Lacing A Canoe | Our Custom Kit

Here at Robin Hood Watersports we are proud to supply Silverbirch Canoes. Being a British manufacturer with a passion for high quality, lightweight, durable canoes makes them a pleasure to support. Traditional canoes are a craft like no other. They offer a peaceful and spacious environment to explore the most remote areas over multiple days.  However, on the other end of the spectrum they also have the capabilities to tackle whitewater in adrenaline filled river trips. Whatever your intended use it’s crucial that the setup feels comfortable for you. All the staff at Robin Hood Watersports are passionate about outfitting and we can offer a full customisation of your chosen Silverbirch canoe.  A blog explaining the details of this can be found here. We understand that drilling into such a work of art can be extremely daunting. The requirement to get it perfect is key, which is why we offer this service.

Nevertheless, having spoken to many customers, we appreciate that some people are keen to learn the skills required to do it themselves. Paddling a canoe that is fully personalised by yourself certainly leaves a degree of satisfaction and pride every time it’s on the water. That being said, it can be puzzling to work out the exact materials required. As a result, we have put together a home lacing kit containing all the necessary items, cut exactly to the specifications of your canoe.  You will receive an instructional pdf and the opportunity for support via video call or similar with our outfitting staff.

So… what exactly is included?

Lacing Rope For Stitching & Airbag Fitment

Within your package you will find a high quality length of rope, which will be used for lacing the length of your canoe and, also, for the securing of your airbags if requested. This can either be full length as stated or for airbag sections only.  The line type provided is of the highest quality, finished with a 32 plait weave which comes in a variety of colours including black, blue, red and yellow. The rope provided has low stretch properties meaning you will not see any slackening of your lacing work overtime and is rated to hold extreme weights, way beyond what will ever be required of it.

Rope Grab Loops

Another optional addition to your kit is the rope needed for grab loops at both the bow and stern of your canoe. These loops have a range of uses, from an added place to grab in a rescue situation, or tying up your canoe when taking a break.  We believe they’re a valuable asset. There are a few choices of rope available including the classic 11mm yellow/red floating rope, or a new 10mm braid in black for the stealth look.

Inside loop casing

The picture below shows the inside of a laced boat that is finished with a polyethylene tube encasing the low stretch lace. These loops are used to attach airbags/buoyancy blocks at the bow and stern, as well as to secure small items inside the boat. For example, a throwline, bottle and any kit you may need to access quickly.  Standard lengths are 130mm for vinyl gunwale boats.  However, our preference is for a shorter 110mm section at the airbags.

Airbags

Airbags are a critical piece of kit which displace the volume of water that can fill up the canoe should it capsize. This makes rescuing your canoe a far simpler process. There are a range of air bags available on the market.  However, we can’t recommend BPM air bags enough. They’re a Yorkshire based brand who specialise in making class leading airbags, also at a hugely competitive price. BPM airbags come in red and black and a range of different sizes to fit your canoe perfectly.

Additional included accessories

- Threading nylon line, giving the option to pull the 4mm cord through the tubing

- Masking tape

- Lacing template

Additional items required

- 4.5/5mm drill bit

- Sharp pencil

- Tape measure or ruler

See the kit here.

Thanks for looking and if you have any questions just ask.

George