UK, Canadian Open Canoes, Cedar and Canvas Canoes, Drontheims, Cedar Strip and Plywood Canoes, Lapstrake Canoes, timber wooden , Canoe and Kayak coaching, ROI

Valkyrie Craft holds membership of the guild and abides by its standards of construction

Welcome to  Valkyrie Craft A Home of Fine Boats

 

 

Valkyrie Craft should be your choice for an open Canadian canoe, sea kayak or Skerries Yawl.
Individually crafted.	Each boat is built as a stand alone.  We do not work on a conveyor belt system so we can focus on producing quality.
Purpose built and functional.	We provide for all types of canoeists, from the novice to the specialist, not through a baffling range of variations, but through a careful selection of designs and materials based on knowledge of the sport and of boat design characteristics.
Timeless Timber	Valkyrie craft choose timber as our main material because it is beautiful, flexible, resilient, restorable, natural, renewable and warm.
Beauty	Crafted timber, sanded and finished in oils, varnish or with translucent fibreglass sheath is thing of unquestionable and lasting beauty.  No plastic boat can ever compete when new, and once used they gather grooves and scratches and slowly discolour.  At worst a timber boat develops character.
Weight	Whilst our boats may look heavier than their plastic equivalents they are in general significantly lighter.  The structure and materials we use provide the rigidity and strength required without the weight that a plastic boat with the same properties requires.
Durability	Our boats are constructed with both visual and structural durability in mind.  High wear timber areas are constructed in hardwoods, epoxy and fibreglass cloth protect the hulls and multiple coats of oils or varnish seal and nourish the wood.  Where a plastic boat will scratch scar and become brittle, natural wood can be sanded and recoated  and restored to its original state.  With reasonable care our boats will be a long lasting investment.
Price	Our price range reflects materials, not quality and the range of boats results in a price to suit everyone.  Our cheapest boats suit an entry level paddler in both budget and functionality while  our cedar strip boats offer a beautiful and responsive boat at a fair price.  You may find a cheaper plastic boat, but you will have difficulty matching the value.
Repairs and modifications	Repairs can be carried out on a range of boats and materials including fibreglass and wood but excluding plastic.  Gunnels, decks and thwarts can all be replaced and in most cases damage to timber or fibreglass hulls can be patched.  Repairs are always charged on a materials and time basis and a quote will be made prior to any work being done.

 

	About Us:
Canoes   Cedar Strip Boats   Lapstrake	Valkyrie Craft is a small business dedicated to the production of a range of quality canoes and small boats at a fair price.   All of the boats are made in their entirety in our workshop, apart from GRP hulls used for two of the canoe models and the Skerries Yawl.  Our aim is to make each boat on an individual basis with a focus on quality, durability and performance. The company was founded by John Wilkinson out of his desire to make quality canoes available at a reasonable price.  John is a keen canoeist and holds both skills awards and coaching qualifications with CANI, the canoe association of Northern Ireland.  He is an active member of the Causeway Coast Kayak Association and the Causeway Coast Maritime Heritage Group.  As a coach he has worked with schools, youth groups, the CCKA and with established outdoor education centres.	Canoes   Cedar Strip Boats   Lapstrake
Traditional Boats	As a business we are focused on providing and maintaining a small and personalised outlook where each boat is an individual product and not the result of a production line.  When you contact us you deal with a boat builder, not a salesperson or company rep.	Traditional Boats
Marine Plywood Craft	The Valkyrie workshop is located outside of the town of Coleraine on the historic north coast of Ireland.	Marine Plywood Craft

Using the Site

The site is designed to be as usable and friendly as we can make it:

The Boats Page gives a summary of each boat type, a price range and a link to the detailed information page. Contacts tells you how to reach us. Prices is a summary of the current pricing for all of the boats. Paddles is a summary of the current range and pricing for kayak and Canadian paddles FAQs are answers to common questions.  This section grows as more questions are asked!!. Gallery is lots of pictures and some text about our boats, either built and waiting for an owner or out in the world having fun.  It also includes some pictures of sailing and canoeing events. Workshop has a variety of content including pictures of work in process and examples of repair work. The Links page is a range of sites of interest for canoeing, boats and traditional sailing. You are at the Home page now....unless something has gone horribly wrong. See the Special Offers page to check for opportunities to get a good boat for less. About Canoe Design gives some general facts that are worth knowing when choosing a canoe. No matter where you are in the site there is a home button to come back here!   Canoe and Kayak coaching can be arranged through Valkyrie craft for both customers and the general public.