Our first wood and canvas canoe was inspired by the traditional watercraft of the Penobscot Nation, built by A.E. Wickett in 1898.

Wood and canvas canoes first appeared in the late 1800s.    

The 1903 catalog cover demonstrated an iconic name change in the company's history.

Old Town played a pivotal role in the growth of canoeing as a leisure activity in the early 20th century.

Sailing canoes gained popularity during the early 1900's and were hot-selling products for Old Town.

War Canoes were often a favorite in camps throughout the United States.

By 1910, Old Town's workforce had grown to sixty year-round employees, many of which were local Penobscot.

Courting canoes became a popular romantic endeavour along New England's rivers.

The 1919 catalog identifies canoeing as why U.S. troops were in such great shape.

In 1934, the Carelton brand was consolidated under the Old Town name.

By the 1930's, the Great Depression had slowed sales to a fraction of what they were in years prior.

As the economy regained strength, orders picked back up and the company not only survived, but prospered.

During the war-years, materials and workers were in short supply, leading Sam Gray to get creative with operations.

By the mid 1940's, Old Town operated five logging camps to provide the wood needed to meet demand.

Old Town had always kept a keen eye on fiberglass technology, and in the 1960's decided to incorporate the strong, light material.

A sign on Deane Gray's desk read, "If God wanted fiberglass canoes, he would have made fiberglass trees.

Walter King joined Old Town in the 60's and brought unparalleled fiberglass boat-building expertise.

Lew Gilman began building Old Town's first fiberglass kayaks under the guidance of Bart Hauthaway.

With advances in material technology, many traditional sportsmen still relied on their wood and canvas canoes.

Old Town Canoe Co. Archives

An artist's rendering of the Old Town Canoe Co. factory in 1915.

Old Town catalog cover from 1968.

Lew Gilman, founder of Rivers and Gilman, finally decides to join Old Town Canoe Co. after losing his company in a fire.

Poling was a popular technique that allowed canoeists to navigate upriver more efficiently than with a paddle.

The Lew Gilman Era: One of the most influential figures in Old Town Canoe Co. history.

Lew was an early advocate for Royalex, a lightweight and durable alternative material developed by Uniroyal.

Fiberglass and Royalex revitalized a stagnant business in the 60's and 70's, regaining lost market share and prestige.

Johnson Outdoors purchased Old Town from the Grays in 1974, adding it to a portfolio of outdoor brands such as Minn Kota and Eureka Tents.

An early image of kayak surfing before it gained popularity among paddlers decades later.

Old Town hits its stride now with the support and passion of Sam Johnson and his diverse outdoor portfolio.

In 1983, Gilman created a 3-layer polyethylene canoe dubbed "Discovery" after the NASA space shuttle.

Benson Gray, descendant of the Gray family, seen here competing in a slalom event in an Old Town K1 Slalom kayak.

Old Town's reputation extends far beyond the Penobscot River valley, with passionate customers all around the world.

One of the most popular Discovery models is the 119, a versatile and maneuverable solo canoe designed by Lew Gilman.

The Old Town canoe has always been a reliable and stable platform for sportsmen.

New Markets

Old Town was the US distributor of sit-on-top kayaks designed by Plastiques LPA Ltd. of Quebec.

Leisure Life, Ltd., one of the largest small-boat manufacturers in the world, was acquired by Johnson Outdoors in the 90's.

Geoff King followed in his father's footsteps and became Head of R&D in the 1990's.

After over 100 years, Old Town Canoe Co. moved across town to a new state of the art manufacturing and research facility.

Anglers and hunters alike have embraced the Predator series thanks to its stability, durability, and storage capacity.

The Modern Era

The Predator Series of sit-on-top fishing kayaks was introduced in 2013 and has won the most coveted awards in the industry.

All of our watercraft are still built by hand in Old Town, Maine, just as they were over 100 years ago.

2018 marks the return of life jackets to Old Town's product offering. Each design pairs with an Old Town canoe or kayak.

Old Town has always been determined to inspire people to get outdoors and connect with nature and each other.

Every angling kayak is engineered above and below the water to enhance the fishing experience.

The Predator MK and PDL are pioneering hands-free kayak fishing, and racking up awards along the way.

The Predator series of sit-on-top sporting kayaks offers a stable platform for all types of fishing.

We currently offer premium fiberglass and carbon designs for all styles.

Our ACS2 seating system is one of the most advanced on the market and comes on our premium day touring and recreation kayaks.

The NEXT represents the future of paddling. Built for one, designed for all, it provides a fun, unique solo experience.

Since day one our employees have been the heart and soul of the business, and will continue to carry Old Town into the future.

New for 2018, the Castine reintroduces custom-fit touring kayaks to Old Town's growing offering.