewhat, but once the watercourse meandered through a marsh the occupants of the canoes became crash test dummies! I had more than my share of headaches, issues, and problems associated with introducing new people to canoe tripping, but there ended up being a silver lining to it all. I got to see the evolution of many paddlers from beginners and novices to more confident, better-skilled and outdoor loving canoeists. I may have shook my head and questioned myself at times, but seeing how I've introduced many to the joys of canoeing now, it certainly was worthwhile! What do you say, have you tried canoeing?

“How about hanging a food bag? Should be fairly simple with some basic instructions, right?”

BILL MASON’S CAMPFIRE TENT

By Peter Mather A decade ago I lay sprawled out on my parent’s living room floor, bored stiff in the way only a teenager can be.

To relieve my restless brain, I picked up a tattered copy of Path of the Paddle. Flipping through the book, I Peter Mather became mesmerized by the words and images of Bill Mason. Bill’s philosophy on living and canoeing struck a deep chord in me that still vibrates today. The greatest gift that Bill gave me was the inspiration to explore the rivers and lakes of Canada by canoe. I was also inspired to use his famous campfire tent, Bill treasured his tent because it gave him the means not simply to travel outdoors, but to live outdoors.

In Bill’s words, “A comfortable tent is a tent that you can stand up in, and walk into and out of freely. It’s a tent that will shelter you while cooking over an open fire, regardless of

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weather, and from which you have a full view of the scenery at all times. It also gives complete protection from bugs. Camping in such a tent is the very opposite of roughing it.”

My first campfire tent was ten years old battered, bruised and used. It was full of holes and would leak like a faucet in the smallest of rain showers. It was eventually retired when I purchased a brand new one of similar design. My new campfire tent has served me well and is the only tent I considered for last summer’s month long canoe trip on the Yukon’s Snake River.

The campfire tent is perfect for canoe camping. It is made entirely of canvas and resembles a wall tent more than the common dome tents that are found on the market today.

It is essentially a canvas lean-to with sides and a floor. For me, the most appealing aspect of the tent is that its front face can be left open, giving an unimpeded view of the land. If it rains, a canopy can be stretched out in front of the tent, protecting you from rain and providing a spacious and dry vestibule where you may relax. Side flaps can be deployed when the weather is bad, and are useful in protecting against wind-blown rain. A bug net

can be dropped to cover the front face of the tent, only slightly diffusing the view.

On the trip down the Snake River last summer we had some awful weather and the tent was our saviour. The Snake is a remote wilderness river in the Northwest corner of the Yukon Territory. The watershed greeted us with five days of rain and snow. It was our tent that kept us sane and dry. Under a milky haze of clouds we spent most of a week beneath the tent – cooking, reading, writing, and sleeping in the open air. Occasionally a blue patch of sky would peek through the clouds. The first week we spent under the campfire tent gave us a chance to relax in comfortable surroundings and adjust to river life. This would not have been possible in a modern dome tent.

When the sun finally broke through and washed the clouds away, we made our way downriver. Our nights were spent basking in the glow of warm fires, reading by candlelight, watching the northern lights perform, and falling asleep to the sounds of the river – all within the comfort of the campfire tent.

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MY DAUGHTER LOVES CANOE TRIPPING - HONEST!

By Kevin Callan I’ll never forget the night my buddy came over for a surprise visit and was shocked that my five year old daughter, Kyla, and I were sitting down and watching Bill Mason’s classic family canoe film Song of the Paddle.

Kevin Callan He seriously thought it was a set up. But watching the movie was my daughter’s idea. It happens to be her favorite thing to watch. Well, maybe second to SpongeBob Squarepants. But why? After all, Song of the Paddle is a good film but in no way compared to such hits as Barbie the Dancing Princess or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. According to her, she enjoys the film because the Mason family’s trip on Lake Superior reminds her of our own family trip on that very same lake this past season. How beautiful is that? Ah, the memories; hanging out on the beach waiting for the wind to die, spending the time gathering multi-colored rocks or throwing drift-wood into the surf. It’s as if we relived each scene of the film itself. What a

classic canoe holiday – and what a wonderful memory to have.

Isn’t that one of the reasons we all enjoy canoe trips so much – so we have something to remember? I think back to some of my favorite

“Memories of past canoe trips can do a lot of good towards getting through the stress of our “real lives.” canoe adventures and, to me, they’re like a catalog of your accomplishments: my first time paddling with my father in Algoma country; a spring fishing trip in Algonquin with high school chums; a month spent paddling Quetico with best friend, Andy; running rapids on the Spanish River for the first time with my wife, Alana; going on a long solo trip in Temagami with my faithful dog, Bailey; taking Kyla to the Kawartha-highlands on her first canoe trip, when she was only six weeks old.

Memories of past canoe trips can do a lot of good towards getting through the stress of our “real lives.” I can’t count the number of times I’ve spent my lunch break gawking at canoe

maps and thinking back to great trips spent in a far less stressful environment. Simply put, my daughter told me she likes the Mason film because it relaxes her. And that it does.

Our family Superior trip is now an embedded benchmark for Kyla, not just for reminiscing a time when the family bonded completely together, but more importantly, it was a positive time in her life and a way to help deal with the inevitable bumps and bruises of what’s to come.

Watching the movie with me obviously erases bad times she’s had in Junior K, just as it will during high school, post-secondary schooling, and when she enters the work force. A canoe trip, to her, and to a lot of us, can be the most formative life experience one can ever have.

OUTFITTER SERIES SP3 Prospector 16’ Specifications

The Outfitter models have the same performance characteristics as our famous Prospector models, but are made from a tough 3 layer polyethylene plastic that withstands hard knocks and extensive use. Because the material is nearly indestructible, it makes them attractive to owners who plan to subject them to hard use with little maintenance. While the Outfitters are our heaviest boats, they are also the most affordable canoes we produce.

Outfitted with extra-durable plastic seats, these canoes are ideal for canoe liveries and rental shops since they will give many years of faithful service at an attractive price. For a family looking for a canoe they can leave knocking around at the cottage, they'll have a canoe that should last a lifetime.

• shallow arch • moderate rocker • symmetrical

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Canoe

P16

P17

Length

15’6” 472 cm 80 lb 36 kg 35”

17’ 518 cm 88 lb 40 kg 36”

90 cm

91.5 cm

14.5” 35.5 cm 23” 58.5 cm 2” 5 cm 2” 5 cm 900 lb 409 kg

15” 38 cm 23” 58.5 cm 2” 5 cm 2” 5 cm 1200 lb 544 kg

Weight Beam D E P T H R O C K E R

Center Bow Bow Stern Capacity

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PROSPECTOR SERIES Prospector 15’

Prospector 16’

The Prospector 15 is a scaled-down version of our larger Prospectors that's faithful to the original lines in every way. You get all the great handling features that make the Prospector a paddling legend in a package that's a bit smaller and more responsive.

The P15 is an ideal choice for paddlers who want a tripping boat but don't need the extra volume. Its extra responsiveness also makes the P15 a fun tandem playboat.

The Chestnut Prospector has probably been described more often in text than any other canoe, it's just that popular. Our version of this venerable craft is faithful to the original. Since 1984, we've gone out of our way to continue the tradition so future generations of paddlers can enjoy this icon of Canadian history.

The Workhorse of the Canadian north, our Prospector feels most at home loaded with gear on a remote wilderness lake or river. While it is best suited for river tripping, it remains versatile enough to be a good all round canoe. With experience, the self-righting aspects of the shallow arch hull will become apparent and confidence levels will soar. What’s more, it provides a very dry ride in big waves and whitewater. It is simply the best all round wilderness tripping canoe available.

• shallow arch • moderate rocker • symmetrical

• shallow arch • moderate rocker • symmetrical • avail. with or without shoe keel

Prospector 17’

Prospector 18’

If you want a canoe that will handle a month's worth of supplies to head out on a wilderness adventure, this is the canoe for you. In the Prospector 17 you'll find all the great things that have made this canoe a paddling legend in places like the Yukon and the Canadian Arctic.

With lots of volume to keep you and your gear dry in whitewater, it still tracks well with good hull speed on flatwater. Our durable materials and classic Prospector lines make the P17 the ultimate wilderness extended tripping canoe.

The cargo capacity of the Prospector 18 model can only be described as massive. The Prospector lines produce a canoe that feels deceptively light and responsive, but there's tons of space to pack in a load of supplies for any expedition with room left over to toss in the kitchen sink.

The P18 is a big boat with straighter tracking than our shorter Prospectors. It's perfect for the wilderness traveler intent on expedition style adventures or a large family wanting to travel in one canoe.

• shallow arch • moderate rocker • symmetrical • avail. with or without shoe keel

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• shallow arch • moderate rocker • symmetrical

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RECREATIONAL SERIES Bob Special 15’

PAL 16’

The Chestnut Canoe Company responded to the need for a lightweight canoe well suited to solo tripping and casual tandem paddling by introducing the versatile Bob Special. While the canoe was very stable due to its larger than normal width, the hull shape was optimized for performance resulting in a canoe that was remarkably fast. Our version is based on the Chestnut original with some improvements to increase speed and sea worthiness.

It is ideally suited as a tandem day-tripper yet large enough for a weekend canoe trip. It really shines when paddled solo by a competent paddler. The Bob has a unique blend of characteristics that produce a canoe novice paddlers can enjoy yet experts can savour.

During its long history of building canoes, the Chestnut Canoe Company produced a range of models they called Pleasure canoes. One model proved to have such universal appeal that it became the definition of a general-purpose craft. This model began life as the Ajax but it grew to be so popular that it was renamed PAL to reflect the affection owners felt while using it. Nova Craft has painstakingly reproduced the lines of the original PAL to provide today’s paddlers with the opportunity to own one of the best general-purpose traditional canoes ever made.

The PAL is a new addition to our line up and it's a great choice for paddlers who want a canoe that does it all well. Nicely suited for flatwater trips or short outings for sightseeing or fishing, the PAL handles rough water well and feels comfortable in windy conditions. Indeed, it’s a pleasure to paddle either tandem or solo. Once you paddle one you’ll know why owners call it “My PAL”.

• shallow arch • slight rocker with raised ends • symmetrical • avail. with or without shoe keel

• shallow arch • slight rocker with raised ends • symmetrical

Tripper 16’

Haida 17’

The classic lines of this canoe hide the modern innovations incorporated into the hull design. While it still looks like a traditional canoe from every angle, it has an asymmetrical hull that improves speed.

There is little rocker along the keel, which makes it easy to track yet provides maneuverability when you need it.

This is a versatile family canoe that people can grow into. Beginners will find the stability reassuring and as paddlers become more advanced they will appreciate the faster hull and easy glide.

The Haida is the "big brother" of our Tripper model. It shares all the same handling characteristics of the 16 foot canoe but it's a bit wider and a bit longer. That gives it extra carrying capacity without changing speed or handling. The added roominess and stability means it is an ideal canoe for families who want to enjoy some tripping with young children, whether it is just a weekend jaunt to a favourite park or a wilderness adventure lasting a couple of weeks.

The Haida is novice friendly yet still has enough performance to appeal to experienced paddlers. Both the beginner and the expert will enjoy the Haida either for relaxation, like fishing or the adventures of a wilderness trip.

• shallow arch • straight keel with raised ends • asymmetrical

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• flat bottom • straight keel with raised ends • asymmetrical

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SOLO SERIES

CRUISER SERIES

Rob Roy

Cronje (Chrone-yeh) 17’

Prototype shown above

John MacGregor designed the Rob Roy with inspiration from Native American canoes. His goal was to create a craft that would enable him to paddle inland waterways and travel independently throughout Europe.

To accomplish this he needed something efficient yet maneuverable while travelling solo with a double bladed paddle.

The Rob Roy is an excellent choice for solo paddlers in need of a quick boat that will cruise at a good pace, while still handling well in windy and wavy conditions. Stability is not sacrificed for speed as both primary and secondary stability are quite reassuring. It has enough cargo space for everything from a day outing to a week of interior tripping. The Rob Roy combines the enjoyment of canoe tripping with the versatility of a kayak.

• shallow arch • slight rocker with raised ends • symmetrical

The Chestnut Canoe Company designed the Cronje to be a fast, reliable canoe for people who have a destination in mind. The design is rich in history and is a very able performer. Our reproduction of this venerable canoe retains both the paddling characteristics and the tradition of the original.

The Cronje is ideally suited to paddlers who want to challenge big, open water by covering distance with ease. Fast lines and excellent tracking make it a joy to use. Cargo capacity isn't compromised for speed and the canoe handles well both with a load and empty. Its lower profile means less wind drag on the water and lower weight on the portage trail.

The Cronje is most at home in landscapes with large open lakes like the famed Boundary Waters or Algonquin Park.

• shallow arch • fast entry lines • symmetrical • slight rocker

SPORT SERIES Supernova

Angler 15’

The Supernova was designed as the ideal solution for the paddler who loves to do solo wilderness river trips. While the Supernova hull characteristics do what you'd expect from a white water boat – like keep you dry and effortlessly surf a wave – where you really appreciate the canoe is the flat water sections in between the frothy stuff.

The Supernova would be most appreciated by experienced paddlers who enjoy messing around in rapids. Even though it comes to life in the rough stuff, it retains enough of a quiet nature that it won't feel out of place for a casual paddle on the local pond. In the hands of a competent paddler the Supernova is an excellent dance partner.

While some paddlers dream of one day going down a remote arctic river, a lot of us just need a solid canoe suited to the simpler pleasures of life like fly fishing, nature photography, or just lazing around the lake. The Angler is one of our most popular choices for people wanting a nice stable canoe that's always predictable. Whoever said you should never stand in canoe - never tried an Angler.

The Angler is all about safety and comfort. It will carry a surprising amount of gear and it takes little effort to keep it gliding in the direction you want.

• shallow arch • moderate rocker • symmetrical

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• flat bottom • straight keel • symmetrical • tumblehome

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MATERIALS Unique Infusion System

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Laminates

The result is a tough, rigid canoe that’s surprisingly light and easy to handle. The ideal lightweight Laminates are a great choice for river, lake or pond. option for expedition adventure.

In addition to their strength and light weight, they glide smoother and faster on the water.

ABS

Fiberglass

Royalex (expedition grade) and Royalex Lite (Royalex industry standards), are ABS plastic Our unique, high-tech Infusion System, adapted Fiberglass is a very affordable composite material laminates with a core of expanded closed cell foam. from the aerospace industry, offers distinct with a proven track record of durability. Our fiberWe custom order our Royalex sheets for each model advantages over traditional boat building systems: glass hulls are among the lightest and most rugged for extra hull strength and stiffness while keeping on the market today. We use woven fiberglass the weight down. These canoes are great for • Eliminates human error cloth, instead of chopped strand mat, to make a shallow rivers and whitewater and stand up under truly superior hull. Most of our fiberglass models • Drastically reduces the number of the most rugged conditions. The major advantage only come with a shoe keel. blemishes and imperfections to ABS canoes is their survivability in situations where an accident might leave a less robust canoe • Dramatically improves production unusable. When you’re on a remote wilderness trip efficiency These hulls are infused with high impact vinylester and you need to rely on your boat to bring you back, • Produces stronger, higher quality ABS is still the most popular choice. resin, sandwiched with fiberglass cloth between laminates an outer layer of Cap (Chemically Activated Polyester) cloth and an inner layer of Kevlar.

• Reduces excess resin in the laminate

Kevlar

• Has far less gas emissions (a plus for the environment) • And produces better, more consistent boats.

Today, Nova Craft Canoe is the only boat builder using this unique process on every laminate canoe we make. It costs us more to produce canoes this way but the quality speaks for itself.

The bottom line: You get a superior, stronger lightweight canoe, made to exacting standards while we protect the environment.

Kevlar/Spectra

We combine Kevlar and Spectra with a high impact-resistant vinylester resin in these infused hulls for expedition quality, lightweight canoes that resist tearing and punctures far better than an all Kevlar canoe.

Blue Steel Nova Craft’s exclusive BLUE STEEL is an advanced Kevlar Carbon material combined with Spectra and applied through a unique infusion process.

ACCESSORIES & OPTIONS Seats & Yokes We could use less expensive materials, but why would we? Our philosophy has always been to give our customers the best materials available at the best possible price, and then guarantee the canoe for life, period. After all, quality endures much longer than the lure of a low price.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Seats: Because you’re going to be sitting on them for the better part of 15 years, you might as well be comfortable. Our exclusive nylon laced seats are beautiful to look at, tough as nails and best of all, they cradle you like your favorite chair.

In fact, in almost every review written about our canoes, our seats are noted for their superb comfort and support.

INFUSION: Process where materials are laid into

mold and placed under pressure using vacuum.

Next resin is introduced and literally sucked through the laminate. This produces a product ABS: Family of thermoplastics or terpolymers based with a very high material-to-resin ratio. on Acrylonitrile, Butadiene and Styrene (ABS), KEVLAR: Aramid fibres that have twice the stiffness combined by a variety of methods. Possesses good of fibreglass, 25% higher tensile strength and impact strength, heat resistance, low temperature.

1/3 less weight.

CAP: Chemically Activated Polyester woven cloth LAY UP: Process of placing layers of cloth in the mold. often used in combination with Kevlar and woven fibreglass.

MAT: Fibrous material consisting of chopped or swirled filaments with a binder. Usually heavier CLOTH: Conventionally woven fibre material. and more brittle than cloth.

GELCOAT: Colour pigmented polyester resin. First RESIN: Any polymer used to bond layers of cloth resin applied to mold. together.

GUNWALE: Component that finishes the edge of canoe. Typically ABS, Anodized Aluminum, Ash or Cherry.

N O VA C R A F T. C O M

ROYALEX, ROYALEX LITE: A vulcanized plastic sheet combining layers of vinyl, ABS, and a foam core.

Makes stiff, durable canoes which have very high

Yokes:

Portaging your canoe shouldn’t be a pain in the neck. Our deluxe sculpted ash yokes fit comfortably on your shoulders and distributes weight evenly. We’ve even notched out a section for that little bone in the back of your neck. You’ll appreciate it whether your portage is 5 minutes or 5 miles.

impact resistance. Unsurpassed for expedition and whitewater use.

R-84: Is a thinner and lighter alloy used on ABS substrate. Not used on any Nova Craft Canoe models.

SHOE KEEL: A wide, flat keel used on river canoes.

SPECTRA: Polyethylene that has been drawn into a filament as fine as a spider web and then woven to make cloth. A little lighter than Kevlar but it’s greatest attribute is it’s incredible impact resistance. Best laminated under high vacuum to achieve a void free laminate.

TRIM: Gunwales, seats, end decks, yoke, thwart and hardware.

VINYLESTERS: Developed to provide the ease of handling of polyester resin combined with the impact resistance and toughness of epoxy.

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C A N O E

Page 10

Spring 2010

CHOOSING CANOE COLOURS* THE RIGHT CANOE Royalex & Royalex Lite: FOR YOU Whether you want a canoe for extreme sports, long trips or just paddling around the lake, selecting the best one for your lifestyle is an important decision. After all, we build them to last a lifetime. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to choose by following these three easy steps:

1 2 3

Red

Green

Burgundy Blue

Fibreglass, Kevlar, Kevlar/Spectra, BlueSteel:

Red

Green

Sand

DesertWhite

Ox Blood

Olive Green

*Color may not be exactly as shown. Visit your dealer for color samples.

Read the ACTIVITY CHART on page 11

Match your selected activities with our models throughout the catalogue

Refer to the SPECIFICATIONS chart on page 11 to choose your construction materials. Options can be found on page 9.

Also see trim options below.

Photo, Kevin Callan

TRIM SYSTEMS Standard Trim:

Low maintenance trim features aircraft-grade black anodized aluminum gunwales with aluminum reinforced ABS end decks, standard on laminate & Royalex Lite hulls.

Reinforced PVC vinyl gunwales with oversized rotomolded decks are standard with our Royalex Prospector models. Nylon laced ash seats, ash thwart, carrying handles and a balanced carrying yoke complete the package.

Wood Trim: We use only straight grained white

White Ash Gunwales, Oil Finish Ash Web Seat Sliding Bow Seat Kneeling Thwart Kevlar Skid Plates Installed

Standard Trim

Additional Centre Seat Knee Pads

ash gunwales fastened with stainless steel screws. Ash grained seats, ash thwarts, custom cut decks, contoured carrying handles and a hand rubbed oil finish complete the look.

N O VA C R A F T. C O M

Options:

Custom Colour Expedition Spray Deck Spray Deck Installation

1 - 8 6 6 - 8 8

C A N O E

Wood Trim

Spring 2010

Page 11

ACTIVITY CHART Activity

Bob Special

PAL

Angler

Tripper

Haida

Cronje

Prospector 15’ Prospector 16’ Prospector 17’ Prospector 18’

Rob Roy

Supernova

Recreation Sport Quiet Water Touring River Tripping Expedition Whitewater

Activity Length M W

Fibreglass

A E Kevlar T I E G Kevlar/Spectra R H Blue Steel I T A S Royalex Lite L

*

Royalex Beam

D E P T H R O C K E R

Center Bow Bow Stern Capacity

R Q

R Q

R Q

R S Q

R Q

SOLO

R T W R T W T E W T E W R S Q

Su pe rn ov a

SPORT

T W

An gle r

PROSPECTOR Pr os pe cto r1 5’

Pr os pe cto r1 6’

Pr os pe cto r1 7’ Pr os pe cto r1 8’ Ro bR oy

CRUISER

Ha ida

Tri pp er

Bo bS pe cia l PA L

RECREATIONAL

Cr on je

SPECIFICATIONS

R S

15’

16’

16’

17’

17’

15’

16’

17’

18’

13’

14’10”

15’

457 cm

488 cm

488 cm

518 cm

518 cm

457 cm

488 cm

518 cm

548 cm

390 cm

452 cm

457 cm

60 lbX

-

64 lbX

68 lbX

-

-

68 lbX

72 lbX

-

45 lb

-

64 lbX

27 kg

-

29 kg

31 kg

-

-

31 kg

33 kg

-

20 kg

-

29 kg

50 lb

54 lb

54 lb

60 lb

54 lb

-

58 lb

62 lb

-

38 lb

-

56 lb

23 kg

24 kg

24 kg

27 kg

24 kg

-

26 kg

28 kg

-

17 kg

-

25 kg

45 lb

49 lb

50 lb

56 lb

50 lb

-

52 lb

58 lb

-

35 lb

48 lb

52 lb

20 kg

22 kg

22 kg

25 kg

22 kg

-

23 kg

26 kg

-

16 kg

22 kg

23 kg

42 lb

46 lb

46 lb

50 lb

47 lb

-

48 lb

52 lb

-

32 lb

-

-

19 kg

21 kg

21 kg

22 kg

21 kg

-

21 kg

23 kg

-

14.5 kg

-

-

58 lb

58 lb

60 lb

64 lb

59 lb

60 lb

64 lb

68 lb

74 lb

-

-

-

26 kg

26 kg

27 kg

29 kg

27 kg

27 kg

29 kg

31 kg

34 kg

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

70 lb

74 lb

80 lb

84 lb

-

58 lb

-

-

-

-

-

-

32 kg

34 kg

36 kg

38 kg

-

26 kg

-

35”

34”

35”

36”

35”

36”

36”

36”

36”

29”

32”

33”/37”

90 cm

86 cm

90 cm

91.5 cm

90 cm

91.5 cm

91.5 cm

91.5 cm

91.5 cm

73.6 cm

81 cm

84/94cm

13”

13”

14”

14”

13”

15”

15”

15”

15”

12”

15”

13”

33 cm

33 cm

35.5 cm

35.5 cm

33 cm

38 cm

38 cm

38 cm

38 cm

30.5 cm

38 cm

33 cm

21”

20”

22”

22”

21”

23”

23”

23”

23”

17”

23”

19”

53.5 cm

51 cm

56 cm

56 cm

53.5 cm

58.5 cm

58.5cm

58.5cm

58.5cm

43.2 cm

58.5cm

48 cm

-

-

-

-

-

2”

2”

2”

2”

1.5”

2.5”

-

-

-

-

-

-

5 cm

5 cm

5 cm

5 cm

3.8 cm

6.5 cm

-

-

-

-

-

-

2”

2”

2”

2”

1.5”

2.5”

-

-

-

-

-

-

5 cm

5 cm

5 cm

5 cm

3.8 cm

6.5 cm

-

800 lb

900 lb

1000 lb

1200 lb

1000 lb

850 lb

1000 lb

1200 lb

1400 lb

400 lb

850 lb

900 lb

360 kg

409 kg

454 kg

544 kg

454 kg

385 kg

454 kg

544 kg

636 kg

181 kg

385 kg

409 kg

*Actual weights are based on year-long production averages and may vary.

X

Shoe keel boats only

No keel + 2-3 lbs.

CATEGORIES OF CANOES: RECREATION: Good all-round canoe for entry level or family paddlers. Safe, stable, comfortable.

SPORT: Good for hunters, anglers and dog owners.

Stable platform in an easy-to-paddle canoe.

QUIET WATER TOURING: Fast hull that paddles efficiently, turns easily and tracks well. Better suited to lakes and deep rivers.

N O VA C R A F T. C O M

RIVER TRIPPING: High-volume, rugged hauler able to carry large loads in flatwater and whitewater.

EXPEDITION: Serious boats for long trips. High volume ends mean increased seaworthiness. Optional spray skirts keep you dry and warm.

WHITEWATER: Highly maneuverable, fast and robustly constructed. More rocker in keel and high volume ends to shed waves and keep you dry.

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C A N O E

Spring 2010

Page 12

Nova Craft’s New Rob Roy

The Legendary

—

John MacGregor

Rob Roy —

In sp i re d b y Jo h n Ma c Gre g or’s Ori g in a l D esi gn Nova Craft’s latest addition, the Rob Roy 3.9, is the perfect vessel for solo paddlers. It combines the enjoyment of canoe tripping with the versatility of a kayak. The Rob Roy 3.9 is small, light, easy to portage, has great load capacity, and is highly maneuverable with impressive performance. 866-88 CANOE

Prototype shown above

robroycanoe.com

LIFETIME WA RRANTY

Nova Sports Equipment Ltd. 471 Nightingale Avenue, London, Ontario, N5W 4C4 (519) 455-6252 • Fax: (519) 455-8162 Email: info@novacraft.com • www.novacraft.com

1-866-88 CANOE

We endeavor to produce high quality products that give years of dependable service. For the original owner, if any defects in material or workmanship are found we will repair them or replace the canoe at our discretion.

We will also provide ongoing repair services to our customers at a reasonable rate. In all cases, the owner is responsible for transporting the canoe to and from our factory.