Outdated City Kayaks & Canoes: Maine Manufacturing unit Tour

After wanting by a few of the workplaces, we walked over to a different workplace constructing the place Outdated City retains all of their information from all of the canoes and kayaks they’ve constructed through the years. These brown wood containers return all the best way to the start of the corporate’s inception and supply detailed info on who purchased the watercraft, the place it was shipped to, and what sort of modifications had been made to it. Ryan instructed me that it’s not unusual for a household to contact them about an previous canoe that has been within the household for generations, and need to know the place and when it was precisely acquired.

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That is Half 2 of the Maine Manufacturing unit Tour. If you want to learn Half 1, click on HERE.

Transferring onward and we made it into the manufacturing unit the place all of the magic occurs. I’ve to be sincere, I had no concept how a lot work went into making a few of these watercraft. A number of the extra difficult watercraft can require many man-hours to finish, from elements meeting to customized tools fittings. Rotational Molding or Rotomolding is the secret right here and helps the canoes and kayaks hold their even thickness all through your entire watercraft.

This methodology is used for a lot of of Outdated City’s canoes and kayaks, together with the Discovery and Penobscot fashions. The method entails loading the mould the place polyethylene powder is positioned right into a hole aluminum mould. Then the mould is heated in an oven whereas rotating on a number of axes, inflicting the plastic to soften and evenly coat the inside. After heating, the mould is cooled, solidifying the plastic right into a inflexible, seamless hull. The completed hull is then eliminated, and extra materials is trimmed. Whereas this will sound like plenty of work, it’s nothing in comparison with the five hundred man-hours that may be spent on a standard wood Canoe.

The three-layer development is what provides the Penobscot and Discovery Canoes their inherent rigidity and total toughness whereas nonetheless being mild sufficient for a one-man carry. This three-layer development consists of the outer layer, sturdy and UV-resistant, and the froth core internal layer for buoyancy and rigidity. Lastly, there’s the Internal layer, a clean floor for consolation and aesthetics. 

Outdated City additionally makes use of Thermomolding for a lot of of their kayaks and Canoes, the place weight is a major consideration for the person. You could find this course of on their Saranac and Rogue River fishing kayaks. The method is just like Rotomolding however might solely consist of 1 layer vs a number of.

As soon as the watercraft has been cooled and trimmed, it’s time for the equipment to be put in.  This could embody seats, thwarts, gunwales, and different fittings which might be added. Outdated City appears to be making a lot of their newer fishing kayaks with modularity in thoughts, permitting their customers to create no matter type of watercraft they will dream of.  After putting in, all of the watercraft are put by a High quality management screening and examined to stay as much as the Outdated City Legacy.

After a watercraft passes the standard management course of, it will get wrapped up and awaits transport to the closest out of doors sporting items retailer close to you. Ryan was excited to inform me that the Outdated City is now providing direct gross sales to customers. This helps minimize out the intermediary but in addition means that you could get a lot of their merchandise delivered on to your entrance door for those who so select. For these of us residing in rural places, that is very thrilling to listen to, for my part.

Lastly, on the finish of the tour was a inexperienced Discovery 158 Canoe ready for me! The fellows within the transport facility had been very happy to assist me load this practically 16-foot beast onto the again of my SUV and strap it down. The Discovery 158 canoe has lengthy been celebrated as one of the crucial standard and enduring leisure canoes in the marketplace. Launched within the Nineteen Eighties, it shortly gained a loyal following for its distinctive sturdiness, stability, and flexibility. The Discovery 158 provides a virtually indestructible hull that resists abrasions and impacts, making it perfect for households, anglers, and informal paddlers.

I plan on utilizing this canoe on many journeys this spring/summer season, and I will likely be documenting them and sharing them together with a long-term assessment of the Discovery 158 so please keep tuned for extra paddling content material within the following months from myself right here at AllOutdoor. I additionally need to thank Ryan and all the nice guys at Outdated City Canoe for making this go to occur!

Patrik Orcutt

Patrik is a contract photographer who has been fortunate sufficient to see plenty of the world and doc his travels together with his digicam. He has labored for the U.S. authorities as a Public Affairs Officer documenting Multi-Nationwide Particular Forces Coaching across the World. He’s at the moment engaged on changing into a Blackhawk Pilot for the Military whereas being an avid gear junky and out of doors fanatic.