Canoe Repairs

Repaired Chestnut Canoe enjoying life once again on the St. John River in New Brunswick

The expression "you don't throw a whole life away just because it is a little banged up" is the philosophy we apply to all our canoe repairs. At J.a.G Woodworking we admire not only the beauty and craftsmanship of wooden canoes but also the memories and stories those canoes carry with them. Broken ribs, ripped canvas, tattered seats, and rotten gunwales all tell a story about the history of the canoe - its use and perhaps misuse, the places it has traveled to and the people it has carried, the memories that were made in its presence. We can probable all recall a special place we have been to, a certain event that occurred, a treasured experience with friends or family and we can probably also remember the canoe that we used in the journey. A well constructed wooden canoe can pass through generations of use and with a little tender, love and care can be restored to pass through a whole new generation of users. It is for this reason that restoring canoes has become a passion for us at J.a.G Woodworking.

12' Sailing Canoe Restoration (original builder unknown)

Before