Canoe Model kits has grown from a small garage project to a large wood working facility producing beautiful small scale canoe and kayak models, lights and kits. Enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.

Great job on 42″ Strip Kayak

Chad Tompkin’s from Farfax, Virginia did a great job of building the 42″ Strip Kayak. He also made a short video of assembling the kayak, which should be helpful for anyone starting to build one. Chad commented:

Thanks, Ray.  It was a lot of fun and helped me get through the lock-down in our area.  I’m picking up some precut cedar strips on Monday for a bigger project.  I hope to take on a full-size kayak after that.  Thanks for making this product.  Take care, Chad

Canoes with the dark stain

Just built another 96″ canoe light with the big 7″ LED lights. Stained the dark color, it looks old and like it belongs. I also put in the narrow light deck, which personally, I like better than the full width version. You’re able to see the ribbing and inside of the canoe, especially after I put so much work into the ribbing. This one is going to a mountain home in Minnesota. Narrow deck showing off more of the ribbing and inside of the canoe. I build these and hate to see them go. More and more customers are asking for this stain. Early American #230 by Min wax.

40″ Lobster Boat built just like the canoes!

Just like the real thing, sitting in the water.

I have loved building the canoes but one day I noticed that the classic Maine lobster boats had similiar lines. Turns out you can build the lobster boat just like the canoes, upside down. The forms are designed to be left in place and cut off . Works great, very easy. All the other parts of the boat are simply made with odds and ends, paint and some imagination. Loads of fun, and I would not say that there’s anything super difficult to do. I have a couple of trial kits being built. Anyone interested in the boat, let me know. I am making the kit available. The next project is to motorize it which appears to be less expensive than thought.

New Canoe Model kit Decals

I finally made up my new water slide decal for the bow deck caps for all the canoes. It looks like the original Old Town decal from the 30’s. Pretty cool. Be sure to request the decal if you would like one.

Beating the heat, having fun!

I get a lot of satisfaction from working on all my canoes, and more so when it is ice cold out and I am inside my workshop with the small wood stove going, and the same is true for a hot summer day, being in my cool workshop out of the hot sun, having fun, making something really cool!

Custom 54″ Canoe

Jack Simmons of Vancouver Washington did some interesting things to his 54″ build by staining the inside a green color and installing a set of floor boards or deck. Looks great! He is now getting ready to build the kayak.