Charlie was born in Lakefield in 1886 and spent his growing-up years working around his father's canoe business and starting a taxidermy business, a business he continued as a sideline for the rest of his life. He moved to Bobcaygeon to work with Brother Gib building canoes at the Kawartha Canoe Factory in 1909.
He and his wife, Mary, moved west to Saskatoon and then to Vancouver, where they lived for several years. He and his young family returned to Bobcaygeon in 1919 to work with Gib. Charlie took over the business in the early 20s, changing the name to Gordon Boat Works. Over the next 20+ years, he expanded the company from canoes to runabouts, cruisers, and all manner of watercraft. All were built with the same level of craftsmanship and eye for detail that the original Gordon Canoes were known for. Charlie retired in 1944 and passed away in 1948.
Kawartha Canoe Company operates out of Dr. Thorne's boathouse.
In the 30s, this new larger building replaced the one just up the river at Dr. Thorne's. For many years this was the only location in the Village which built and serviced watercraft. The number of boats of all sizes was rapidly increasing, and many of the larger ones were stored over the winter at Gordon Boat Works, where they could be reconditioned to be ready for the following season.
The Gordons were contracted to build a large cruiser named The Water Gypsy for Mr. Ed Watt. Many skilled workmen were employed for the undertaking, including Earl Hearne, an experienced cabinet-maker, Ed Grant, an expert carpenter, and the gifted craftsman Gilbert Gordon. The result was a beautiful craft, a crowning glory for the Gordon Boat Works. The "Water Gypsy" pictured above typifies the larger style of cruiser that gives tremendous cruising scope with maximum of comfort.
This boat is built of solid 1 1/8" mahogany, with comfortable accommodation for seven persons. She is 38 feet long with 11 feet of beam and only draws 2 feet 9 inches of water. The power plant consists of twin Ailsa-Craig diesel motors with 12 miles per hour cruising speed. A complete electric light plant, galley, and toilet make a perfect summer home on the water.
Gordon Outboards
16' cedar Strip powered by a 16-horse Johnson Outboard.
With the development, in recent years, of the outboard motor to its present dependability and usefulness, the popularity of the outboard motor boat has become almost universal.
Every camp needs one or more of these, regardless of what larger boats they have. They have made waters heretofore inaccessible the haven of the fisherman and camper.
Gordon Runabouts
This custom-built runabout is the ideal size for a larger runabout, 25 feet long by 6 feet in beam with a draft of 15 inches round bottom. A 125-horsepower motor will clip her over the water at 28 to 30 miles per hour. This beauty was custom-built for H. Bellinger (note the horse-drawn sleigh)
Gordon Canoe
The canoe illustrated above is 16 feet long by 30 inches in width. Built of 1-inch cedar, trimmed with walnut, one-piece decks.
Despite an over-fondness for relaxation at the cottage, all of which has been aided by the development of the power boat, many places can only be reached by canoe or rowboat. They are the work of the Master Craftsman and build to last a lifetime.
Gordon Cruiser
The building of a cruiser is more than just building a boat. The individual requirements have to be considered, as well as the fact that the investment is usually larger than that of a smaller boat. A cruiser, therefore, should be custom-built to suit the location and kind of waters in which it is going to be used.
Gordon Cruisers are all custom-built and have proven over a period of many years to be the finest that money can buy and a source of constant satisfaction to their owners. This type of cruiser can be built from a twenty-five-foot length to almost any size required. Then there are the faster "Day-Cruiser" types, built on the lines of the larger Runabouts, with more sleek lines and greater power units giving speeds up to forty miles per hour.
Cruisers of any type "Built By Gordon" have a long life, sturdiness, and comfort built right into them from stem to stern.