Recently Souris River Canoes combined our designing knowledge with that of Gary McGuffin, renowned adventure photographer, and SkipIzon, a world class canoe and rowing shell designer. The result of this collaboration is the Skeena, an innovative whitewater tripping model, that performs extremely well in whitewater yet cruises effortlessly on flat water.
As Souris River has the well deserved reputation as builder of the most resilent canoe hulls in the ultra-lite market, the next logical step was to test our expertise in the world of whitewater canoes. Our whitewater expedition layup consists of our tough epoxy resin combined with Kevlar, polyester cloth and other fabrics.
The Skeena 16 has finally emerged and initial trial results have proven to be quite amazing. Those who believed that no composite canoe could stand up to wild river conditions now need to rethink that premise. Clearly there is a place for such a boat. It may never take the place of Royalex in extreme
whitewater, but it clearly has a niche where combination usage exists.
Not only will it survive whitewater abuse, but it will prove to be a much better paddling canoe on the rest of the river and out across the lakes as well.
The Skeena will be especially appreciated when you have to pick it up on the portages and place it on your shoulders. The Skeena may be just a shade over 16 1/2 feet but it is a hefty hull in many ways except in weight. At 65 pounds, it is upwards of 20 pounds lighter than a comparable plastic
hull.
This canoe will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows and generate interest among whitewater enthusiasts. We’re excited about where the Skeena will take us.
Souris River Skeena Specifications
Length - 16’ 8”
Weight:
-50 lbs. (Kevlar® flatwater layup)
-65 lbs. (Kevlar® whitewater
expedition)
Gunwale width - 36”
Rocker - 6” bow, 2” stern
Depth:
-Bow - 24”
-Centre - 16”
-Stern - 21”
