Yellowknife (Aug 13/03) - You can't miss a freighter canoe coming in to dock. As big as 22 feet, these archaic beauties manoeuvre like smaller boats and glide into port.

That's why people like Ray Bethke and Anthony Foliot still use freighter canoes, opting for the wooden boats over their lower maintenance cousin, the aluminum boat.

Bethke and Foliot joined canoe enthusiasts Saturday for the 10th annual freighter canoe barbecue on Pillow Island.

Four boats came out this year, as small as 18 feet and as big as 22 feet.

Bethke owns two canoes, both from the 1970s. "They can go out on the big lake and I don't worry about it," he says.

His boats are stable and light, and can carry his family of four easily. This is the reason many boaters choose to salvage old freighters, or buy restored boats from others.

Bethke has stripped, repainted, and re-fibreglassed his smaller canoe. He chose traditional canvas repair for the bigger one, and painted it bright red with two-part epoxy paint.

"They do require some upkeep," he says, "but you can run them up on ice and not worry about ripping the canvas."

The Chestnut Canoe Company of Fredericton, N.B. went out of business in the 1970s, as aluminum and fibreglass boats emerged with higher durability, and longer lifespans.

Freighter canoes are still manufactured, but many boat enthusiasts choose to restore the original models made by the historic Canadian company.

Foliot has had his 50-year old canoe for 11 years.

The boat is so durable, he hasn't had to do much work on it over the years. Its weathered shell looks bruised and beaten, but Foliot prefers it to his wife's aluminum boat.

"It's slower," he says, "but you can put lots in them."

Foliot has had many freighters over the years, and remembers cramming four adults, two kids, a dog, and enough gear for a three-week trip to Reliance in a canoe.

There is no doubt these boat owners love their vessels.

According to Bethke, freighter owners come and go in Yellowknife, but new enthusiasts always show up to take their place.