Quebec builds boats that don’t rot

Inertia Fiber, in Saint-Justin in Mauricie, specializes in the manufacture of fiberglass boats, which have the peculiarity of not rotting.

Company owner David Lacombe cites its flagship product, the Catch series, as an example.

“It is a very light boat, it has no wood in its construction, and it can also be offered as an option, a construction without wood. So we can guarantee this canoe against water or moisture infiltration for many more years than a traditional rowing boat, since the composite material does not absorb water.”

Initially, the company specialized in repairing boats rather than manufacturing them.

“We specialize in fiberglass repair… hulls, jacks, and spars, which is actually the hull of a boat. You can compare it to the hull of a car.

“Because there weren’t many companies specializing in this field, we had a large client list,” he adds.

However, the company had the opportunity to purchase the molds, which was a rare opportunity.

“Molds are very expensive to develop. Then, there aren’t many resale markets. With a mold, you can make many sizes of boats, and configure the boat’s interior as little as you like, while adhering to manufacturing standards governed by Transport Canada,” explains Mr. Lacombe.

The company has also diversified its business model, by going into the manufacture of stand up paddle boards.

“These are the prototypes from our first two models. It’s built like the hull of a boat. So, we build the hull, all white. Next, we apply high-density polyurethane foam which gives a very rigid board. Everything is done by hand,” explains the owner.

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