canoes&equipment

Floating Leaf Canoes presents a range of wooden open canoes, of ultra-lightweight construction, whose lines are taken from the Native American birch bark canoe. Developed over many centuries by the various indigenous people of the North American continent within the birch tree range, the original forms have been the inspiration for many sophisticated designs. At Floating Leaf Canoes we do not design boats ourselves, but faithfully produce forms that are really traditional - the originals! The beauty of the subtle proportions and construction of these boats is alluring, and the detailing neat and practical. With our choice of high quality materials, and a little attention, your canoe will give a lifetime of enjoyment. A Floating Leaf Canoe is genuinely lightweight, reliably strong, and responsive to your desires - a superb answer to the timeless call of the water. These simple and elegant craft owe their final form to the lines of boats meticulously measured by Adney (see below), and in translation, retain their ancestors' purity of design that is a response to function, not ornamentation.

Two models of canoe are available at the moment, the Abenaki and the Algonkin. Further information is available promptly via e-mail, or feel free to arrange a visit to our workshop and take out a boat for a test paddle. A choice of finish, build weight and detail is available upon commissioning, when a 15% deposit will be required.
Edwin Tappan Adney (1868-1937) studied the birch bark canoe by immersing himself in Indian life before the skills to make them and the boats themselves were lost. An enthusiast, Adney devoted his life to the research, measurement and documentation of the bark canoes of North America. We are indebted to his work, whereby the lines and constructional details of many birch bark canoes have been preserved.

E-Mail us at floatingleafcanoes@bigfoot.com Click here for
The Canoes or Paddles & Tackle

Paddles and Tackle - Why not order a paddle to go with your canoe? Nothing transmits a more subtle feel for the water than a wooden paddle. We produce bespoke paddles, made for your height, strength and purpose, in various woods and patterns. We also produce a range of canoe tackle to outfit your canoe:- Paddle Bags, Tow Lines, Canoe Seats, Canoe Poles.