Lavigne's Canvas Co. sews boat covers, bimini tops and enclosures, pontoon restorations, boat and auto upholstery, SeaDek flooring, awnings, canvas repairs and custom pieces for the Municipality of French River, from our shop at 102 Booth Rd in North Bay. Noëlville is roughly 100 km away by road. Most customers from Noëlville, Alban, Monetville and Wolseley Bay trailer the boat to the shop for Proliner measuring, and on-site measuring at a dock or lodge can be arranged, so ask us about it when you call.
Noëlville & the Municipality of French River · Open in Google Maps ↗
Travel: Depending on how far you are from North Bay, a travel charge may apply for on-site measuring or installs. If it does, it's on your quote up front, before anything is booked.
The French River leaves the southwest corner of Lake Nipissing and winds about 110 km to Georgian Bay through narrow channels, rock, rapids and quiet bays. In the Municipality of French River, a lot of boating happens on that water: fishing trips out of Wolseley Bay, cottage runs from the West Arm near Monetville, and families who keep a boat at a lodge dock for the summer. Rocky shorelines, long sunny days and boats that rarely come out of the water all wear canvas and seats faster than people expect.
French River customers usually come to us for a custom boat cover that stays put at a dock, a bimini top or full enclosure for cooler spring and fall trips, or new seats and upholstery after a few seasons of sun. The simplest way to work with us is to bring the boat to North Bay on its trailer. If it can't easily leave the water, call and we will talk about whether on-site measuring makes sense for your spot.
We have been sewing on Booth Road since 1995. Each boat is measured with a Prodim Proliner, cut on our CNC table, and the pattern stays on file for the next order. Select fabrics carry a 10-year warranty, our workmanship is guaranteed, and larger jobs can be financed through Financeit, on approved credit.
Every service we offer is open to customers across the Municipality of French River, from the farms around Noëlville to the cottages on the river.
Pontoons suit the wide bays of the French River and the West Arm, where a crowd of family and a cooler matter more than speed. If your tubes and motor are sound, we can replace the seating, put down a new floor and build a fresh top, all planned as one job.
See pontoon restorations →
A boat that sits at a lodge or cottage dock on the river for weeks needs a cover that snaps down tight and sheds rain and pine needles. For winter, we build fitted covers with support poles and vents, measured to your hull with the Proliner so they do not sag under snow.
See custom boat covers →
The river opens into big bays where there is little shade, and spring and fall mornings on the water can be cold. A bimini handles the summer sun, while a camper top or full enclosure with clear windows makes early walleye season and late cottage weekends more comfortable.
See bimini tops & boat enclosures →
Fishing boats on the French River take hooks, wet nets and muddy boots on the seats all season. We recover helm and casting seats, benches and bow cushions in marine vinyl, replace foam that holds water, and also do truck, car, ATV and snowmobile seats.
See boat & auto upholstery →
Old carpet on a fishing boat soaks up water, bait and fish slime and never quite dries. SeaDek gives you a soft, non-skid surface that rinses clean, and woven vinyl works well on pontoon decks. We can add a fish ruler for measuring your catch before release.
See seadek & marine flooring →
Homes, cottages and businesses around Noëlville and along the river can get hard afternoon sun on decks and front windows. We measure each building and make retractable deck awnings, window and door awnings, and storefront awnings sized for the space.
See awnings →
A pulled snap or a stuck zipper should not end your season on the river. Bring the top, cover or enclosure to the shop on its own and we will replace zippers, snaps and window vinyl, restitch seams, and tell you honestly if the fabric is too far gone.
See canvas repair →
French River has plenty of farm, trail and cottage gear besides boats. We sew equipment and trailer covers, custom tarps, UTV and side-by-side cabs, snowmobile enclosures and curtain walls, each one patterned to the machine or opening and quoted before we start.
See industrial & custom sewing →Three places in the French River area that shape how boats get used, stored and worn.
Running about 110 km from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay, the French River became the first Canadian Heritage River in 1986. Boaters mostly reach it through private lodges and marinas, where launching fees apply, so many boats stay in the water for long stretches. That means mooring covers, tops and seats spend the whole season exposed to sun and rain.
Opened in 2006 beside Highway 69 near Alban, the visitor centre won the RAIC Governor General's Medal for architecture in 2010. Inside, the Voices of the River exhibit covers the river's history as a travel and trade route. There is no river access at the centre, so boaters start from a lodge or marina and need their boat ready for long days out.
Wolseley Bay is one of the communities of the Municipality of French River, reached by Highway 528, which runs 13.5 km east from Highway 64 south of Noëlville and ends at a bridge over the Wolseley River. Cottages, lodges and fishing camps on this stretch of the river keep boats at the dock all summer, where a good mooring cover pays off.
Email info@lavignescanvas.ca or call 705-410-6872 with photos of the boat, canvas or seats, plus the make, model and length and where it is kept. We usually answer the same business day.
Trailer the boat up to 102 Booth Rd and we measure it with the Proliner. If it is tied up at a lodge or cottage and hard to move, ask us about on-site measuring before you make the trip.
When the work is ready, pick it up at the shop, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and we can fit it on the boat before you head home. The pattern stays on file for later.
“The crew at Lavigne's came together on a small but uniquely challenging project and produced the perfect Bimini frame, top and weather panels that really put this endeavor above any of its predecessors. Their attention to detail combined with quality material transform this ordinary sandbox into a modern mini yacht. Thank you so much for squeezing this into your incredibly busy schedules and surpassing all expectations.”
“These guys are fantastic. They just finished a custom travel cover for my boat and I couldn’t be happier. I am happy with the price given it is a premium product. What I really appreciated was the service, the team from the office to the shop was fantastic to deal with, was done on time and were very accommodating to exactly what I wanted. Will be back with another project no question. Highly recommended”
“Amazing quality and amazing service! The canvas turned out better than I could’ve imagined. You can tell they put a lot of care into their work. Highly recommend Lavigne’s Canvas!”
“Great craftsmanship and excellent service. Drove from Sudbury because I knew it was going to be done right.”
“Had a complete cover replaced on my four Winns bow rider. Pat Junior and Pat Senior were amazing to deal with and absolute gentlemen. They stayed within their quote, upgraded a few items and increased the headroom with the top on the boat. When I arrived to pick up the boat the pride and quality in their workmanship is obvious. I could not be happier with the final product and would recommend this company to anyone that asks.”
“I had Lavignes canvas make me a snap on boat cover for a 16’ side console boat. Pat was very professional and happily took the time to answer my many questions, over various inquiries. I came from Sudbury after the local shop started getting annoyed after I’d asked just a few questions, and I’m happy I did. The final product is great and so was the customer service. I highly recommend them.”
“We needed a top for our pontoon boat. I called 5 shops. Lavignes was the only shop who answered the phone and easily gave me a rough estimate without seeing the boat that was bang on! They stayed on time, on budget, did a beautiful job and we’re great to work with.”
“We are thrilled with our new pontoon boat enclosure and seat covers! From beginning to end our experience was amazing! Kristy was so helpful suggesting colours, and the workmanship on the seats and enclosure is first rate—not to mention how quick they completed our project!”
“We recently chose Lavigne's Canvas to make new covers for our 2011 Larson fish & ski boat. They did an amazing job with the covers! The level of service, friendliness, and communication was unmatched from the time we scheduled our appointment to the time the work was completed.”
“My Tracker boat cover was a mess after winter snow damage, plus several wear spots and holes. The service was performed great, matching existing canvas colour. Had it fixed very fast with quality work. Saved me $800 for a new cover!”
“In 2022 I had a new boat camper top and new woven vinyl rug installed in my 2005 Doral bow rider. The quality of the workmanship is excellent and this spring the flooring and top still look new.”
Possibly. On-site measuring can be arranged in some cases, so call us with the location and what the boat needs and we will tell you whether it makes sense. For most French River customers, the easiest route is to trailer the boat to our shop at 102 Booth Rd in North Bay, where we measure it with the Proliner.
Our shop at 102 Booth Rd in North Bay is roughly 100 km from Noëlville by road. Most people take Highway 64 north through Monetville to Verner, then Highway 17 east into North Bay. Sending photos first means we can talk through the job before you make the drive, and in many cases you only need to bring the boat in once.
Bring the seats in on their own, or the whole boat if the floor needs work too. We strip the old covers, check the foam and bases, replace anything that has soaked up water, and recover them in marine-grade vinyl. If the carpet is also done, SeaDek or woven vinyl flooring can be added in the same visit.
Yes. We can build a bimini or camper top on a frame that folds down neatly, so it can be lowered for trailering, for storage or for low spots on the water. Let us know how you use the boat and how often you lower the top, and we will set up the fittings to suit. Always check your own clearance.
Yes. Custom sewing is not limited to boats. We make fitted covers for farm equipment, implements and trailers, along with heavy-duty tarps and curtain walls for sheds and shops. Send photos and rough measurements, and we will quote the piece before any work starts. Patterns are kept on file for replacements.
Tell us about your boat and where it lives in the French River area. We will quote the job and set up measuring at the shop, or talk through on-site options.