Canoeing 101

Zippered Belly Cover on IQ Gunwale System

The IQ Belly Cover is designed for multiple purposes. One is to increase the heavy weather capability of your canoe by providing what amounts to an oversized deck to your boat. The Belly Cover is equipped with bow-stays to provide an arched shape to...

Wood Gunwale Replacement for Royalex Hulls

Canoes with fine woodwork are a tradition at Mad River Canoe. The rails, seats and thwarts on your Mad River Canoe are native Vermont straight-grained ash, chosen for its resiliency, strength and aesthetic appearance. Unlike aluminum or plastic...

Wood Gunwale Replacement for Composite Hulls

Canoes with fine woodwork are a tradition at Mad River Canoe. The rails, seats, yokes, carry handles and thwarts on your Mad River Canoe are native Vermont straight-grained ash, chosen for its resiliency, strength and aesthetic appearance. Unlike...

Winterizing Your Canoe

Though canoes have no or very few moving parts, it still is worth it to lavish a little TLC on your canoe before retiring it for its well-deserved winters nap. Winterizing the Gunwales Wood gunwales should be protected for storage by applying a coat...

Why and Wonder of Wood Gunwales

Wood in various forms has defined the canoe. At times every component of classic indigenous canoes came from the forest; bark for the hull, cedar and other woods for planking and gunwales, spruce root for lashing and lacing. In many ways, the North...

What to Look For in a PFD

Buying a properly fitting PFD is probably the most important purchase of all. After all, this is one piece of gear that can literally save your life. It is required to have in your possession whenever you go out on the water. The US and Canadian...

Vinyl Gunwale Replacement

When ordering replacement vinyl gunwale be sure to request the correct length - order rails longer than your canoe. Canoes are measured straight down the keel line. Gunwales take a bit more circuitous route getting from end to end. Vinyl rails are...

Test Fitting a PFD

To test fit a PFD, first loosen all adjusting web straps to their maximum. Put the PFD on and if it has a zipper, zip the zipper. Then, starting from the bottom (waist band), cinch tight each web strap, being careful to equally tighten equivalent...

Spray Shields on the IQ2 Gunwale System

The Sprayshield is designed for multiple purposes. One is to increase the heavy weather capability of your canoe by providing what amounts to an oversized deck to your boat. The ‘Shield is equipped with bow-stays to provide an arched shape to shed...