Materials Used to Make Canoes

A variety of materials are utilized in making canoes. The primary type of material to be used depends on factors like price, weight, maintenance cost, the kind of paddling and water surface, durability, skill level and personal preference. Each material has its own pros and cons. Canoeists must weigh these factors against their own needs when choosing the best material for a canoe.

  1. Wood

    • The earliest canoes were built out of hollowed birch tree logs and wooden planks glued with resin patches. Wooden canoes are aesthetically pleasing and held in high regard by canoeists for their beauty, traditional feel, versatility and overall performance on the water. Wooden canoes are also the most expensive because of the craftsmanship and level of detail involved in making one. A wooden canoe entails high maintenance costs because natural wood is fragile and degrades much faster compared to synthetic materials.

    Aluminum

    • Sheet aluminum technology from aircrafts was adopted in canoe manufacturing in the 1940s. It is more durable, lightweight and considerably less costly than wood. It does not corrode and requires little maintenance. However, it has many drawbacks, including being noisy on the water, having a tendency to stick instead of bouncing off rocks and absorbing heat. It was the most typical canoe in use until the advent of plastics and other more advanced materials in the 1970s.

    Plastic

    • Plastic is a fairly strong and sturdy material. It is heavier than fiberglass but much less expensive. It can withstand a fair amount of abuse and requires very little maintenance. It is not known for high performance but it is perfect for recreational canoeing. Plastic canoes are cost-efficient and have become one of the more common canoes in use today.

    Fiberglass

    • Fiberglass is a lightweight composite material primarily made of fibers of glass woven with resin. The durability of fiberglass varies from brittle to very strong depending on the material used and the manufacturing process. Cheap fiberglass canoes are clunky and unresponsive while expensive ones are light and easily skim through the water. Fiberglass canoes require very little maintenance when used in flat water but are prone to abrasion and cracking, therefore it’s not suited for challenging conditions.