The Gander River boat has been used for decades by guides on the river to navigate the waters of the river and bring outfitters and their guests as well as camp owners to their many camps along the famous Gander river.
The Gander River has a special place in Newfoundland mythology. In a land where most people and goods originally travelled by sea, the Gander River became a rare inland highway used to move goods between the interior and the coast. The river spawned a special breed of man with its own unique vessel - the Gander River boat. These men plied the waters and came to memorize the hundreds of chutes, boulders, and rapids that turned each river journey into an adventure. Today there are outfitters who can arrange adventures on the Gander River. And there are still Gander River men, with their Gander River boats plying their way through the challenging waters of this world-class river system.
In the early days, the freight and passengers were carried back and forth without the use of motors... the boats were poled through the water. When motors started to be used, the keel of the boat was altered to make sure the propeller shaft would not strike on the shallow water and rocks below. The Gander River boat has this as a very unique feature. The use of the short shaft allows these boats to be used in very shallow water.
The Gander River boats until now have been made primarily of spruce. These boats were hand-built by their users or a handful of builders who built the boats on an as-needed basis.
In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain the large timbers ( over 25 feet ) which are required to build these boats. Also, there has been fewer and fewer new boats being built because of the lack of skilled boat builders. This skill was at one time passed down through the generations, but fewer young people are keeping the craft alive.
Keeping the Magic Alive... Geange's Manufacturing takes a lot of pride in continuing on the long tradition of these dependable boats. The company has turned to the durability and strength of fiberglass to help create the new Gander River boats which are now the talk of the industry and the province.
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