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If people are the brains of WRT, then canoes are its backbone. This section catalogues the canoes of WRT along with a short history of each. (Not all the canoes are shown on this page yet, but more are being added.)
Donate a Canoe
The Wildlife Research Team has a system for naming their canoes. There are two general types of canoes, solo and tandem. Solo canoes are meant to be used by one person at a time, and are often steered from a seat in the center of the boat. Tandem canoes can be used solo, but they are made for use by two or three people. Ever since Doer, WRT's first canoe, the names of the Team's tandem canoes have been variations on the word, "do," representing the hardworking spirit of the Team. Solo canoes have varying names, Magnificent Deviation being the first solo canoe and representing the deviation from the typical tandem canoes. Many of the solo canoes have names representing the black color scheme of the fleet.
Name of the canoe
[picture of the canoe]
Added to Fleet: When the canoe was added to the WRT fleet
Model: Canoes are built in many different models, differentiated by their length, their features, and the company that made them. This entry explains which model each canoe is.
Material: What it is made out of.
History: How WRT got this canoe.
Current Status: Where is it now?
Doer
Added to Fleet: Early 1993
Model: Mohawk 16' Blazer
Material: Laid fiberglass
History: Doer was the Wildlife Research Team's first canoe. She was purchased used, and in bad shape from Hurricane Andrew, with huge holes in the bow. After much restoration work, she was able to see the birth of the Wildlife Research Team. Her original yellow paint job was replaced by WRT's trademark black, and then Donna Cannon got to work painting the boat for the Team. Doer was the only WRT canoe to have stripes. However, the extra decoration was seen as too time-consuming, considering that any future canoes owned by the Team would need similar paint jobs which would have to be done all over again every time a canoe required maintenance or repainting. When the time came to repaint Doer, the colorful stripes were eliminated from the standard WRT design. Despite her long years of service, Doer again saw a great deal of active duty in the NOAA Habitat Restoration Project from 2001-2003. It is poetic justice that she was involved in repairing damage caused by hurricanes, since she was nearly destroyed by Andrew many years before.
Current Status: Semi-retired.
Do-It
Added to Fleet: 1993
Model: Indian 15' keeled
Material: Chopped fiberglass
History: Do-It was purchased new. Being an exceptionally wide and stable canoe, she is the canoe the Team uses when taking out people with handicaps or limited mobility.
Current Status: In drydock, needing repairs. She worked extremely hard during Project Baitfish and sustained a lot of wear and tear!
Zubenelgenube
 
Added to Fleet: 1994
Model: Custom hand-made
Material: Cedar strip
History: Named for the farthest star from Earth that can still be seen by the naked eye, Zubenelgenube was built by hand at Feather Canoes, in Sarasota, FL, by Tom Kazo and Donna Cannon Kazo.
Current Status: Hanging out looking good, waiting for her next public appearance.
Did-It
Added to Fleet: September 1994
Model: Mohawk 17' guide boat
Material: Laid fiberglass
History: Did-It was the first canoe WRT received as a donation. She once sustained significant damage but was expertly repaired and returned to use.
Current Status: Semi-retired but available should we call upon her!
Dunnit
Added to Fleet: 1995
Model: Sawyer 17'9" Cruiser
Material: Fiberglass
History: Purchased used in Port Charlotte, Florida; found through a newspaper ad.
Current Status: After working hard in Project Baitfish, Dunnit is in for long-term body repair.
Magnificent Deviation
Added to Fleet: July 1995
Model: Mohawk 14' Jensen racing canoe
Material: Laid fiberglass
History: Magnificent Deviation was WRT's first solo canoe, but having been designed for paddlers around 5'7" in height, she refused to carry Dr. Tom and immediately dumped him into the water. However she was a perfect fit for Christianna, as seen in the photo!
Current Status: Waiting for fresh paint and lettering.
Dark Deceiver
Added to Fleet: 1995
Model: Mohawk 14' Challenger
Material: Royalex
History: Dr. Tom's first solo canoe when Magnificent Deviation proved unsuitable.
Current Status: Ready when we are.
Doable
Added to Fleet: 1995
Model: Sears, less than 12'
Material: Fiberglass
History: Donated by a friend of WRT. Works best with two small paddlers.
Current Status: Ready and waiting.
Black Diamond
Added to Fleet: February 1997
Model: Mohawk 14' Challenger
Material: Royalex
History:
Current Status:
Chalupa
Added to Fleet: Early 1997
Model: Mohawk 14' Challenger
Material:
History:
Current Status:
Midnight Oil
Added to Fleet: 1997
Model: Mohawk 14' Challenger
Material:
History:
Current Status:
Duzzit
Added to Fleet:
Model: Mohawk 16' Blazer
Material:
History:
Current Status:
Well-Done
Added to Fleet: 1998
Model: 16-17' keeled
Material:
History: Well-Done was received used as a donation.
Current Status:
Liquid Black
Added to Fleet:
Model: Mohawk 14' Challenger
Material:
History:
Current Status:
Sure-Do
Added to Fleet: 2001
Model: Mohawk 17'5" Intrepid
Material:
History:
Current Status:
PJ-Do-Too
Added to Fleet: 2001
Model: Mohawk 17'5" Intrepid
Material:
History:
Current Status:
It'll-Do
Added to Fleet: 2001
Model: Mohawk 17'9" Blazer
Material:
History:
Current Status:
Wanna-Do
Added to Fleet: November 2002
Model: Mohawk 17'5" Intrepid
Material:
History:
Current Status:
Do-Right
Added to Fleet: November 2002
Model: Mohawk 16' Blazer
Material:
History:
Current Status: Stationed at Delevoe Park to be used for river cleanups and educational tours.
Do-Fer
Added to Fleet:
Model: Mohawk 16' Intrepid
Material:
History:
Current Status:
Will-Do
Added to Fleet:
Model: Mohawk 17' Intrepid
Material:
History:
Current Status:
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