It is with great sadness that we tell you of James van Nostrand , canoe designer, builder, and friend to the outrigger community, who passed away in Abbotsford BC, on Monday, April 15th. James lost a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
James worked for many years with Clipper Canoes, designing the majority of their recreational canoe fleet, outrigger canoes, rescue sleds and ofther craft. His 65' travelling traditional First Nations traveling canoe is the largest produced in Canada.
James designed the Northbeach OC-4, co-developed the Clipper Advantage OC-6 with Greg Barton, and helped our compnay breathe new life into the C-Lion OC-1 in the Pacific Nortwest and Canada. His expertise crossed all paddling discplines as he was also instrumental in reworking the Gemini Dragon Boats still used in Vancouver's False Creek today.
James was a familar face (usually covered with a dark beard and his ever present Tilley hat! ) at the Howe Sound Iron Outrigger Races in Gibsons, BC. As technology evolved, James became well know as the "go to" guy for repair work on carbon outrigger canoes throughout the community. An innovative designer, boat builder, sculptor and photographer, James loved to work with his hands and to be on the water.
He grew up in Ontario, made BC his home and loved Canada from East to West.
We'll miss you James, see you on the water.
Open Ocean Outriggers
Vancouver, BC
Submitted by Openocean on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 11:57am
It is with great sadness that we tell you of James van Nostrand , canoe designer, builder, and friend to the outrigger community, who passed away in Abbotsford BC, on Monday, April 15th. James lost a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
James worked for many years with Clipper Canoes, designing the majority of their recreational canoe fleet, outrigger canoes, rescue sleds and ofther craft. His 65' travelling traditional First Nations traveling canoe is the largest produced in Canada.
James designed the Northbeach OC-4, co-developed the Clipper Advantage OC-6 with Greg Barton, and helped our compnay breathe new life into the C-Lion OC-1 in the Pacific Nortwest and Canada. His expertise crossed all paddling discplines as he was also instrumental in reworking the Gemini Dragon Boats still used in Vancouver's False Creek today.
James was a familar face (usually covered with a dark beard and his ever present Tilley hat! ) at the Howe Sound Iron Outrigger Races in Gibsons, BC. As technology evolved, James became well know as the "go to" guy for repair work on carbon outrigger canoes throughout the community. An innovative designer, boat builder, sculptor and photographer, James loved to work with his hands and to be on the water.
He grew up in Ontario, made BC his home and loved Canada from East to West.
We'll miss you James, see you on the water.
Open Ocean Outriggers
Vancouver, BC
Submitted by Openocean on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 11:57am