Every so often Sawyer Canoes pop up both in conversation and some for sale. I don’t know anything about these canoes, their boat models, attributes or specs. I can’t find any literature on their boats and I don’t know which models were their best. They all look fast and sleek though. Does anybody have a link or spec sheet listing their hull types?

You will want to check out Hans Solo's photo albums. He has scans of old canoe spec sheets.

For example:

sawyer specs

Also you can type something like this into google

sawyer specifications site:bwca.com

Then look at the image results google image results for sawyer specifications

Perfect thanks

There is a Facebook group "Sawyer and other Michigan Canoes" which is frequented by many rabid Sawyer owners. Much discussion on models, specs, layups, etc.

I saw a shockwave hanging in a guys garage, it looked fast. He loves it and just bought a new Wenonah Advantage. He said he would never sell it. I just think they had some cool designs and didn’t know anything about them. The info contained in the link was exactly what I was looking for.

Sawyer Shockwave Solo for sale forum

butthead

Ole496: "Every so often Sawyer Canoes pop up both in conversation and some for sale. I don’t know anything about these canoes, their boat models, attributes or specs. I can’t find any literature on their boats and I don’t know which models were their best. They all look fast and sleek though. Does anybody have a link or spec sheet listing their hull types? "

Mike, some of the Sawyers were early designs from my favorite canoe designer, David Yost. Most of the hulls concentrate more on final stability rather than initial. Also, many have a nice, 3 level sliding seat setup to better trim your load and set your seat height to your comfort level.

Some folks think they are "Tippy" and if you put a German Shepard in one and expect to fish, well that aint it's forte! I've only paddled one tandem, the 18+ foot Cruiser, I believe? It is fast, suprisingly stable, but less freeboard than I like in a tripping canoe. I've paddled several of their solos and own a Sawyer Autumn Mist currently. It is for sale only because the golden glass layup may be a bit too heavy for me to lift by myself when I resume paddling?

Now we all have opinions, so here's mine based on having owned 3 Sawyers and the other Sawyer solos I've paddled:

Summersong, fast, nimble, and better IMHO for smaller and intermediate paddlers.

Autumn Mist, better for bigger paddlers and loads. Too light of a load and it's like sitting on top of a bubble. Put a fat guy or gear in there and it firms up nicely. Faster than a 15' boat oughta be. My complaint is the front thwart could be further back to give more room for gear in the bow.

Solo 13. Similar to a Bell Flashfire with less rocker. Fun little boat for small streams.

Shockwave, the ultimate tripper. LOVE IT and wish the timing were better and I'd buy the one for sale on the board. Looks skinny, narrow, tippy and fast. But it is NOT unstable in the least. I can paddle sitting from the top with my large arse in the seat and still feel comfortable. A mutual friend of Joewildlife and I has one. He's used his in the MO River 340 race. I LOVE that boat and would love to have one (AND an Autum Mist) in kevlar.

Sawyer Loon decked canoe. Open cockpit like a Mad River Monarch or Krueger Cruiser.

If Sawyer Loons were plentiful and cheap, there wouldn't be folks on this forum talking about how great their kayaks are in the bwCa.
Very seaworthy, stable, fast, great in the wind and waves, room for a large pack behind the paddler. Great to portage. The Mad River Monarch and Kruger Sea Wind, even more so.
Joe

I agree with everything OzarkPaddler has said about the Sawyer solo canoes he has paddled.

I bought my first Sawyer almost forty years ago; the classic Sawyer Cruiser. It was a white “Golderglass” model and since then I have upgraded my Sawyer Cruiser to an Expedition Kevlar model. I have added several Sawyer solo canoes to my personal livery over the years as well. It helped that I worked for Rutabaga from 1985 to 1990 when Rutabaga was the largest Sawyer dealer at that time.

It’s unfortunate that Sawyer Canoe Company of Osocoda, Michigan closed its doors in the 90’s. It wasn’t a matter of bad products, but some bad business deals; the contract deal that K-Mart reneged on to build the Yankee Rebel canoes line negatively affected Sawyer greatly.

Sawyer’s best years were in the early to late 80’s when Harry Roberts vice-president of sales and marketing and David Yost was contracted to design many of the solo canoes and several tandems. After Harry Roberts left Sawyer around 1987 things were never the same.
Additionally, there were some quality control issues at times and Sawyer’s Lightweight, foam cored lay-ups were never as good as other composite canoe manufactures at the time in my opinion; most notably Wenonah.

Aside from the Sawyer Shockwave and Cruiser, Sawyer’s DY Special is a particular favorite of mine. That probably accounts for why I own three DY Specials; one Expedition Kevlar & two "Goldenglass" models. (Yes I know, I have a canoe addiction, especially when it comes to those old 80's Sawyer Solo's.) :-)

The DY Special was the predecessor to the Shockwave. Although the specs of the DY Special and Shockwave were virtually the same, the Shockwave is a better shallow water performer than the DY Special. (The Shockwave is similar to Wenonah’s Advantage in that regard.)

The DY Special had more of a pronounced V-hull than the Shockwave and it tracked like it was on rails. Due to the DY Special’s strait keel line and lack of rocker, some paddlers felt it caused the DY Special to track too well. Nevertheless, the DY Special and the Shockwave can also comfortably handle a small to medium size dog as well. The Shockwave and the DY Special are both very user friendly in my opinion.

It’s also my understanding that the 18’ 6” Sawyer 222 Cruiser shares much of the same design DNA with Bell’s 18 6” Northwoods tandem. Likewise, the Sawyer’s Autumn Mist and the Bell Merlin II also share much the same design DNA I’m told.

Most all of the Sawyer canoes designed and produced during the 80’s were great canoes, and most were designed by Dave Yost. The older, classic 17’ 9” Sawyer Cruiser was a Lynn Tuttle design and is still probably the sweetest tandem canoe I have ever paddled.

Great canoes, but unfortunately they are slowly fading away. I know few paddlers that have ever been regretted paddling or owning one of the aforementioned canoes.

Hans Solo

Top Row, from left: Expedition Kevlar Sawyer Cruiser, "Goldenglass" DY Special, Expedition Kevlar Shockwave & Summersong on the beach, (15' 4" Summersong in the foreground)

Bottom Row, from left: Expedition Kevlar DY Special with 60lb. English Setter & two photos of the Sawyer Loon, with the Oscoda Fiberglass lay-up.

Sawyer 222- Best tandem I've ever paddled. As fast as a MNII with ridiculous capability in heavy seas.

I bought a Sawyer 16’ #SAWC6067B787. I believe it was built in 1987. I am looking for more information.

There's a Sawyer group on facebook. They'll help you.

Raunch: "I bought a Sawyer 16’ #SAWC6067B787. I believe it was built in 1987. I am looking for more information. "

Nice canoe. Congrats. It looks really dry like it's been sitting in a garage for many years. The wood will clean up beautifully with a light sanding and a little oil. I suggest that you start oiling the seat cane immediately or it's going to tear the first time you sit on it.

Thanks.
What oil would you suggest?

I use Watco exterior oil, same as I use on the gunwales.

Raunch: "Thanks.
What oil would you suggest?"

I agree that the Watco products are a good choice. I like to use pure hempseed oil like the Badger Paddle oil since it's totally non-toxic and dries pretty quickly. I used to use "gunnel lotion" which was a mixture of 1/3 boiled linseed oil, 1/3 mineral spirits, 1/3 distilled white vinegar. Your wood would love it too. Watco is durable and takes some time to dry. Gunnel lotion goes on more easily and works great with a few light coats and it's great for occasional touch-ups.

I have a Sawyer Canadian that I bought from the Sawyer factory on the banks of the AuSable River in Oscoda, Michigan back in 1981. It has only been in the water a couple of times for short runs and is like new. It has always been stored inside. I'm interested in selling it but have no idea of it's value. Would anyone know what that might be in today's market? I also have two paddles (unused) purchased about the same time which were built by the Ralph Sawyer paddle company (laminated wood with clear fiberglass overlay) which I would also like to sell if anyone might know their current value. At the time we were doing backpacking and wanted to try canoe trekking, but then we had children and our lives changed.