Author |
Message |
curly Member
Post Number: 453 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 - 12:48 pm: |
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I've heard from a reliable source that Mid-Canada Fibreglass in New Liskeard (makers of Scott and Bluewater canoes) ceased operation yesterday. Scott was at one time Canada's largest canoe manufacturer. Apparently, "The bank called their loans... The company has been on shaky financial ground for several years. The recession and under-performing diversification efforts finally overwhelmed them.... "
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tripper_dave Member
Post Number: 70 Registered: 03-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 - 3:54 pm: |
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That sad to hear. My first real canoe was a Scott. It served me well for 10 years. It's still going strong at a friends cottage. |
grncnu Member
Post Number: 318 Registered: 08-2010
| Posted on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 - 8:06 pm: |
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"old canoes never die... ...you just don't have to worry about them being stolen anymore." |
brian Moderator
Post Number: 1592 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - 8:29 am: |
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Disappointing news about Scott. Mid-Canada Fiberglass and outdoor store Wilderness Dreams are part of this corporate group. The North is having a tough time as it is keeping jobs and this business was not about resource extraction. |
curly Member
Post Number: 454 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Thursday, October 10, 2013 - 12:26 pm: |
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I will back step from my previous statement. I just phoned Wilderness Dreams (the retail store associated with MCF and Scott). They said that the only change is that the downtown New Liskeard store is closing, but the main store south of town is still open. And MCF/Scott/Bluewater is still open. What exactly happened, I do not know. I did hear from more than one local source (as early as this morning) that the whole business had shut down permanently. |
grncnu Member
Post Number: 319 Registered: 08-2010
| Posted on Thursday, October 10, 2013 - 9:47 pm: |
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well, here's hoping mcf survives. the canoe pictured above, now in semi-retirement, was bought used in 1982 and is the "wilderness" model (basically a 16' prospector). we used it exclusively for 25 years. it was bomb-proof, and by far the best canoe i've ever used for paddling into a strong wind with big waves. one time i managed to get it wedged between the two sides of a 5-foot wide chutes with the full volume of the yorston river pouring into the interior of the empty canoe. i was by myself and could not budge it by a millimetre, the force of the water was so strong... long story short, it bent but (thankfully or i would have been in serious ****) it did not break. eventually i chopped down a spruce and was able to lever it up just enough so i could bail it out with my hat. wouldn't want to try that with any other canoe! |
bush_pilot Member
Post Number: 230 Registered: 03-2004
| Posted on Friday, October 11, 2013 - 10:15 am: |
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This was my Bluewater when it was 3 weeks old. I took it back to New Liskeard and they repaired the gel coat for free, the dent just popped right out. I sure hope they stay in business. (Message edited by Bush Pilot on October 11, 2013) |
grncnu Member
Post Number: 320 Registered: 08-2010
| Posted on Monday, October 14, 2013 - 11:35 pm: |
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hey BP, looks to me like the cedar strip gods taking revenge on fibreglass... |
bush_pilot Member
Post Number: 231 Registered: 03-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 - 9:17 am: |
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I think you're right. The cedar strip is jealous or more likely angry since it has been demoted to sunset paddles around the island. |
campheiden Member
Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2013
| Posted on Saturday, February 15, 2014 - 9:24 pm: |
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love Scott Canoes |
algomamoon Member
Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2014
| Posted on Monday, October 6, 2014 - 4:36 pm: |
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Anybody know who the best cedar strip canoe repair outfit is? We have 2 Chestnuts that need work. Want to take them to the best. Suggestions|? |
dan_carpenter Moderator
Post Number: 89 Registered: 03-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - 11:39 am: |
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algomamoon: Try Glen Toogood at Garden Island Canoe in Temagami. He does excellent work and has extensive experience in restoring Chestnut canoes. |