Grumman Canoe History | Mayhem on the Mississagi | Part 2

In this video, I share the story of how our adventure led us to rely on our trusty Grumman canoe, and along the way, we had some unexpected encounters and challenges. As we wrap up Day 1 on the Mississagi River, where the water is mostly flat, I take a moment to pay tribute to this old friend. It’s not the prettiest, lightest, or fastest canoe, but out here on the Mississagi, it just might be the best. We begin this episode by launching from the beach where we stopped for lunch. With few rapids or swifts to navigate on this leg of the journey, I have time to reflect on the fascinating history of the Grumman canoe. Before it ever touched water, its creators were focused on the skies. During World War II, the Grumman Aviation Corporation, renowned for aircraft like the Wildcat, Hellcat, and Avenger, dominated the skies over the Pacific. Their planes were as adept on water as they were in the air, with the Grumman Goose being a prime example, still coveted by island hopper airlines worldwide. Over time, their fighter jets, like the F-14 Tomcat from Top Gun, became iconic. Grumman also made a name in the private jet market with their Gulfstream aircraft, and today, Northrop Grumman plays a key role in space exploration. But back in 1944, as World War II was winding down and demand for planes decreased, Grumman began using aircraft aluminum to craft canoes. These canoes were sturdier, lighter, and stronger than their wooden counterparts, quickly becoming a favourite among recreational paddlers, including the iconic Bill Mason. While Mason wasn’t fond of their aesthetics or the noise they made, he still chose a Grumman, nicknamed the Queen Mary, for family trips on the French River, Georgian Bay, and Lake Superior. Yes, Grumman canoes can be noisy, lack sleek lines, and even leave a trace of aluminum oxide on your skin, clothes, and paddles. But they are dependable, rugged, and unpretentious—qualities that made it the perfect vessel for our journey on the Mississagi, as we discovered later in the day. The kayaks and our Grumman acquired a few new battle scars, but we all made it to the campsite safely. We’ll wrap up our trip in next week’s episode. Until then, thanks for watching, and I hope you enjoyed the video. Inspired by:    / @forestyforest      / @xanderbudnick      / @maximbudnick      / @northernscavenger      / @lostlakes      / @harmenhoek      / @kraigadams      / @justinbarbournlexplorer      / @adventurearchives0      / @paddletv      / @headwaterskayak      / @outdoorboys      / @woodsboundoutdoors   #CanoeAdventure, #GrummanCanoe, #MississagiRiver, #Kayaking, #CanoeTrip, #Paddling, #OutdoorAdventure, #Wilderness, #RiverJourney, #VintageCanoe, #WWIIHistory, #GrummanAircraft, #TopGun, #OutdoorExploration, #CanadaWilderness, #BillMason, #CanoeLife, #ClassicCanoe, #NorthropGrumman, #AviationHistory, #CanoeCamping, #NatureExploration, #thessalon, #algoma, Sources: https://paddlingmag.com/boats/grumman... Credits: Images: 1 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... SDASM Archives, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons 2 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... USN, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 3 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 4 Grumman J4F-1 NAN1-93.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... 5 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi... Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 6 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... JetPix (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 , via Wikimedia Commons 7 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 8 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... PizzaKing13, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons 9 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... 10 https://www.northropgrumman.com/ 20 Videos https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... 3_Avenger_%28Sorry_For_The_Static_Prop_%3B%29%29.ogv LEJ.approach/dvldi, CC BY 3.0 21 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... John Veit, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons