Find Your Perfect Canoe
Hemlock has canoe models to fit all paddler sizes and water types. We can customize your canoe to fit your paddling preferences. Follow the steps below to discover which Hemlock is right for you. Use the canoe buying guide to first get help picking a model, then choose a layup, a color and finally personalize the canoe to make it yours.
To find the right canoe model, we recommend considering the types of waterways you typically paddle and also your typical total load size (the size of the paddler plus the weight of any gear you bring along.) The “canoe layup” is a fancy way of referring to which materials we use to build the hull. Each materials combination offers different benefits so the construction can match the way you use your boats. After settling on a model and layup the fun part comes next- picking a color and adding any of our various options to make your canoe fit just right. Also feel free to contact us or visit the shop for more canoe selection tips. We always say, “the proof is in the paddling,” so trying different canoes at one of our demo nights can help find the best canoe for beginners or experts.
Step 1- Find your model (click to expand)
Solo Touring & Sport
River & Whitewater
Tandem & Combi
Pack Canoes
Choose your lay-up (click to expand)
- High quality and versatile
- Intersection of durability, weight and affordability
- Dave Curtis’ most recommended layup
- Gel Coat>S-Glass>Kevlar>Kevlar partials>Carbon fiber/Kevlar weave
- Our Lightest layup
- Clear coating reveals the underlying Carbon/Kevlar
- Can be finished clear or tinted to a subtle color tone
- Clear Coat>S-Glass>Kevlar>Kevlar partials>Carbon fiber/Kevlar weave
- Our most affordable layup
- Offers durability and function at an attractive value
- Gel Coat>double layer S-Glass>Kevlar partials>Kevlar
Pick your color (click to expand)
Both the Premium Plus and Kevlar Hybrid layups come with your choice of gel coat color. Gel coat acts and looks a lot like the paint layer on the exterior or your car. We offer our canoes in any of these six standard gel coat choices. Reach out if there’s a custom color you’re looking for and we may be able to match it.
Our LiteTech layup also allows for color customization. LiteTech can come in clear coat or a semi-transparent tint. From a distance the canoe will appear to be a solid color but upon closer inspection, the colors are somewhat translucent allowing the underlying materials to be visible.
Select personalized options (click to expand)
Our builders love the opportunity to add a personalized touch to their canoes. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any ideas you want to explore. The following are some standard options:
- Dial in your seat to suit your paddling style
- Find the perfect seat height for either kneeling or sitting
- Pick the seat contour that fits just right
- Add skid plates for extra durability
- Add reinforcements for larger paddlers or paddling with a dog
- Choose slotted or unslotted gunwales
- Select personalized woodworking options