Ted Bell is back in business. The former owner of Bell Canoe Works is again designing and manufacturing canoes, this time for his new company, Bell Composites.
Producing canoes only since January, Bell’s business is based out of Zimmerman, Wisconsin. Currently, only two designs are available—the Northwinds 17 and Northwinds 18 are both based off of Bell’s past models and have updated designs. Next month, Bell Composites will add a solo canoe to their roster of boats; the design is based off of Bell Canoe Works’ popular Magic.
“I’ve been dabbling in composites all along, onesies here and there,” says Bell of the decision to specialize in composites.
Business is going well so far. Expecting to produce 100 boats this year, Bell Composites is sold out of production through the season.
In the canoe business for more than 25 years, Bell founded and ran Bell Canoe Works for 20 years, selling it in 2006. “They did some things that were different than what everyone else in the canoeing world was doing, then they shut their doors,” says Bell of the new owners.
Bell’s designs are known for being efficient and seaworthy. “The boats I’m building, their predecessors have a major following. The Northwinds are the most popular boats in Bell Canoe Works’ line,” he says. “The Northwinds 17 was the best-selling boat over the years and Northwinds 18 was the best-selling boat in the Boundary Waters Area.”
Followers of the line will be pleased that they can get these boats, Bell says, adding that it was a non-compete agreement that’s kept him under the radar for so long.
This year, Bell Composites will be available at just half a dozen dealers, including Wisconsin’s Piragis. Expect to see them locally in 2014 with expanded distribution and a third tandem design.
