Canoe Plans

The NorthWest Excurzen makes a great escape vehicle, tailored to carry big loads. The Excurzen is a down-sized version of our super seaworthy 24-foot North Canoe. This tandem maintains the wider above the waterline feature of the North Canoe for outstanding secondary stability, then tucks radically just below the egunwale for more comfortable paddling stations. The Excurzen boasts more bow than stern rocker which keeps her maneuverable without sacrificing tracking.

Specifications:

Length: 16 1/2 or 17 1/2 ft

Rocker: bow 3 in. stern 2 in.

Beam at Center Yoke: 33 in. 

Maximum Beam: 36 in. 

Waterline Beam: 31 1/2 in. 

Sheer Bow: 21 in.

Amidships Depth: 14 in. 

Sheer Stern: 19 1/2 in.

Big lakes, big waves, big kids... the NorthWest Cruiser can handle them all. A NorthWest Canoe exclusive, this design shows the water nothing but sweet curves. It slips through water with little resistance. Gone for the summer or gone for a Sunday, the stable NorthWest Cruiser works to keep you, passengers and gear safe and dry. This efficient symmetrical design puts you in a canoe that's simple to build and a pleasure to paddle.

Specifications: 

Overall Length  17 ft

Rocker: Bow/Stern  1 in/1 in  

Beam at Gunwales  33 in  

Maximum Beam  35 in  4 in

Waterline Beam  33½ in  

Sheer Bow/Stern  18½ in  

Amidships Depth  14 in  

Approx. Weight  55 lbs

If you enjoy day trips on the local river, this is your canoe. The NorthWest River is sixteen feet of paddling fun. It can carry a lot of stuff for a sixteen-foot canoe, so don’t be afraid to stay out longer. We designed this hull with prospector-like maneuverability while maintaining the stability and classic lines of canoes like the Minnesota Canoe Association’s Guide. It’s not the fastest canoe on the planet. Who cares? The NorthWest River fits everyone’s idea of how a canoe ought to look and behave.

Specifications:

Overall Length:  16 ft

Rocker: Bow/Stern  2½ in  

Beam at Gunwales:  33½ in  

Maximum Beam:  35½ in

Waterline Beam:  32½ in  

Sheer Bow/Stern:  22 in  

Amidships Depth:  14 in  

Approx. Weight:  55 lbs

The NorthWest Cottager defines day-tripping canoes. This fifteen foot tandem maintains a wider & flatter mid-ship profile than our other designs, making it the favorite for when you have kids and K9's along for the ride. The Cottager is also great for fishing quiet backwaters. It has classic lines and is easy to build.

Specifications

Overall Length: 15 ft.  

Rocker:  2 in.  

Beam at Gunwales:  34 in. 

Maximum Beam:  36 in.

Waterline Beam:  33½ in.  

Sheer Bow/Stern:  21 in.  

Amidships Depth:  13½ in.  

Surface Area:  57 sq. ft.  

Approx. Weight  52 lbs

So you're going solo but packing extra doughnuts, portage packs, and taking the dog along?  You need a NorthWest Merlin. The NorthWest Merlin gives you plenty of volume in a sleek 16 foot solo canoe. The lines of this seaworthy design provide more than eye candy, this efficient solo allows you to cover greater distances with fewer strokes.

Specifications:

Overall Length:  16 ft.  

Rocker:  Bow Stern 1 ½  

Beam at Gunwales:  26½ in.  

Maximum Beam:  29 in. 3 in. 

Waterline Beam:  27 in.  

Sheer Bow:  16 in.  

Amidships Depth:  12 in.  

Sheer Stern:  14 ½ in.  

Approx. Weight:  42 lbs

If you're looking for the best all around solo, look no further. The differential rocker in the Passage Solo provides maneuverability in heavy water, yet tracks when you lay the hull flat. If you're ready to build a solo canoe, but don't have the time or space for a stable-full of boats, the NorthWest Passage Solo will see you down the creek or take you on a week-long paddle excursion.

Specifications: 

Overall Length:  15 ft

Rocker: Bow/Stern  2 in/1 in  

Beam at Gunwales:  25.5 in  

Maximum Beam:  29 in

3 in Waterline Beam:  26½ in  

Sheer Bow:  17 in  

Sheer Stern:  15 in 

 Amidships Depth:  12 in 

Approx. Weight:  40 lbs

Thinking of the kids or looking for a small solo?  We designed the Tadpole just for that. It is a fun pint-size canoe that’s easy to handle on and off the water. Grab the double blade 'cause the Tadpole feels remarkably stable with floor level seating. You’ll wonder why other people’s kids still paddle plastic kayaks. Light, nimble and quick to accelerate, this symmetrical hull makes a fantastic freestyle canoe for big kids. Position the seat a few inches below the gunwale and she transforms into a kneeling paddler’s polo pony. The design offers plenty of volume for a day paddle and really doesn’t care about your age.

Specifications:

Overall Length:  12 ft 8 in   Rocker: Bow/Stern  2 in 

Beam at Gunwales:  26½ in  

Maximum Beam:  28 in

Waterline Beam:  24½ in  

Sheer Bow/Stern:  16 in  

Amidships Depth:  11 in  

Approx. Weight:  30 lbs

The Quetico is a big, versatile open water canoe for people who travel long distances with heavy loads. John Winters has given the boat some rocker to make turning easier than normal for such a long boat, yet it still tracks well. The boat has enormous stability and a smooth motion in waves that should appeal to paddlers anticipating cruising on large lakes.

Specifications:

Overall Length: 18 ft 4 in

Waterline Length: 17 ft 10 in

Gunwale Width: 35 in

Waterline Width: 33 in

Bow Height: 22-1/4 in

Centre Depth: 13-1/2 in

Stern Height: 18-1/8 in

Bow Rocker: 3-1/2 in

Stern Rocker: 2-1/4 in

Freeboard @ 550 lbs: 8-5/8 in

**Not Available as PDF Download**

The Mattawa is a quick, responsive and delight to paddle wherever your journey takes you. Through subtle manipulations of the hull shape, John Winters designed a canoe equally at home on flat water or whitewater. Mattawa’s performance comes with a solid and stable feel. Predictable stability allows you to heel the wood strip canoe all the way to the gunwale. The Mattawa is perfect for smaller paddling partners and weekend getaways.

Specifications:

Overall Length:  15 ft 8 in

Waterline Length:  14 ft 10 in 

Rocker: Bow/Stern  2 ½ in/1¾ in

Maximum Beam:  36 in  

Waterline Beam:  33 in  

Sheer Bow:  22 in  

Sheer Stern:  19½ in  

Amidships Depth:  14½ in   

Freeboard @ 360 lbs:  9 in

**Not Available as PDF Download**