Canoe Anatomy: Materials
Old Town has been a pioneer in innovative materials for canoes and kayaks that provide rigidity and resiliency, light weight and long life, attractive looks and affordable prices. Click on these links to learn more about our full range of paddlesport materials for every purpose and every budget.
Three Layer Polyethylene
Three layer linear polyethylene technology with a polyethylene foam core that provides stiffness, and built-in flotation at an affordable price.
Three Layer Superlinear
Three layer linear polyethylene technology using high-density polyethylene with a polyethylene foam core that provides exceptional strength, buoyancy and resiliency.
Thermoformed Polyethylene
This process uses a single plastic sheet of high density polyethylene to form a canoe over a mold. The thermoformed plastic hull material is durable and provides better abrasion and impact resistance than more expensive fiberglass hulls. Compared to aluminum the plastic hull is less prone to denting and quieter during on water activity.
Royalex®
Our version of Uniroyal's Royalex®, a multi-laminate composed of ABS, ABS foam and crosslinked vinyl that provides ultra-light weight, excellent strength and resiliency. Each of our Royalex canoe models has a specifically designed sheet to maximize strength and minimize weight.
Materials Comparison
