Silverbirch Broadland 15
The Silverbirch Broadland 15 is a versatile British-made open canoe designed to paddle confidently both solo and tandem.
Its balanced hull combines reassuring stability, responsive manoeuvrability and efficient tracking, making it a dependable all-rounder for lakes, rivers, touring trips and moderate whitewater. Compact enough for enjoyable solo paddling yet spacious enough for two paddlers and trip equipment, the Broadland 15 is an excellent choice when you need one canoe to cover a wide range of adventures.
Silverbirch are currently running a Duralite Special in partnership with The Boathouse. This is on selected Silverbirch canoes such as the Firefly 14, Broadland 15 and Broadland 16. See the description drop down for more info or click here to see the Duralite Special!
| Central seat: None |
Versatile Solo and Tandem Open Canoe
The Silverbirch Broadland 15 is a versatile British-made open canoe designed for both solo and tandem paddling. Its balanced hull combines reassuring stability, responsive manoeuvrability and efficient tracking, making it a dependable all-rounder for rivers, lakes, touring trips and moving water. At just under 15 feet long, the Broadland 15 is compact enough to handle confidently when paddled solo while still providing useful space for two paddlers and touring equipment. Its carefully refined rocker and hull profile help it track smoothly without sacrificing the responsiveness needed for river bends, manoeuvres and more technical paddling. Whether you are exploring sheltered waterways, completing multi-day routes or looking for one canoe that can adapt to different paddlers and environments, the Broadland 15 offers a predictable and well-balanced paddling experience.
Best For
- Paddlers wanting one canoe for both solo and tandem use
- River, lake and canal touring
- Day trips, overnight journeys and multi-day routes
- Paddlers seeking a balance of stability, efficiency and agility
- Moving water and moderate whitewater when appropriately outfitted and paddled by an experienced canoeist
- Buyers looking for a British-made open canoe
Why Choose the Broadland 15?
Solo and Tandem Versatility
The Broadland 15 offers an effective balance between compact solo handling and practical tandem capacity. It is manageable and responsive when paddled alone but still provides the space required for two paddlers and a moderate amount of touring equipment.
Balanced Performance
Its hull profile has been developed to combine primary stability, secondary stability and manoeuvrability. This gives the canoe a reassuring feel when paddled level, with predictable support when edged during turns or corrective strokes.
Responsive River Handling
The Broadland 15 features 62 mm of rocker at both the bow and stern. This helps it turn readily and respond to paddle input on winding rivers and moving water while retaining sufficient tracking for touring on flatter waterways.
Adaptable Across Different Waterways
The Broadland 15 is not restricted to a single paddling discipline. It is equally suited to relaxed lake paddling, river exploration, touring trips and more demanding moving-water environments within the paddler’s ability.
Lowline or Highline?
The Broadland 15 is available in Lowline and Highline versions. The difference is the depth of the hull and the amount of freeboard above the water.
Broadland 15 Lowline
The Lowline has shallower sidewalls and a lower overall profile.
This provides:
- Less wind resistance
- Lower overall weight
- Easier loading, carrying and portaging
- Responsive handling for solo and technical paddling
- Efficient control on calmer or more sheltered water
Choose the Lowline when lower weight, reduced wind exposure and responsive handling are your main priorities.
Broadland 15 Highline
The Highline has deeper sidewalls, increasing the canoe’s internal volume and freeboard.
This provides:
- Increased carrying capacity
- Greater buoyancy when heavily loaded
- More protection from waves and rough water
- Additional room for expedition equipment
- A potentially drier ride in choppy conditions
The additional hull depth also increases weight and gives the wind a larger side profile to act against.
Choose the Highline when carrying heavier loads, completing longer expeditions or paddling in rougher and more exposed conditions.
Construction Options
Duracore Plus
DuraCore Plus is Silverbirch’s more durability-focused three-layer polyethylene construction. It is well suited to regular river use, moving water and paddlers expecting frequent contact with rocky banks or riverbeds.
DuraLite
DuraLite reduces the overall canoe weight while retaining the practical durability of a three-layer polyethylene hull. It is particularly beneficial when regularly lifting the canoe onto a vehicle, carrying it to the water or completing portages. Available constructions and gunwale options may vary between in-stock canoes.
Custom Build Options — Every Silverbirch Canoe
Every made to order Silverbirch canoe is built to your specification. The level of customisation is substantial — this is a genuine custom build, not a colour selector.
Shell colour
Choose from 9 standard colours, or request a custom colour combination. Custom colour bands offer an alternative to solid hull colours, allowing you to apply any of our colour options to the 9 band positions along the hull for a striped appearance. Custom colour bands are an additional cost option.
Internal colour
Choose a contrasting or matching interior colour. White is standard on all Silverbirch canoes — all other interior colours are available by request.
A note on hand-blended finishes: Custom colour combinations on Silverbirch canoes are blended for each individual boat, so the way colours and colour bands merge will vary slightly from one canoe to the next. Our configurator gives a close representation of how your chosen combination will look, but we cannot guarantee an exact match to the on-screen preview. Every Silverbirch canoe is hand-built in small batches by skilled craftspeople in Norfolk, UK — that individuality is part of what you're buying.
Lacing colour
Lacing is included as standard on every Silverbirch canoe and comes in 11 options, including fluorescents and neutrals. Beyond colour, lacing plays a functional role: it helps secure and adjust the boat to your body, and helps secure the storage of essentials and airbags.
Gunwales
Available in vinyl and ash — ash for traditional warmth and repairability, vinyl for low-maintenance durability.
Seating
Seat configuration affects both comfort and how the boat handles, so it's worth deciding early. Available seating options vary by model and are shown in full in the product configurator.
Yoke
A yoke makes solo portaging (carrying the canoe overhead) practical. Options are shown in the product configurator.
Kneeling thwarts
Kneeling thwarts improve control and stability for whitewater or technical paddling. Options are shown in the product configurator.
End grabs
End grabs assist with lifting, carrying, and lining the canoe. Options are shown in the product configurator.
Configuration compatibility
Not every combination of options is possible. Some configurations conflict — most commonly, a centre seat cannot be combined with a fixed centre yoke, since they occupy the same position on the hull. If you want both a centre seating position and a portaging yoke, we'd recommend a detachable yoke, which clips in only when you need to carry the boat and comes off for paddling. Our configurator will flag any incompatible combinations as you build your canoe, and our team can talk you through the trade-offs before you order.
When to Consider Another Canoe
You Need Maximum Carrying Capacity
The Broadland 15 provides practical space for solo or tandem touring, but paddlers carrying especially heavy expedition loads, additional passengers or large amounts of equipment may prefer the Broadland 15 Highline or the longer Broadland 16.
Straight-Line Speed Is Your Main Priority
The Broadland 15 is efficient for an all-round touring and river canoe, but its design prioritises versatility rather than maximum cruising speed. Paddlers primarily concerned with straight-line tracking and covering distance may prefer the longer Broadland 16 or a more specialised touring canoe.
You Will Only Ever Paddle Solo
The Broadland 15 performs well as a solo canoe, but paddlers who do not require tandem capacity may prefer a narrower, purpose-built solo model.
Broadland 15 Lowline Specifications
- Length: 4,565 mm / 14 ft 11 in
- Maximum width: 905 mm / 35.75 in
- Width at gunwale: 895 mm / 35.25 in
- Bow rocker: 62 mm / 2.5 in
- Stern rocker: 62 mm / 2.5 in
- Bow and stern depth: 508 mm / 20 in
- Centre depth: 357 mm / 14 in
Deliveries
Once your boat is ready, delivery to mainland UK addresses usually takes 10–15 days. We'll contact you to arrange a convenient delivery date and time once production is complete.
If you prefer, you're also welcome to collect your canoe directly from our facility.
See full delivery details here.
Warranty
Typically, 1st quality boats have a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty for personal use (B2C) – covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal use.
Click here to see full warranty details.
Duralite Spring Special
An Insight Into Canoe Set Up Options, Materials & Outfitting
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Broadland 15 be paddled solo?
Yes. Its manageable length, symmetrical hull and rocker profile make it suitable for solo paddling as well as tandem use.
Is it suitable for two paddlers?
Yes. The Broadland 15 provides practical room for two paddlers and a moderate amount of touring equipment.
Can it be used for whitewater?
The Broadland 15 can be used on moving water and moderate whitewater when correctly outfitted and paddled by someone with the appropriate skills and experience.
Is it suitable for multi-day touring?
Yes. It offers a useful balance of carrying capacity, tracking and manoeuvrability for overnight and multi-day routes. Paddlers carrying particularly heavy expedition loads should consider the Highline version or the Broadland 16.
Where is the Silverbirch Broadland 15 made?
Silverbirch canoes are manufactured in Norfolk, United Kingdom. This canoe is supplied from UK stock.
Can I Choose any colour for my Silverbirch Canoe
Yes. Every Silverbirch canoe is available in 9 standard shell colours, plus custom colour combinations/ custom colour bands as an additional-cost option. Interiors are white as standard, with any other colour available on request.
Will my canoe look exactly like the configurator preview?
Very close, but not guaranteed to be exact. Because custom colours and colour bands are hand-blended for each boat individually, there is natural variation from one canoe to the next — this is a feature of genuine hand-building, not a manufacturing inconsistency.
Can I have a centre seat and a yoke on the same canoe?
Not with a fixed yoke, as the two occupy the same position on the hull. Choose a detachable yoke instead, which allows both a centre seating position and full portaging capability.
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