Ray Klebba and host Gordon Elliot kayak in a "Twin Star" boat; White Salmon River, Ore.

The most well-known canoe design, a frame of wooden ribs covered with some lightweight, waterproof material, has remained virtually unchanged for millennia. With mass production today using plastics and aluminums, everything is set to a decent standard; but it's a standard — a cookie cutter situation. There is still someone out there keeping the ideal of individuality alive — boat builder Ray Klebba. Working from his small shop in White Salmon, Washington, he's known for building possibly the best canoes, kayaks and dinghies in North America. Whether you want to own a piece of practical art handmade by a master, or learn the timeless skills yourself, White Salmon Boatworks has options and opportunities that will suite your boating needs.

• Ray's classes are held two nights a week and all day on Saturday. It takes three months to build a canoe.
  
• A canoe class costs $2,300, which includes all materials, tools and individual instructions you'll need.
  
• Ray offers two canoe kits. The $850 "basic kit" is for experienced craftsmen with access to power saws. The $1,800 "full kit" has everything you'll need, pre-cut and ready to go.
  
• For those having White Salmon Boatworks build completely build a canoe ($3000-5,000), Ray will work with each customer to determine which patterns and woods will be used in construction.

Eric Stiller, founder of Manhattan Kayak Co., on common alternatives to wooden canoes.

• Wooden canoes need yearly up-keep, but there are many care-free alternatives.
  
• Aluminum canoes are very durable and cheap, selling for $800.
  
• ABS plastic canoes are strong, light-weight and cost about $1,000.
  
• Today's high-tech canoes are made from Kevlar. They sell for about $2,500.
  
• Fiberglass canoes are relatively inexpensive for what they offer. Sometimes it can be better to pay a bit more now than to regret it later!

White Salmon Boatworks
White Salmon, Wash.
509-493-4766
dreamboats@gorge.net, www.raysdreamboats.com

Manhattan Kayak Co.
New York, N.Y.
212-924-1788
info@manhattankayak.com, www.manhattankayak.com