Malecite stable canoe
A stable canoe for all-round use
A versatile and stable canoe for anyone who loves the outdoors and likes to be on the water. Families with children and/or fishermen, the Malecite will make everybody happy. The Malecite combines a flat bottom with a pronounced tumblehome profile. This genuine ‘family canoe’ is equaly at home on flat water as on rivers and is an excellent tracker.
Price: € 4140
Ideal for camping trips
The Malecite is not only suitable for a trip on a lake but also for multi-day camping trips. It has a loading capacity of 300 kg, which means that, in addition to two adults, more than enough luggage can be transported. The Malecite is a very light canoe of about 23 kg. This makes it easy to portage or to load onto the car.
Dimensions
Length: 490 cm
Width: 93 cm
Depth: 32 cm
Bow Height: 54 cm
Weight: 23 kg
Properties
Sides: Tumblehome
Bottom: Flat
Rocker: Light
Capacity: 300 kg
Historic design
This canoe is based on a Malecite design. They occupied the basin of the Saint John River in present day Maine and New Brunswick and were expert canoe builders.
Traditionally, the Malecite practiced corn (maize) cultivation, as well as hunting and fishing. Birch bark, wood, stone, and ceramics were used for the manufacture of utensils, tools, and weapons.
Although the Malecite were probably interacting with English and French explorers as early as the middle of the 16th century they soon allied with the French. The few French settlers in that area intermarried with the tribe, strengthening the Malecite alliance and the tribe’s hostility to the English. They started supplyed the French traders with their birch bark canoes. Especially their long cargo canoes were reputed for their enormous loading capacity.
When making long canoe trips the canoes were turned upside down at the camp side so that the high ended tops and one gunwale rested on the ground. The relatively wide bottom provides shelter for two persons to sleep.
Technology
Cedar and glass fabric-epoxy
This stable canoe is built with western red cedar and laminated with glass fabric and epoxy. The laminate ensures that the wood is sandwiched and never comes into contact with water. In addition, it provides extreme stiffness which makes the canoe very efficient to be paddled. The boat is finished with high or satin gloss marine varnish with an excellent UV-blocker.
Solid ash for the outfitting
The gunwales, seats, decks and the yoke are made of ash. Ash is hard, very flexible and relatively light. Because the ash parts of the canoe suffer the most they are coated with double boiled linseed oil to keep them flexible and in good shape. The outwales are screwed on to make replacement easy. All screws and bolts are stainless steel.
Canoe maintenance
Our canoes are very strong and stiff. Normal wear will occur when used normally. We recommend checking the canoe regularly and retouch any scratches in the varnish. In the unlikely event the epoxy laminate gets damaged, it should be repaired within reasonable time to prevent water seeping into the wood. The gunwales should be oiled three to four times a year. Read more about maintenance.