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Customer Built Boats

The following is our guestbook – so to speak. These are stories and photos that have our customers have sent us over the years. Have you built a Bear Mountain Boat recently? We would love to hear your story and post it here too – Email them to us

Mark Klunder - Canoe

Joan, We will be uploading more pics as we work on the canoe. This can be viewed by the publi[...]

Jack Lu - Canoe

Hi Bear Mountain: I have been building my canoe for 6 months. Last week I was finished that w[...]

Andrew Greenlaw - Endeavour

I just wanted to let you know, that I finished my Endeavour 17, which I had listed on the builde[...]

Terry Toffelmire - Rob Roy

Hello... thought you might like to add this photo to your photo gallery. This Rob Roy was built by m[...]

Dean Smoll - Nomad

Enclosed is a picture of the boat I completed from your book and "Nomad" plans. I purchased the book[...]

Sandy Ford - Canoe

I finished this a couple of years ago, and I have enjoyed it immensely. It seems very light, so at t[...]

Craig Harvey - Ranger

In March of 2003 I bought a new copy of Canoecraft and started a 15 ft Ranger.I completed it in June[...]

Bob Linton - Canoe

Hello, my name is Bob Linton. I have been building wood strip canoes as a hobby for 6 years now. [...]

Kyle Hammer - Rob Roy

Hi my name is Kyle Hammer and I live in Canandaigua NY and I am in the beginning stages(setting up t[...]

Belton Hollums - Champlain

I really appreciate the personal touch via the telephone call yesterday morning concerning my plan o[...]

Don Barnes - Ranger

When I launched my Ranger last spring, I had the best of intentions to let you know how it turned ou[...]

Mike Gelinas - Canoe

Dear Ted: I attended the course in Maine in September. I am very happy with the boat and plan[...]

Tom Wilson - Freedom 17

Hi Ted/Joan: Finally finished the canoe I started 4 months ago. Attached are some pics of the fin[...]

Douglas Ingram - Klondike

Hi Ted and Joan, It was really nice to meet you last summer at the WCHA assembly. I quite enjoyed[...]

Patrick Fanelli - Solo Tripper

Dear Ted, My brother, Nick, and I were your students at wooden boat school 1999 where 2 endeavors[...]

M. Bradford - Hiawatha

Dear Ted, my daughter and I finished our Hiawatha July 5 2003, missed by one day naming it independ[...]

Rouven Bavaria - English 20

Hy Ted, your books - even translated in german - is amazing. I first built an English 20 with wo[...]

Rod - Rob Roy

Well it has been almost 3 1/2 years but I finished my Rob Roy canoe. It all started with buying [...]

Chris Bull - Freedom 17

I ordered plans for the Freedom 17 a couple of months ago. After 16 hours of planking, this is what [...]

Jim Kirk - Freedom 17

Joan and Ted, I finished this boat last December. Attached are a couple of photos. I bough[...]

George Photides - Prospector

  We got it in the water after 6 weeks. My son Clinton and I really enjoyed the time spent p[...]

Tim Regehr - Nomad

  Ted and Joan... you guys, and this forum, were invaluable to me as I built the Nomad from [...]

Elisabeth Van Eyken - Canoe

One of the best Christmas presents I have ever received was your book, CANOECRAFT which allowed me t[...]

Larry West - Bob's Special

  Here is a photo of my Bob's in the BWCA May 2004. If you'll note, I left the canoe visitin[...]

Rod Coates - Canoe

Ted and Joan: My son teaches at a private school that requires the students to do a lot af paddling[...]

James Oppy - Champlain

Hi there, I built a Champlain High-Ender from your plans a few years ago and gave it to my pop. H[...]

Markus Hanusch - Eagle

Dear Bearmountain team, Finally, I have found the time to give you a feedback about my Canoe [...]

John Herd - Prospector Ranger

Hi folks Just thought that you may like the attached photos of my recently completed Prospector[...]

Barry "bear" Taylor - Redbird

st wanted to say thanks for all the help. have two of your books and the info has been invaluable du[...]

Neil and Lisa - 16' Prospector

Hi Ted and Joan, My husband and I built the 16' Prospector?together. It was a perfect way for[...]

Ben Bol - Redbird

Dear friends at the Bear-Mountain Boat shop. Several years ago I have build the redbird canoe[...]

Trevor Farrell - Canoe

I found your book excellent and self-explanitory. We built the conoe over 5 weekends... I had the he[...]

Tom Friedel - Prospector

Mr Ted Moores, Having spent many years in Canada and done lots of canoeing, I was always a fan of t[...]

Wes Huether - Redbird

Hi Ted and the rest of the team. I just came across your web site as a result of an add in My hom[...]

Jamie Zaroski - Redbird

Hi, just thought I would send you guys a couple of pictures of two water craft I built from your[...]

Phil Hart - Freedom 17

Dear Bear Mountain folks, This is for you satisfied customer file. In 1968 I took my first trip t[...]

Patrick Angier - Canadien

Thought you ,might be interested in the attached - I built FifiKate 10 years ago to your Canoecr[...]

Houston Shirk - Canoe

I am writing to thank you for writing a damn good book! When your book arrived, and I saw the co[...]

John Goodell - Prospector

Bought a copy of canoecraft over 10 years ago and finally built the prospector. He it is... red c[...]

Clayton Plunkett - Prospector Ranger

Hello from Clayton Plunkett. I was given a set of plans from my sister about a year ago as a gif[...]

John Dawson - Canoe

Just a note to thank you people for producing CANOECRAFT through Harrowsmith. I have enclosed [...]

Rick Sweet - Hiawatha

Hi Ted, (I guess) Rick Sweet, from Nova Scotia here. I bought Canoecraft about 10 years ago, str[...]

Murphy - Ranger 15

Hello All, Finally the Ranger 15 is finished and in the water. Great fun. Was concerned tha[...]

Beth Brown - Canoe

Thank you for your marvellous how to do it book. I had admired the book cover for years and I de[...]

Doug Puckering - Freedom 17

Plans arrived today for the Freedom 17'9". Thank you very much. Picture is of the Freedom 17 which s[...]

Dick Bolhuis - Canoe

Last year we were in Germany for a holiday and camped near a river called the Weser... Everyda[...]

Barry - Huron Cruiser

  This is my Huron Cruiser, please add this to your photo gallery for others to enjo[...]

Joe Manning - Nomad

Hello again, So our canoe is two years old now and I'm just getting around to sending photos to[...]

Gary Rich - Canoe

Thanks for your help and thanks for your book. It's been about a year since I called you with [...]

Paul Waite - River Nymph

Hi Ted and Joan, I was fourteen when I saw my first cedarstrip canoe on the headwaters of the Pen[...]

Layne Smith - Hiawatha

I first saw a woodstrip canoe on top of the van of the guy who lives up the street. His son and my s[...]

Derek - Hiawatha

The BearMountain Hiawatha Project I’ve have always been meaning to share a little bit about my fi[...]

Charles Barnett - 'Strongback'

Its finally done! I began building the strongback on Dec 7, 1999 and first launch was on May 7, 2000[...]

Dieks Theron - African Canoe

Ted & Joan You know the story about how we had to adapt the glassing technique for African cond[...]

Jim Truck - Redbird

Ted and Joan: My son teaches at a private school that requires the students to do a lot af paddling[...]

Tom Angelakis - Huron Cruiser

Dear Ted Moores I finished a Huron this summer and am very happy with it's handling characteristi[...]

George Warrington - Freedom 17

It took me almost a year to start on a boat after our class at White River in October 1999. [...]

Michael R Aubin - Champlain

I have enclosed a picture of the Peterborough Champlain canoe I built last fall. I wish to commend y[...]

Oyvind Loken - Canoe

My craft was finished in early summer 1999 and I enjoyed very much making the craft. The only prob[...]

Luc Lennie - Redbird

I am sending you a picture of the Red Bird that I built according to your specifications and tec[...]

Dave Murphy - Chestnut Prospector

I'd like to thank you for the very helpful advice and instruction you have given me through your thr[...]

Glenn - Canoe

Here's my first impressions of the boat, after a quick paddle at Fairy Lake in Acton. -seat is co[...]

Brad Story - Ranger

I finally finished my first canoe, a 15' Ranger. It took me four months including the time to make t[...]

Brian Tarallo - Canoes

Dear Bear Mountain, As promised, here's an update on the 16" Prospector I'm building in Guyana. W[...]

William F. Cruz - Canoe

I have been reading and re-reading KayakCraft for the past two years and CanoeCraft for the past thr[...]

Doug Robertson - Rob Roy

The pictures following, show that finished Rob Roy, canoe. It is 11 1/2 feet and weighs 31 pounds.[...]

Ray Karnes - Freedom

Hello! Well, it a took a while, but here are the pictures of the Freedom 17, we did in you Septem[...]

Carol and Dave Aselsen - Redbird

Hello! I have been wanting to write to you, just to tell you how much we have appreciated the boo[...]

Bell - Bob's Special

I launched my 17-3 Bob's Special (JennyB) on October 12, 2001. It took me nearly 9 months to complet[...]

Tom - Prospector

Hello, I finished my Prospector in February and have already been on two overnighters with it. It[...]

Harry Molz - Hiawatha

This is the canoe I told you about, my first canoe ever. Material: Bass wood/walnut trim Hiawa[...]

Doug Berthelsen - Prospector

Here are some photos to add to your website. I am also sending a royalty payment, as I have sold som[...]

Fran Cyr - Racer

I was just out in the yard when I looked up and saw a canoe falling out of the sky. I put one hand u[...]

Ernie Letendre - Ranger

My name is Ernie Letendre And I live in Dalmeny Sask. I have recently Built a Hiawatha and then a Ra[...]

Ed Kocialski - Prospector

I Purchased plans for a 16' Prospector late last year. During the build-up, I had a 2 month business[...]

John Hummel - Hiawatha

Mr. Moores my name is John Hummel---I live in Elmira, Ontario---I want to thank you for the inspi[...]

Tony Morris - Bob's Special

Ted, You probably don't remember me, I was in your last Sept. class, Tony Morris. I purchased the[...]

John Lucking - Redbird

Happy fall time Been meaning to send this note. Last winter I made myself a Redbird. I usually pa[...]

Glynn Sirmans - Hiawatha

I wanted to send you some pictures of my first strip canoe build……this was a fun build…I used the bo[...]

Cory Wishart - Redbird

Well it has taken 6 months of evenings and weekends but it is finally finished. Thought I would send[...]

Just Vervaart

Dear people from Bear Mountain Boats, Finally finished the canoe me and my dad built from your dr[...]

Pete Tamlin - Multiple Canoes

Hi Joan What a pleasure it was to meet you and Ted last week. It was a real treat!! I am emailing[...]

Raymond Gouin - Freedom 17

Hi Joan, As discussed here is the video of the canoe maiden voyage at the scout camp on 25 Sept 0[...]

Van Spalding - Bob's Special

Good afternoon Joan, Here is a shot of the completed 'Bob's Special' launched 14 November last ye[...]

Achim Wittmair - Redbird

Hello Mr. Moores, Please excuse my little english, but I want to thank you for your marvellous bo[...]

Dawne Olson - Cottage Cruiser

Dear Friends at Bear Mountain Boat Shop, Last October (2009) I had the unexpected privelage of vi[...]

Ed Mursko - Redbird

I finally completed my Red Bird (see attached) and am pleased witht the results. I am looking foward[...]

Denis Gagne - C4

Hi Joan I was the one who built the C4 under Ted's guidance this past spring. I used to paddle ma[...]

Mervin Friesen - Prospector

Good Morning Could you add this information on your completions page? I've attached a photo that [...]

David - Solo Tripper

I am so very pleased with my Bear Mountain canoe's performance and looks.I completed the Texas Water[...]

Ed - Redbird

I ordered plans about two years ago, and finally got around to finishing the canoe. What an adventur[...]

Frank M. Cook - Nymph

Hi Joan, I like getting your E-mails and hope come to Peterborough someday and meat you and Ted. I s[...]

Christ Westside - Bob's Special

Dear Joan Many thanks for the newsletter and details of your exciting new project. I thought I wo[...]

Tim George - Rob Roy

Hi Joan Thought you may be interested to see a couple of photos of the Rob Roy I recently complet[...]

Tobias Pfaffinger - Red Bird

Hallo hier ein paar Fotos aus Österreich Modell RED BIRD gebaut in der Garage. Material: Leis[...]

Seth Stehouwer - Prospector

I thought you all my like to see the completed projects. "Northwind" was primarily built by myself a[...]

Ronald Beekman - Prospector Ranger

Hello I am Ronald Beekman from Holland. I built a Canoe from your plans the Prospector Ranger. The p[...]

Alan Bambina - Prospector Ranger

Using your plans, and skills picked up at the Wooden Boat School course, I started building this Ran[...]

Darren Killick - Freedom 17

hi joan: I finished my freedom 17/9 this summer and had the launch last weekend dad's boat is[...]