Thorpe Island Boats
Premium quality Electric day boats and handcrafted Canadian Canoes, Kayaks and Paddleboards
2024 Season now
OPEN!
Our Boats
Canadian Canoes
Our beautiful handcrafted Canadian Canoes and paddles are made by us at our workshop on Thorpe Island. We have canoes for the complete novice or the veteran paddler, and are the only canoe hire company offering wood strip and fibreglass Canadian Canoes in the UK
Electric Boats
Our electric day boats offer the perfect way to explore the beautifully scenic rivers Yare and Wensum. Relax with family and friends as you navigate the waterways aboard our spacious, comfortable boats and take a moment to admire the diverse abundance of wildlife as your craft quietly cuts the water.
Paddle Boards
Our rigid handcrafted wood paddle boards are not only streamlined craft of beauty, they are very fast and have great stability for beginners. Made in house by us to the usual high standards using tried and tested designs, making them every bit the fastest touring boards available for hire anywhere in the country .
Canoes
If you have never paddled a canoe before, our Swedish built 'Linder' aluminum canoes are an excellent choice. Their wide beam and flat hull shape combined with a keel band, are features that provide paddlers with a very stable and straight tracking canoe.'
Gift Certificates
re you looking to treat a friend or relative to an exciting and environmentally friendly boat hire experience? A gift certificate with Thorpe Island Boats is a perfect way to make happy memories of the river
Handmade Canadian Canoes
I served a joinery apprenticeship between the age of 19 – 21 and by the time I was 25 I started my own business specialising in bespoke furniture. I spent the next 10 years making a great variety of high quality furniture and joinery, always striving to improve my skills and products. My change in direction came in 2017 when I had the opportunity to purchase my current business premises in Thorpe st Andrew, Norwich. I wanted to become more connected with my work so I sold all of my machinery and kept my work bench and hand tools. I’m passionate about my work and this shows on my canoes – I hand make each canoe with the same patience, dedication and attention to detail as a piece of custom furniture.
Mark Harrison
Thorpe island boats
Reviews
Great morning canoeing. Boat was lovely, better than many other places I've rented from. Friendly and informative instruction before we started too, would definitely use again.
Robert Cooke
Had a brilliant day out, highly recommend you give this a go - we took one of the beautiful Canadian canoes for a paddle and despite basically no experience of canoing it was fantastic, that's all thanks to the instructions you get at the start which are brilliant and teach you all you could need to know.
David Applegate
Mark gave a relaxed and informative introduction to his Canadian canoes. The canoe was simply stunning. An easy trip to the Waters Edge at Bramerton Woods End. It was a lovely relaxing experience and we will be returning!!
Rob Powell