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ARO Boat Fan Club
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| Cabinaire, Canadaire, Carry-Aire, Convaire, Corsaire, Debonaire, Nordaire, Sireco, Skyliner, Speedaire, Sportsaire, Travelaire |
This non-profit web site is dedicated to owners and fans of "Aroliner" aluminium boats which were made by the Aroline Boat Company Ltd. (ABC) in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada. The designing and manufacturing was directed by George Narcisse Giguére, during the approximate period of 1935-1990. Our web site goal is to share history and pictures of these enjoyable and tough aluminium boats which seem to have "nine lives". When they receive a little "tender loving care", they will outlive most of us.The best web site we have found, so far, on the History of Aroline Boats, is http://www.aroline.com, designed by Paul Fraser.
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A long lost model reappears ... "Lifetime Canoe" ... courtesy of Chris R. Apr 2018 ... click to view |
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Some disclaimers: This web site is not an eBay, nor Twitter, nor Facebook, nor Trader ... There are NO endorsements - implied, typed or any other form, means or manner ... just a Fun Site ...If you wish to share pictures, information or have questions, please contact webmaster.
NOTE: This web site is always undergoing updates and reorganizing - Please excuse the scrambled eggs.
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| Photo Galleries of Models | ||||||
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Cabinaire |
Canadaire |
Carry-Aire |
Lifetime Canoe |
Convaire |
Corsaire |
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 Slightly smaller than Corsaire - 17ft. 84" beam |
 3 Carry-Aire models made - 14 ft. Configurations availavle = 3 seats, or front bow deck, or midship deck Also known as the Carryaire .. |
 17 ft. Canoe - This model only appears in this early 1950s publication. Units were made during the early years = 1940/1950 decades. By 1960 they appear to have disappeared. |
 Wider than Debonaire - 75" beam. First appeared in 1965 catalog. Avaible in Hardtop convertible, Convertible, Hardtop with "flying bridge", Runabout |
 Larger than Canadaire - 18ft. 96" beam (runabout). Available Runabout or Hardtop or Ragtop Note the sliding glass side window |
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Debonaire |
Nordaire | Skyliner |
Speedaire |
Sportsaire |
Travelaire |
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 Perhaps 2nd most popular model - 16 ft. 66" beam. Open air runabout. For a brief period in 1960 a **Super-Sixteen** 72" beam model was offered |
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 sportsaire - midship helm - 16 ft. |
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| Photo Gallery of Specials |
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Sireco II |
Sireco |
Hot Rod |
Fire Engine | USA CG |
Speedaire Racers |
Tri-hull prototypes 1965+/- |
 George's 1967 private design - 42 footer ! |
 25 footer |
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 George produced a few Tri-Hull designs in the mid sixties when Inboard/Outboard stern drives first appearred - (Sadly, we have no reports as of 2019) |
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The "Shark" Prototype ? |
The "Flying Tiger" another prototype ? |
Solar Powered Cabinaire |
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I/O Stern Drives |
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 "Silver Shadow" Mfgr 1970 ? Possible Convaire hull ? Check out the fishing gear ! |
 Rag Top - home made ? |
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During the late sixties, George produced a few "standard" models with I/O stern drives. Here is a beautiful Corsaire example |
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| Photo Gallery of unknown ports |
 Nice woodwork |
 1956 Pickled Mermaid |
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| More Information | ||
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| Fan Club | Oldies | Links | Canadian Boating |
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"Aroline, was the first all alloy, aircraft
riveted aluminum boat in Canada, and arguably in the world. Founded by George Narcisse Giguere. Born August 5, 1905 in Keewatin, Ontario,Canada, Aroline produced thousands of practical, affordable, durable, runabouts from the 1930's until the company's demise in the early 1990's. The plant was located at 26 Archibald Street in St. Boniface (Winnipeg), Manitoba, Canada. Aroline had a loyal following of return customers who had come to realize that quality doesn't necessarily mean expensive, and the company went on to fill orders worldwide. At it's peak in the late 1960's, the factory was employing 30 men and turning out an average of one boat per day, year around. The 1965 price of $695.00 would make you the proud owner of a 16' "Cabinaire", completely rigged and delivered to your home, needing just the power to complete the package. Built using anodized .080 gauge aluminum, sealed with "Plyo-bond" and double riveted, with twice as many ribs and keels as any other manufacturer of the day, Aroline was the boat of choice. Aroline, being the first, really had NO competition to speak of until "Lone Star" boats of Texas and a few others jumped on the bandwagon in the early 1950's. Soon "StarCraft", "Springbok","Lund","Crestliner" and a myriad of others ensured that Aroline's market share would be shrunken to a mere shadow of it's former glory. Nonetheless, Aroline managed fine until, free-trade and shipping tariffs made it all but impossible for a small Canadian boat manufacturer to compete with the massive multinational firms sprouting up all around the continent.
Aroline sadly closed it's doors when George Giguere at
age 90 was too old to manage the failing business and the end of
an era had been reached." |
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2004We are in the process of restoring a 1940s vintage aluminium Aeroliner "Cabinaire" hardtop boat (Saci) made by Aroline Boat Co. Ltd. (ABC) and a Holsclaw trailer (August 2004). We are looking for parts and other fans of these unique and fun boats.
The best fan web site we have found so far on the History of Aroline Boats, is http://www.aroline.com designed by Paul Fraser.
Doug & Bar Wagner drwagner@cgocable.ca |
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Courtesy of P. Guibord 2006 |
Coutesy of ACBS |
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| Metal Boat Society |
Transport Canada "Blue Sticker" information |
Pleasure Craft Licences (Registration) effective April 1, 2006 |
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A side line restoration project in 2004 for our 2 granddaughters. They are just learning the ropes.
Found Sambinha at a garage sale, full of water, unknown how long it had been out of the water.
Found the 9.9 Evinrude 2S in another garage sale.
New transom, seats, oars, oar locks and again a LOT of polishing elbow grease.
Now resides at Lac Manitou, Quebec. Really a fun boat.
"Aroline, was the first all alloy, aircraft
riveted aluminum boat in Canada, and arguably in the world.
Founded by George Narcisse Giguere, born August 5, 1905 in
Keewatin, Ontario,Canada,
Aroline produced thousands of practical, affordable, durable, runabouts from the 1930's until the company's demise in the early 1990's. The plant was located at 26 Archibald Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Aroline had a loyal following of return customers who had come to realize that quality doesn't necessarily mean expensive, and the company went on to fill orders worldwide. At it's peak in the late 1960's, the factory was employing 30 men and turning out an average of one boat per day, year around. The 1965 price of $695.00 would make you the proud owner of a 16' "Cabinaire", completely rigged and delivered to your home, needing just the power to complete the package. Built using anodized .080 gauge aluminum, sealed with "Plyo-bond" and double riveted, with twice as many ribs and keels as any other manufacturer of the day,
Aroline was the boat of choice. Aroline, being the first, really had NO competition to speak of until "Lone Star" boats of Texas and a few others jumped on the bandwagon in the early 1950's. Soon "StarCraft", "Springbok","Lund","Crestliner" and a myriad of others ensured that Aroline's market share would be shrunken to a mere shadow of it's former glory. Nonetheless, Aroline managed fine until, free-trade and shipping tariffs made it all but impossible for a small Canadian boat manufacturer to compete with the massive multinational firms sprouting up all around the continent.
Aroline sadly closed it's doors when George Giguere at
age 90 was too old to manage the failing business and the end of
an era had been reached."
By Paul Fraser circa, 2002
Some Trailer makers from days gone by:
Balko Trailers, Ladysmith, WI
Gator Trailers by Peterson Bros., Inc.,Jacksonville, FL (today Gator is a division of Spartan)
Hilltop Boat Trailer, Wauseon, OH
Holsclaw Bros., Inc., Evansville, IN
Little Dude Trailer Co., Fort Worth, TX
Long Trailer Co., Tarboro, NC
Mariner Marine Products, St. Paul, MN
Mastercraft Trailers, Middletown, CT
Pacemaker Trailer Co., Glenolden, PA
Selma Trailer & Mfg. Co., Selma, CA
Shipmate by Simek Mfg., Johnstown, NY
Tee Nee Trailer Co., Youngstown, OH
Sources: National Marine Manufacturers Association web page; Yachting magazine January 1955; Outboard magazine December 1958; Sports Afield magazine March 1954; vintage and contemporary boat trailer catalogs
Courtesy of ACBS-bslol 2006
