The Wooden Canoe Heritage Association's Willits Classified Listing Archive

• Pictures of a 17 foot long Willits canoe from 1943 that were submitted on 6/24/2022

  1. Willits Canoe for sale
  2. $3500
  6. MPLS, MN
  7. Willits - 1943 S/N 696, 17 ft - good to excellent original condition

• Pictures of a Willits canoe with a sail rig from 1952 that were submitted on 4/2/2023

  1. Willits Canoe with Sail Kit
  2. $11,500 or best offer
  6. North Coast of Oregon
  7. "This canoe has a set of white oak bilge keels. The seats are spruce. The Willits Brothers, Inc. nameplate is present on the bow coaming. The hull shape is true and undistorted and metal fasteners do not show saltwater corrosion. The serial number is stamped on the end of each inside stem and on the backside of the bow coaming...The canoe is in overall good condition. All planking and other components of the canoe are original...The interior of the canoe has few wear marks, and there are typical wear and tear blemishes on the exterior resulting from normal use of the canoe. The joints between planks are very tight due to very little wood shrinkage since the canoe was constructed. The varnish is in good condition in the interior, and it could use a new coat of exterior varnish. The sailing accessories are all original Willits brothers accessories, and include a spruce mast and spar assembly with Dacron sail and cotton lines, spruce rudder poles, mahogany rudder pole blocks with brass leaf springs, spruce fin keel, mahogany rudder, mahogany mast partner, bronze mast step, brass gudgeons and pintles, and a canvas bag to hold the mast, spars, and rudder poles. All of these accessories are in near-mint condition with original finish. I have never seen an original Willits sail made from Dacron, but I am convinced from the pattern of the sail panels, method of construction, and the method used to tie the sail to the boom and spars that it was made by the Willits brothers. All other original Willits sails I've seen have been light cotton canvas. This sail, therefore, is a rare example of an exception to the brothers' usual techniques. The paddles are original Willits paddles, 4.5 feet long. They show some blemishes from use, but are not otherwise damaged." -Patrick Chapman, excerpt from written condition report. This is #811, finished January 14, 1952. I bought it from original owner in 1962.
  8. Condition: Good Original

• Pictures of a 17 foot long Willits canoe from 1956 that were submitted on 7/23/2025

  1956 Willits
  $10,000
  Port Townsend, WA
  This is Willits #877, a standard 17' cedar and mahogany masterpiece. It is currently owned by the son of the original purchaser, who treated it with such great care that it is in nearly mint condition. It shows only very minor signs of use and sports the original finish. A canoe of this condition, and with the included accessories, is a rare find. In addition to the canoe, included in the sale are 2 original 5' Willits paddles, original wool rug, original unused outboard motor mount and carry sack, original complete car top carrier blocks and straps, original canvas dust cover, and various receipts and correspondence from Earl Willits regarding the sale of the canoe and accessories.
  17’ long
  Excellent original condition

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