Bear Mountain Boats

04/02/2026

Nick Offerman and Jimmy DiResta helped me make a canoe building video to accompany Ted’s book Canoecraft many years ago. My youngest grand daughter who is 10 is a huge fan of both these talented men. We are going on a road trip soon to visit Jimmy’s workshop and take in Nicks show in Albany. We are most excited!
Here is a recent clip from Jimmy Kimmel’s show where he interviews Nick about his upcoming role in Mission Impossible.

Nick talks about being in the marching band and on the football team when he was in school, his guidance counselor, being voted “Most Likely to Host David Le...

02/01/2026

Wonderful to be part of the fabulous ReFrame film festival in Peterborough today. The film I made for Ted about his contribution to the wooden canoe was well received. Can be viewed on our web site or on You Tube. The Survival of the Wooden Canoe.
I was happy to see it on a big screen and am grateful to the many friends and fans who showed up to say hi.

01/30/2026

✨ THE SURVIVAL OF THE WOODEN CANOE, by Joan Barrett & Rodney Fuentes, chronicles the adventures of one couple who, over 50 years, built a business based on teaching the art of canoe-building. Ted Moores and his partner Joan Barrett are trailblazers in the growing sphere of DIY craftspeople, helping people realize their dreams of building truly beautiful and functional boats.

📅 The Survival Of The Wooden Canoe is screening in person on Sunday, February 1, at 10:00 AM at Showplace Performance Centre.
This film is NOT a part of our Virtual Program.

Learn more about this film at: https://reframefilmfestival.ca/film/?film-id=6938ab2ff0f96024262ee023

⭐ Production: Bear Mountain Boats
❤️ Thank you to our film sponsor Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee - PBAC
💗 ReFrame's Art Beat collection is generously supported by: KPR ETFO News & Events , Peterborough Pride and Trent Central Student Association (TCSA)

01/12/2026

Thanks for mentioning our film Kevin. Since Ted's health forced him into retirement two years ago I made the film so he could sit back and enjoy some of his accomplishments. The film THE SURVIVAL OF THE WOODEN CANOE is being shown at the ReFrame Film Festival in Peterborough Feb. 1 and also at the Ely Film Festival, in Ely, MN in February.

I simply rewatched a few of my favourite outdoorsy films of 2025.

12/17/2025

My film THE SURVIVAL OF THE WOODEN CANOE has been selected for the Re-Frame Film Festival in Peterborough Jan 30 - Feb. 1
One of the most inspiring film festivals I have ever attended. I will be hosting a Q & A after the showing - come out to say hello!

10/19/2025

Nick has been our friend and supporter when he kindly lent his talents to a canoe building DVD. It was just before Parks and Recreation and luckily for us he had some time to devote to building a canoe. Over the years Nicks wisdom and love has sustained our spirits and we are truly grateful for his presence in our lives.
You can see Nick on our documentary at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImNxw_pb5ls

10/19/2025

Ted has been corresponding over the last couple of months with Ron McRae a volunteer with the Ontario 4-H Foundation living in Denfield, Ontario. The motto of the foundation is 'Learn by Doing' and when Ron called us to ask our advice about taking on a canoe building project I encouraged him to read Canoecraft. Ron's adventure into canoe building has been interesting. He wrote: My grandfather, John Stanley Knapp started the first boys and girls clubs in Waterloo County, in 1915. They became the foundation for all the 4-H clubs in Ontario. There is an endowment fund set up in his memory and administered by the Ontario 4-H Foundation.
Ron has since built econd canoe which was displayed at several agrucultural fairs this summer in southwestern Ontario including the International Plowing Match near Hamilton.
As a result almost $15,000 was raised for his grandfathers endowment fund.
As you can see in the pictures the Ranger 15 is a work of art.
Ted's sincere praise to Ron and his team who helped to display the canoe and show what team work can accomplish.

10/02/2025

Well said!

08/28/2025

Ted and I are so pleased to know that our little film appeals to folks. Hope you enjoy it. We’d love to hear your comments.

https://youtu.be/ImNxw_pb5ls?si=whuXmQQO1tngHjd5

07/23/2025

Our friend Nick Offerman was featured in this wonderful article by Paddling Magazine and we'd love to share it here again:

https://paddlingmag.com/stories/columns/profile/nick-offerman-woodshop-canoes/

Enjoy the read, the photos and discovering what boat building means to us all!

When Nick Offerman is not playing burly and beloved Ron Swanson, he is busy inside Offerman Woodshop building canoes and custom furniture.

07/23/2025

Remember Steve? He shared with us his images of his Prospector 15 from Norway. Well, here are some more beautiful photos from Snowdonia in Whales and Ulswater in the English Lake District.

Steve also shares a few thoughts from the build. He writes: “I struggled to find western red cedar in the uk, but eventually found a company selling 1" thick western red cedar decking boards. I bought the thinnest blade I could find for my table saw and slit the decking boards into 1/4" strips. The gunwales, yoke and seat frames are all ash, which came from a tree on a friend's farm, which he said I could cut down. The decks are yew which I had left over from an English longbow I made a few years back.”

Amazing work Steve!

07/23/2025

Come on down to Portland. Our electric fantail launch will be there.

On July 26 The Portland On The Rideau Historical Society will be unveiling its newest
acquisitions, two beautifully restored Dowsett skiffs built here in Portland and generously
donated by Chalmers Reed, a longtime cottager and admirer of Dowsett’s craftsmanship. These
two boats, one a rowing skiff and the other motorized, exemplify Dowsett’s premier
boatbuilding skills as well as the restoration work of Ken Wykes and his superb crew of artisans.
Many local antique and classic boats will be on display both in the water and on trailers to be
admired and celebrated that day.
For more information please contact Richard Brouse, [email protected].