The first in our line of canoes, the Taiga WT follows lines of tradition. Designer John Lockwood studied countless traditional canoes during the development stages. With few exceptions, original tripper canoes had symmetrical re-curved ends and tumble home sides. The Taiga is the first stitch and glue canoe kit that incorporates traditional tripper canoe design. Re-curved bow and stern and tumble home are characteristics that have been lost in mass produced plastic and fiberglass boats due to the difficulty of pulling them off molds. This is not the case when you build the beautiful Taiga from precision pre-cut panels.

If you are like us at Pygmy Boats, you often long to get away. Whether you take a month and head to the far north woods or an afternoon to explore local waters, the Taiga wilderness tripper can be your key to solitude. Paddlers will fall in love with the grace with which the Taiga plies the water. Her weight and balance will be appreciated along portage trails. Stealthy efficiency make the Taiga WT an excellent choice for bird watching and fishing as well.

John, family and friends spirited The Taiga and three kayaks off recently for a month paddle on Canada's immense Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. They loaded her down with 70 pounds of food, a 4-man tent, sleeping bags, large air/foam sleeping pad, clothing bags, pots and pans, a cast iron frying pan, fire grill, folding aluminum chairs, personal gear, 3 fishing poles, two tackle boxes, plus the kitchen sink. She took it all, a total of about 700 pounds including paddlers. John was truly amazed at the ease with which the Taiga held pace with our Osprey Double and Arctic Tern kayaks.

Construction is a snap. Take a look. The pre-cut panels quickly wire up around five temporary frames. A rugged sheathing of fiberglass cloth both inside and out protect her mahogany wood core. Details include beautiful ash gunwales, thwarts and seats. Comfortable, classy wicker seats cushion the tail for hours of comfortable paddling.