Classic Grumman aluminium 15 foot 2 or 4 person canoe sku887
For sale
From fighter planes to aluminium canoes
In the beginning, canoe building was a novelty side line for the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, which was the world’s largest producer of World War II aircraft carrier-based fighter planes.
In 1944, Grumman vice president William Hoffman came up with the idea of a lightweight, stretch-formed aluminium canoe—after lugging a waterlogged wood-canvas canoe across one too many portages on a fishing trip in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. A year later, Grumman’s Long Island aircraft plant produced its first canoe: A 13-footer said to weigh 30 per cent less than a comparable wooden canoe.
“Grumman learned to bend and rivet flat sheets of aluminium into elegant, complex curves as a result of making aircraft wings and fuselages,” explains Raffan. The process of using panels of hand-riveted, stretch formed aluminium alloy translated ideally to canoe construction.
Shortly after Hoffman’s personal canoe was built, there came lines of 13-, 15-, 17-, 18-, 19- and 20-foot canoes. Grumman quickly captured market share based on their durability, reasonable weight and no-fuss maintenance.
This is the optimal and ultimate 15 foot model with built in floatation in bow & stern.
Designed to carry four people or 565 pounds and capable of handling a 5 horsepower motor the 15 foot model is the ultimate.
Built in marathon NY and with a pedigree that is second to none the aluminium Grumman canoe is superbly crafted and built to aircraft standards. This particular example was imported to the UK by Avon Craft
Bombproof, rotproof, and 30% lighter than any other wooden, canvas or royal ex canoe on the market, these iconic craft are the ultimate survivors.
Super light, brilliantly designed hull with amazing tracking, Great manoeuvrability and portability, Any inspection welcome. We can deliver nation or worldwide. Call 07706333444 or +447706333444 if you are outside of the UK.
collection in southeast Kent, CT15 5 JS
These canoes now cost in excess of £2000 so this is a bargain!
