Honoring our roots while branching out
The problem, as Dave Curtis saw it, was simple: a tandem canoe, paddled solo, was a beast. He’d watched his friends, paired up in tandems, glide across the lake while he wrestled with the awkward, unbalanced weight of his empty seat. It wasn’t just about keeping up; it was about the feel of it, the clumsy, inefficient sway. That day, a seed was planted.
Dave wasn’t one to just grumble. He had an idea, a vision for a canoe built for one, a modern solo craft that would exceed the grace and efficiency of a well-designed tandem. He took his sketches, his passionate arguments, to the big names in canoe manufacturing. But they shrugged, dismissing his vision as a niche pursuit.
“If you want something done…” the old saying went. So Dave, with the help of neighbor, canoe racer and boat designer, David Yost, decided to do it themselves.Over years, they tinkered, they tested, and they tweaked, until the lines of the Curtis Solo Tripper emerged, sleek and promising. The rest of the Curtis Canoe lineup followed, each model a testament to Dave’s resolute belief in his vision and Yost’s signature designs.
New Chapters
Time passed, and Curtis Canoe eventually dissolved. But Dave, the man who wouldn’t take no for an answer, wasn’t finished. He struck out on his own, founding Hemlock Canoe Works, bringing new molds and new ideas. He consulted with Harold Deal, a whitewater legend, and David Yost continued to lend his design expertise to craft yet another line up of outstanding solo canoes. Hemlock Canoe Works became synonymous with quality, with craftsmanship.
Over the years, Dave built a small but mighty team of craftspeople. One key figure in the lamination process was his partner in life, Carol Curtis. Her meticulous work and her eye for detail, ensured that every canoe leaving the shop was well-crafted. And Carol, a skilled paddler herself, provided invaluable feedback, helping to shape the designs to fit the needs of every paddler.
When Dave and Carol decided to retire, they weren’t just looking for buyers; they were looking for someone to honor their roots while branching out. They wanted someone who understood the passion, the dedication, the legacy they had built. And that’s where we, Matt and Samantha Cassavaugh enter the story. We studied, we learned, we got our hands dirty. Hemlock’s future is driven by the same love for the water and the craft that had driven Dave and Carol for so many years. We’re here, along with our team of skilled craftspeople, to keep the Hemlock legacy alive.
Under Construction...We'll be adding adding captions and more historic images soon
