This list of old Maine canoe builders was created by the Penobscot Marine Museum for their 2001 exhibit titled "Bark to Canvas: The Evolution of a Maine Canoe." Special thanks to Kathryn Campbell and Jeff McKeen for their outstanding help in starting and generously sharing this research.
Please contact webmaster@wcha.org for any additions or corrections to this information.
| Maine State Builder's Name | Era | Town | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin Boat & Canoe Co. | 1970s & 1980s | Wayne | Kennebec |
| Arnold Trail Boat & Canoe Co. | 1940s | Solon | Somerset |
| Ayer, George | 1920s & 1930s | Moose River | Somerset |
| Ayer, Leon, canoe builder and warden, originally from Rockwood | 1940s | Farmington | Franklin |
| Bacon, Timothy, canoes | 1930s-1960s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Barber, Plummer, canoes | 1904-1938 | Springfield | Penobscot |
| Barker, D.B., birch and canvas canoes | 1889-1890 | Lowell | Penobscot |
| Barker, William, canoes | 1950s | Newry | Oxford |
| Baron, Wally | 1960s-1080s | Bingham | Somerset |
| Beacon, Herb "Beaver" | 1900-1930s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Bean, G.W., canoes and mouldings | 1895-1920 | Brownville | Piscataquis |
| Bernard, Oliver, bark canoes | 1890s-1920 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Berry, Maurice "Mok" | 1970s-80s | Jacksonville | Washington |
| Blanchard, Harold "Doc" | 1960s-1990s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Bowley, Harvey | 1940s | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Bray, F.W., boats and canoes | 1903-1916 | Monson | Piscataquis |
| Burtchell, Ludrich, small boats & canoes | 1952-1955 | Fort Fairfield | Aroostook |
| Buxton & Young, Camp Onawa | 1890s | Brownville | Piscataquis |
| Caldwell, George | Rockwood | Somerset | |
| Guy E. Carleton Canoe Co., batteaux and canoes | 1875-1926 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Carleton, O.H., batteau | 1869-1879 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Clossian, Swaisson, birch canoes | 1890s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
| Comstock, Mert | 1940s & 1950s | Rockwood | Somerset |
| Craft Bilt Canoe Co. | 1930s | Skowhegan | Somerset |
| Cyr, Mike, paddle maker | 1920s | Chesuncook | Piscataquis |
| Dana, Francis, birch canoes | 1890s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
| Darling, Amassa P., boatbuilder | 1910-1942 | Enfield | Penobscot |
| Darling, Jonathan, birch and canvas canoes | 1889-1898 | Lowell | Penobscot |
| Davis, C.A., canoes and snowshoes | 1906-1944 | Elliotsville | Piscataquis |
| Davis, R.L., canoes and snowshoes | 1944-1962 | Elliotsville | Piscataquis |
| Davis, Roy, canoes | 1949-1962 | Monson | Piscataquis |
| Denis, Nicola, birch canoes | 1890s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
| Dinsmore, Ed | 1908-1925 | Portage Lake | Aroostook |
| Dolphin Craft & Canoe Co. | 1956-1963 | Oakland | Kennebec |
| Dorman Brothers | 1905-1920 | Ashland | Aroostook |
| Dutelley, Alec, canoes | 1903-1909 | Jackman | Somerset |
| Edgar, Dave | 1980s-present | Jackman | Somerset |
| Edgerly, Harry | 1940s & 1950s | Atkinson | Piscataquis |
| Fahey, Mick, canoe and paddle maker | 1960s & 1970s | Chesuncook | Piscataquis |
| Flewelling, A.E., & "Cedarcraft 20" | 1950s | Crouseville | Aroostook |
| Fogg, Augustus, moccasins and canoes | 1890-1891 | Lowell | Penobscot |
| Francis, Louis, birch canoes | 1890s-1910 | Kennebunkport | York |
| Francis, Tom, birch canoes | 1870s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
| Gabriel, Sylvester, birch canoes | 1920s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
| Gallupe, Asa, "Aroostook Chief" | 1938-1952 | Fort Fairfield | Aroostook |
| Gerrish, E.H., canoes | 1882-1909 | Bangor | Penobscot |
| Gerrish Canoe Company | 1910 - early 1930s | Cardville (Costigan) | Penobscot |
| Godfrey, A.B. and Roundy, canoes, paddles and poles | 1890s | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Gollin, William | c. 1920s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Gould Brothers, canvas boats and canoes | 1890s | Brewer | Penobscot |
| Harrington, D.S., sleds and canoes. | 1874-1897 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Heckman, D.H., boatbuilder | 1901-1928 | Kennebunkport | York |
| Horton, G.W., canoes | 1890s | Patten | Penobscot |
| Howe Fur Company, Ed Howe's Maine-Made Best Canoes | 1940s | Cooper's Mills | Lincoln |
| Hunt G.H., & Stowe, canvas and birch canoes | 1898-1917 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Indian Old Town Canoe Co. | 1901 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Ingalls, S.L., batteaux and canoes | 1897-1908 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Iris Boatworks | 1980s-1990s | Marshfield | Washington |
| Island Falls Canoe Co. | 1970s-present | Atkinson | Piscataquis |
| Jackson Boat & Canoe Co. | 1950s | Veazie | Penobscot |
| Jackson, Percy | 1960s & 1970s | New Sweden | Aroostook |
| Kealiher, Cliff | 1960s-90s | Kokadjo | Piscataquis |
| Kennebec Boat & Canoe Co. | 1910-1944 | Waterville | Kennebec |
| Kirkpatrick, George | 1890-1897 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Leavitt, Lewis A., canvas canos, paddles and poles | 1902-1904 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Levenseller, Arthur "Boots" | 1950s & 1960s | Dover | Piscataquis |
| Libby, Bert | 1980s-present | Litchfield | Kennebec |
| Luke, W. R., canvas canoes, paddles and poles | 1905-1906 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Masterman, Edward | 1880s-1900 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Masterman, George | 1900-1930 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Masterman, Richard | 1900-1930 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| McAllister, Erwin | 1950s - 1960s | Abbott | Piscataquis |
| McClain, A. & Son, canoes | 1897-1898 | Brownville | Piscataquis |
| McClain, Albert & Son, canoes and snowshoes | 1883-1894 | Passadumkeag | Penobscot |
| McClain, Alex, birch canoes | 1880s | Chesuncook | Piscataquis |
| McKay, C.E. | 1930-1938 | Ashland | Aroostook |
| McNally, Fred | 1908-1925 | Portage Lake | Aroostook |
| McPhetres, William & Albert, canoes, boats and paddles | 1906-1909 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Mell, Joe | 1890s-1920 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Moore, Lawrence "Pop" | 1938-1992 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Moore, Nathan B., bark canoes | 1890s | Bingham | Somerset |
| Morris, B.N., canvas canoes | 1892-1920 | Veazie | Penobscot |
| Neal, D. B., canoes and snowshoes | 1907-1932 | Dover | Piscataquis |
| Nicholas, Thomas, wood and bark canoes | 1870s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Northwoods Canoe Co. | 1980s-present | Atkinson | Piscataquis |
| Oakland Boat & Canoe Co. | 1948-1960 | Oakland | Kennebec |
| Oat Canoe Company | 1980s | Mt. Vernon | Kennebec |
| Old Town Canoe Co. | 1903-present | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Orcutt & Walter S. McKay, smiths, woodworking and canoes | 1903-1938 | Ashland | Aroostook |
| Packard, H.A., canoes and snowshoes | 1923 -1926 | Dover | Piscataquis |
| Parlin, W. E., boats & canoes | 1906-1925 | Weld | Franklin |
| Pelletier, Len | 1960s-1980s | Allagash | Aroostook |
| Pennyweight, Old John, birch canoes | 1850s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
| Penobscot Canoe Co. | 1916-1923 | Milford | Penobscot |
| Perpole, Joe, birch canoes | 1890s | Sysladobsis Lake | Washington |
| Pielsak, Louis, birch canoes | 1900-1920s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
| Polis, Joe, birch canoes | 1850s-1870s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
| Prescott Boat Company, boats and canoes | 1941-1952 | Brewer | Penobscot |
| Ranco, Joe, birch and canvas canoes | 1890s-1920s | York | |
| Ranco, Nick, birch canoes | 1930s & 1940s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
| Reckards, Fred | 1960s-1980s | Rockwood | Somerset |
| Ripley, P.C., river driving tools and canoes | 1900-1911 | Magalloway Plantation | Oxford |
| Robertson & Old Town Canoe Co. | 1902 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Rollins & I.W. Buzzell, batteaux and canoes | 1898-1900 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| St. Germaine, William, "Moosehead" canoes & boats | 1903-1936 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Sawyer, J. Fred | 1920s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Sebago Boat & Canoe Co. | 1950-1955 | Portland | Cumberland |
| Sebattis, Dana, birch canoes | 1860s & 1870s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
| Sebattis, Shay, birch canoes | 1890s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
| Sibley, Ira, canoes | 1869-1898 | Burlington | Penobscot |
| Shorty Bilt Boat & Canoe Co. | 1950s | Solon | Somerset |
| Skowhegan Boat & Canoe Co. | 1930-1952 | Skowhegan | Somerset |
| Smart, Myron | 1940s-70s | Milo | Piscataquis |
| Smith, N.S., canoes. | 1888-1892 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Sprague, Joe | 1912-1938 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Sprague, Sonny | 1960s-present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Sprague, William | 1927-1966 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Stanislaw, Francis, birch canoes | 1920s | Lincoln | Penobscot |
| Stephenson, George R., canvas covered cedar canoes and boats | 1899-1930 | Norway | Oxford |
| Stetson, Joseph B., canoes | 1893-1894 | Lincoln | Penobscot |
| Stevens, W.F., builder of all-wood decked sailing canoes | 1890s | Bath | Sagadahoc |
| Stevens, W.F., builder of all-wood decked sailing canoes | 1900 -1922 | Boothbay Harbor | Lincoln |
| Stevens, W.F., builder of all-wood decked sailing canoes | 1870s | Union | Knox |
| Stroudwater Canoe Co. | 1920s | Portland | Cumberland |
| Templeton, Fred | 1920s & 1930s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
| Templeton, Arthur | 1920s & 1930s | Rockwood | Somerset |
| Thatcher, C.B. | 1895-1914 | Bangor | Penobscot |
| Thomas, Willis | 1970s & 1980s | Dover | Piscataquis |
| Tomah, Neal, birch canoes | 1890s | Big Lake | Washington |
| Tomah, Joseph, birch canoes | 1870s-1900 | Pleasant Point | Washington |
| Walton, Herbert, canoes | 1911-1920 | Greenbush | Penobscot |
| Warren, W.C., canoes | 1898-1914 | Lincoln | Penobscot |
| Weatherbee, A.W., canoes | 1879-1892 | Lincoln | Penobscot |
| Wheaton, Kenneth | 1940s-present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Wheaton, Arthur | 1900-1930s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Wheaton, Chris | 1970s-present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Wheaton, Lance | 1960s-present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| Wheaton, Woody | 1940s-1970s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
| White, E.M., canvas canoes, paddles and poles | 1894-1989 | Old Town | Penobscot |
| Whitmore, Ken | 1970s | New Limerick | Aroostook |
| Whitney, Andrew | 1890s-1910 | Milo | Piscataquis |
| Whitney, Will | 1890s-1910 | Milo | Piscataquis |
| Williams, J.R., canoes and boats | 1897-1918 | Kennebunkport | York |
| Young, C.C. | 1877-1898 | The Forks | Somerset |
| Young, W.W., canoes & snowshoes | 1906-1911 | The Forks | Somerset |