There’s no better picture of summer in Canada than paddling on a picturesque lake. When that canoe or kayak comes from Paluski Boats, you can be assured that everything from its manufacturing to the ownership behind the company is supporting both the local and Canadian economy.
Based in Selwyn Township — one of eight townships in Peterborough County — Paluski Boats was founded in 1980 by Graham Wilkins, a former gold medallist with Canada’s National Rowing Team who spent a decade on both the Trent University and Peterborough rowing clubs. By 1984, fibreglass engineering expert and boat manufacturer Pat Smith had joined Wilkins in partnership at the company.
Today, Paluski Boats manufactures and sells durable canoes, kayaks, and paddles, as well as boating accessories, with all materials 100 per cent made in Canada. As a manufacturer that supplies recreational paddled watercraft and accessories for the tourism industry both locally and across the country, the company is anticipating a sharp increase in demand for its products this year as more Canadians decide to vacation at home instead of travelling to the U.S.
Increased sales of the company’s products will also be good news for the local economy, as Paluski Boats exclusively works with Peterborough-based Merit Precision for the injection-moulded plastics needed for all parts of their products. Sourcing close to home allows Paluski Boats to manufacture boats with the exact grade of plastic needed to offer a meaningful lifetime hull warranty.
The company also relies on two local businesses to keep its boat factory running. All the propane for their ovens and other machinery comes from Casey’s Propane in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, and the machinery is serviced by Battye Mechanical in Peterborough.
While Paluski Boats might be familiar to some as a supplier of boat rentals for Alberta’s iconic and internationally known Moraine Lake, the manufacturer is well known closer to home. Products can be found at rental outfitters Kawartha Adventures and Long Lake Lodge, both of which are in the Township of North Kawartha, as well as at retailers including the company’s factory store, Adventure Outfitters in Selwyn Township.
The company’s boats can also be rented at some of Ontario’s provincial parks — including locally at Bon Echo, Silent Lake, and Sharbot Lake — and through the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority at Beavermead Campground in Peterborough, Lakefield Campground, and Warsaw Caves Conservation Area.
Products from Paluski Boats can also be found at more than 20 other dealers across Ontario, many of which have already begun to increase orders or are choosing to exclusively stock Paluski Boats because the company’s products are entirely Canadian-made.
Though Wilkins helped establish the Kinsman Boat House at Trent University, coached local rowers at the high school and post-secondary level, and played a key role in establishing the Ontario Speed Skating Oval in Lakefield — which Paluski Boats continues to maintain — he suggests the most proactive way he supports the community today is through the company itself.
For 15 years, Paluski Boats has run a program through which local non-profits and organizations can get affordable boats to raise money for their causes. Organizations that have benefited from the program include the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame, Trent University Athletic Department, Kawartha Gymnastics, Lakefield Historical Society, and the Rotary Club of Peterborough, among others.
While some dealers of Paluski Boats are based in the U.S., which includes a large market for paddles from the rafting industry, Wilkins remains confident the company can weather the economic uncertainty from U.S. tariff threats — not only due to an increased demand for Canadian-made products and more Canadians vacationing at home this year, but because of the superior quality of the company’s products.
“There is not a U.S. supplier that sells exactly the same product that we provide,” Wilkins says. “Our advantage is a better quality product and quicker turnaround time.”
For more information, visit paluskiboats.com or follow Paluski Boats on Facebook and Instagram.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
