Our Story

The Graves Canoe Company grew out of my passion for woodworking, graphic design, and spending countless hours immersed in nature. At age 13 when most kids were making cheese boards in wood shop, I opted instead to turn an African mahogany floor lamp on a lathe, and at that moment my kinship with woodworking was born. I love sculpting wood outdoor gear, blurring the lines of form and function.

I also love exploring places that few people venture to see, like North Manitou Island; Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada; and the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York. There are all kinds of outdoor adventures to be had, but to me there’s nothing better than fishing and canoeing with friends and family. I’ve been thrown from a raft into the frigid whitewater of the Youghiogheny’s Lower Yough, and I’ve run the rapids of North Carolina’s Nantahala. Equally rewarding is a peaceful row across grandma Marvin’s pond; it’s a great place to slip back in time. With over 11,000 inland lakes and 51,438 miles of rivers, I count myself lucky to have canoed and fished local rivers like the Pine River, Rifle River and watching a mayfly hatch on the blue ribbon, Ausable River.

My design education from the College for Creative Studies along with my passion for sculpting wood has led to a simple goal of building the best wood outdoor gear. So when you’re exploring, a beast of a river, or fishing your favorite water hole, it’s my hope that Graves Canoe Company will be a part of your life’s adventures.

– Phil Graves
  Wood Sculptor