The Wooden Canoe Shop, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 by Gilbert Cramer to restore wood/canvas canoes. Restoring canoes had been Gil's hobby ever since he was given an old Shell Lake canoe years before.
At first it was part-time, but in 1995, restoring canoes and boats became Gil's full-time job. In addition to wood canvas canoes, restorations were extended to all types of small wooden boats.
The Wooden Canoe Shop is a restoration-only shop. Gil chose to follow his passion and works alone, only restoring wooden canoes and boats. He doesn't build new canoes, offer classes, nor restores fiberglass-covered stripper canoes.
Gil has restored almost 300 canoes and boats of many different constructions, from a 7' Penn Yan dinghy to a 16' Lapstrake Tonka Craft. He has restored every major brand of canoe and most minor brands.
The Wooden Canoe Shop is located in Bryan, Ohio, less than 200 miles from Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, 10 miles south of the Ohio Turnpike.
