Peterborough Boats Advertising of the '50s

A Seafarer Hardtop on Display at the Peterborough Boat Company Factory - 1950's

In the year 1879, a small group of men, inspired by the idea of producing only high quality merchandise, commenced the manufacturing of Peterborough Canoes. They soon became recognized as the pioneers in small boat building in Canada. For the opening up of the Northern and Western territories of Canada, explorers, prospectors, surveyors and others whose business took them beyond the lines of railway transportation, the canoe was a necessity. It was in those early days when only the best could stand the test. The word "Peterborough" first became recognized as meaning "the standard of excellence" in small watercraft. 80 years later, as a result of strictly adhering to quality policy, Peterborough watercraft became famous the world over, and the company enjoyed a reputation which was unsurpassed in the boat building industry. The company had its own lumber yard to enable the best selection of materials, a planing mill, a well equipped plant, and many highly skilled men who took pride in their workmanship. They expanded from their sturdy canoes of the late 1800's to sailing dinghies, sporty motor boats and Express Cruisers of the 1950's. A momentous occasion for the Peterborough Boat Company was the personally crafted 12ft. cedar strip canoe presented to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip as a wedding gift in 1948.

*Thanks to Dwight Boyd for providing the above information

**If YOU have any information (history, brochures, pictures, stories, etc.) about the Peterborough Boat Co. that you could share with our organization, please contact us.