The Gander River Boat (also known as a Gander Bay Boat or Gander River Canoe) was designed and modified by generations of Gander Bay builders to suit the specific conditions of the Gander River.
During the eighteenth century, salmon fisheries established at the mouth of the river were tended to with rodneys and punt, but these boats were not suitable for the rapids and shallow waters upriver.
By the twentieth century, Gander Bay boat builders were building “double-enders” modeled on birch bark and cedar canoes used by Mi’kmaw on the Gander River. “The resulting hybrid was stronger than a cedar canoe, yet nimbler than a rodney,” says Gary L. Saunders in his book Rattles and Steadies: Memoir of a Gander River man, “Approximately five metres long and just under a metre wide, it was planked with thin fir strakes nailed edge to edge on sawn spruce timbers” (Saunders 2003).
Too heavy to be paddled like a canoe, these early river boats included thole pins and oars, and were sometimes fitted with a makeshift sail on the centre beam. Like canoes used on the river, they were primarily propelled with a black spruce pole. “It took two days from Gander Bay to Glenwood without a motor,” says retired Gander River Guide Ern Hodder, “you’d have to pole all the way. It was hard work.”
The two-day trip from Gander Bay to Glenwood could be done in six to seven hours with a motor, but they were not common on the river until the 1940s. While the first outboard motors became available in Newfoundland in the mid-1920s, they were not immediately compatible with the double-ended boats. Willy John Torraville, Nat Gillingham and other local builders began to experiment with design. First, the double-ender needed a stern to attach the motor. To remain efficient in shallow water, the canoe shape was kept below the waterline and tapered into an inverted triangle transom.
Through trial and error, builders learned how to balance length with the load. As more powerful engines were introduced the hull length was adjusted to accommodate them. By the 1970s, fifteen to twenty horsepower was deemed to be the ideal size for a motor on the river. Gander Bay builder and retired river guide Basil Gillingham outfitted his 2012 Gander Bay Boat with a fifteen horsepower Yamaha. “When I was guiding I had a thirty-five horsepower Johnson on her,” Basil says, “but you wouldn’t want to go any bigger than that because the motors get too heavy for boat and shallow waters.”
Local builders now agree that the ideal length for a Gander River Boat is 24-25 feet, “any longer than that the boat gets hard to handle and smaller boats can’t carry as much,” says retired river guide and boat builder Lester Vivian. “I think everyone agrees that’s about the right length,” Ern Hodder confirms. At midship, these boats range in width from 45-53 inches on average – a matter of preference in the negotiation of stability and manoeuvrability. The spruce timbers used in the first double-enders have been replaced by juniper ribs and planks are now made of spruce since invasive insects have damaged local fir trees.
Today, wooden Gander River Boats are increasingly being replaced by fiberglass. Only a handful of builders in the area, including Basil Gillingham, Lester Vivian, and Eugene Saunders, can still be found building with wood.
In the mid 1970’s, five fibreglass mini riverboats were constructed in Gander. Gary Webb provided his garage to build a form for the canoes which were 16 feet in length, 16 inches deep, inverted triangular transom and 40 inches wide, with 3 coats of fibreglass cloth and resin. A thick fibreglass skeg ran under the bow and full length of the bottom protecting it from rocks and giving some steerage way. Large spoon paddles were used by the stern paddler to manoeuver on the river currents. They were used as freighter canoes mostly on the upper Gander River for 3 -4 day river trips. Four HP Mercury outboard motors would provide the HP need to push a full load up the river or across Gander Lake. One disadvantage was the weight of 130 lbs. but still a great method of fishing or moose hunting.
“Mini” riverboats? Just what was the intention behind making these boats smaller? Traditional builders are in agreement that 25′ is optimal so who thought reducing the length would be an improvement?
Good day Phillip
I’m looking for the mini , I spoke with a gentleman in his 80ies he has one but he won’t part with it. I’m more than welcome to have a look at it in the spring but I could have one build by that time
Do you know of anyone with one for sale or if the mould ID stall around.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Regards
Perry
Can anyone tell me where you could buy a new Gander River Boat.
Platinum builders out of glenwood.
Pop still has the same 2012 white wolf boat with his trusty old 25hp yamaha
Yes , Marvel Auctions in Richmond B.C. has one for sale.
Tell them Al Jensen sent you!
This was really cool, basil is actually my grandfather. He doesn’t make river boats anymore, mostly works on motors as he always has. Pop was not a boat builder, he was a mechainic. That being said he has always loved going up the river and always will in his river boat.
Haha wrong basil Gillingham I guess, my grandfather was a guide on the river and later fixed outboard motors for people on the river.
I am interested in building one. Anyone know where I can buy plans or moulds for one
Better yet just buy one.
One for sale at Marvel Auctions in Richmond B.C. as of Oct 24 2020
How it got here on the Wet Coast I have no idea but a clue may be in the trailer it sits upon.
Not much knowledge of this kind of boat out here so it possibly could go for cheap.
Comes with two slider rowing seats and full complement of sails.
Mention Allan Jensen for a discount!
Hey Rick
Did you manage to find a mould or plans, I think I can help or we can help each other
No unfortunately I haven’t. I met a few people from central NL and they are all familiar with the boats having grown up around them but they are not builders and haven’t ben able to connect me with someone who can help.
I have a Uncle Jimmy Gander Riverboat manufactured by Geange’s Manufacturing in Glenwood for sale. Email me jangan @ hotmail.com