|
1. Can you actually put it in the water?
This question is usually combined with something along the lines of "I'd be afraid to damage it." Don't
let the looks fool you; LucasCraft canoes are built rugged. The hulls are covered with 6 oz. fiberglass cloth on
the inside and outside. Below the waterline, the cloth is doubled up for extra protection. The bow and stern are
reinforced with three layers of cloth on the outside and two on the inside. As for the decking, trim and seats,
we use only hardwoods. Though we have sold canoes to be used strictly as decorative pieces for a log cabin, LucasCraft
canoes are for paddling.
2. What type of maintenance is required?
The maintenance is minimal. The wood-composite construction yields a hull that is essentially plastic. The entire
boat (hull and woodwork) is finished with several coats of varnish and this is primarily for UV protection. Barring
any major accidents, your canoe will need a fresh coat every three to five years depending on the amount of use.
This means a quick sanding with 600 grit or brushing the hull lightly with a scouring pad. The fresh coat applied
with a foam brush will form a mechanical bond to the rough surface and bring the shine right back. Over the lifetime
of your canoe this is only a few hours of maintenance every decade. See more in our Care & Maintenance section.
3. Are they easy to repair?
My first canoe, on its first trip… Following an afternoon of paddling the Erie Canal, my wife and I were having
some difficulty finding a suitable point to take the canoe out. Having hoisted the 17'er onto my shoulders, I preceded
to carry it up a rocky embankment when I slipped and without thinking, threw the canoe from my shoulders to regain
balance. The scratches were minor, but there was one particular crag that struck hard enough to crack the fiberglass
layers on the inside and outside. I was heartbroken. But fiberglass and wood are forgiving mediums. I was able
to repair the cracks, sand the patches to fair, and finish with a few coats of varnish. Without having known were
the crack was, no one would be able to guess now.
Scratches are easily repaired with fresh varnish, but should something serious happen to your canoe, we would be
happy to assess the damage, provide an estimate for the repair, and fix the canoe to look as good as new.
4. Is there any kind of warranty?
We have a one-year warranty on manufacturing defects, intended to cover problems that are not related to normal
use or storage. We work hard to select lumber that is suitable for the parts we make, but should we miss a knot
or curl in the grain that yields a crack or weak seat stretcher, will replace it as quickly as we can. Our warranty
is outlined in further detail in our Bill of Sale, available upon request. Our goal is a satisfied paddler.
5. How heavy are they?
Our canoes range in weight from 45lbs for our Black Creek 12 model, to 65lbs for the 17' Cayuga. All of the weights
are comparable to plastic or Royalex ® construction for canoes of the same length. But compared to other wooden
canoes, they are often much lighter! The method of coating the outside and inside of the canoe with fiberglass
cloth creates a rigid hull that carries all the strength and stress. This construction eliminates the need for
bulky wooden ribs that add considerable weight to the finished product, often from ten to twenty pounds for boats
of the same length.
It should be said that due to the nature of handcraftsmanship, however, our weights are merely approximations,
and the actual weight may vary one to two pound in either direction of the listed weight.
6. Are they okay to use in salt water?
Yes, between the epoxy and the varnish, the wood is adequately protected from moisture, fresh or salt. We do recommend
that following a day in saltwater, the canoe be rinsed off prior to storage.
7. Can you do custom orders?
We try to keep an inventory of various hull/trim combinations and currently have a modest inventory ready for sale.
However, if there is a specific combination of woods, or possibly a custom design in the decking, we would be happy
to accommodate (within reason) your request. Custom orders are more expensive and do require a down payment for
construction to begin.
8. Do you deliver?
There are a few options available for getting your canoe from our shop to your home. Our preferred methods are
pick-up or delivery, but for longer distances we can ship your canoe. For pick-up, we would simply make arrangements
for you to stop by our Maryland shop. It will also present you with the opportunity to see what we have in stock,
as well as the construction process. For delivery, we charge $.75/mile and are willing to deliver almost anywhere
in the Northeast and eastern seaboard. However, if we happen to be headed to a show in your area and can coordinate
the delivery around our schedule, it will be free of charge. See our Calendar for the 2005 show schedule. Shipping common carrier entails packaging fees to protect
your boat, as well as the shipping fees. Quotes for shipping expenses can be provided upon request, and vary with
boat length and distance.
|
| 
