Beautiful Cedar Strip Canoes from J-Stroke Handcrafts
Handmade cedar canoes and kayaks built to last wherever you want to paddle.
If you want the ultimate canoeing experience, many people paddle with a traditional canoe made of wood. No other material lasts as long. Even after generations of use it can be restored. Each canoe we make is built from wood grain cedar. Our handmade cedar strip canoes are sturdy, lightweight and responsive. They are pleasing to the eye, like art moving in the water.
Whether you enjoy family outings, day trips, wilderness trips, or just prefer to fish for a few hours, you will appreciate the functionality, craftsmanship, performance, beauty, and durability that a handcrafted canoe offers.
Let us build your wood strip canoe for you, and get more time in the water.
Ordering a boat from J-Stroke Handcrafts is a great option, especially if your DIY project isn’t getting off the ground. If you’ve dreamed about having a wood strip boat, or if you need help completing a canoe kit you never finished, J-Stroke Handcrafts can help you.
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Our wood strip constructed canoes are made with materials best for each component.
We typically use hardwoods like mahogany and ash for keels, gunwales, strips, and seat frames. When it comes to planking, we use a softer cedar wood for bending and shaping. Finally, we use fiberglass and varnish to encase your canoe or kayak.
You may choose reclaimed cedar for your strip-built boat.
If you have us build your canoe, or kayak, with reclaimed cedar, characteristics of the original cedar are purposely left in-tact. Nail holes, paint, old primer and stain are not sanded off. Instead, your canoe takes on a truly original look.
Using recycled cedar is an extra cost in boat building, so just let us know if you are interested in using this material.
We meticulously make cedar canoes and kayaks from start to finish
Whether you've stopped after paddling for a few hours, or you want to go farther and faster, here are 5 reasons to our strip-built canoes and kayaks are a better experience on the water:
1. Stable because of the boat design itself, plus the height and placement of seats and thwarts within the boat.
2. Durable due to the interlocking design of the strips, as well as the fiberglass and epoxy resin we apply, sandwiched around the cedar. In addition, layers of varnish coating are applied to protect the epoxy from the UV rays, which can yellow and damage the boat.
3. Long lasting to provide generations of use. A treasured keepsake and moving work of art.
4. Lightweight so you can easily cross over from land to water. Cedar typically weighs less than many other woods, and has a natural resistance to water. This gives it an advantage over other types of woods that can absorb water.
5. Maneuverable to move smoothly on water. This means you can explore farther, learn to paddle earlier, and get into and out of tighter spots.
Choose the cedar strip canoe or kayak that’s right for you.
A handmade canoe at a good price is hard to find. But you can buy one from us, and enjoy a unique, yet affordable design. Plus, they're built for performance on the water, so you're not overly tired after you've paddled all day.
