Boat and Quill Shuttles

November 2025 update: new shuttles are now posted.

Currently, there are 3 double boat shuttles available and a few quill shuttles. Regular boat shuttles have sold out, and there is a new batch in progress. Boat shuttles are listed first. Page down to bottom to see quill shuttles.

Canopus Boat shuttles are made up of 3 (or sometimes 5) layers of figured hardwoods, typically combinations of bird’s eye maple, tiger maple (big leaf maple and hard maple), curly cherry, curly white oak, black walnut, figured koa, figured mango, ziricote, ash burl, maple burl, mesquite, and honey locust. Shuttles are highly contoured and fine sanded to 2000-grit with 10 coats of finish applied. A 4mm polished stainless steel rod fits quills or plastic bobbins, and operates up & down using an internal spring mechanism. The spring slot on top is covered either with ebony (black) or pink ivory (red). In the shuttle descriptions below, wood types used, L,W,H, and weight are listed. Most shuttles are made with low heights for use with looms with narrow sheds.

Personal check is preferred. Contact me directly for purchasing shuttles at jon16 @ hayman . us or Jon @ canopuswoodandweave . com (remove spaces from the email addresses).

Standard 4″ boat shuttles:

None currently available, new batch in progress.

Exhibition 4″ boat shuttles with highly figured and more costly woods, plus ebony or pink ivory inlay around yarn slot : $190 plus shipping. Personal check is preferred.

None currently available.

Double boat shuttles (below) are currently available with highly figured woods, and ebony, pink ivory, or cocobolo inlays. $250 plus shipping. Personal check is preferred.

Above: 2025dboat554: Double boat shuttle. Figured koa top, black walnut featherwood center, padauk bottom. Pink ivory inlays on top and ebony yarn slot surrounds on side. 18 1/4″L, 1 7/16″W, 1 3/16″H, 7.0 oz.

Above: 2025dboat555: Double boat shuttle. Ash Burl top/bottom, dark koa band 2nd layers, koa center. Ebony inlays on top and cocobolo yarn slot surrounds on side. 18 3/4″L, 1 7/16″W, 1 1/8″H, 6.5 oz.

Above: 2025dboat556: Double boat shuttle. Ash Burl top/bottom, tiger maple second layers, koa center. Ebony inlays on top and ebony yarn slot surrounds on side. 18 1/4″L, 1 7/16″W, 1 3/16″H, 6.8 oz.

Quill shuttles are typically used in Scandinavian weaving or on looms with narrow sheds. Quills are economical – they may be purchased or made from stiff paper. Quills hold more yarn than a bobbin of comparable size and are quieter to use. Many weavers prefer the use of quills for better selvedges.

Canopus Quill shuttles are made up of 3 (or rarely 5) layers of figured hardwoods, typically combinations of bird’s eye maple, tiger maple, curly cherry, curly white oak, black walnut, koa, mango, and honey locust. Shuttles are highly contoured and fine sanded to 2000-grit with 10 coats of finish applied. A 3.5mm polished stainless steel rod fits standard cardboard quills, and operates up & down using an internal spring mechanism. Extremely hard Brazilian ebony, or sometimes lignum vitae inserts are placed at either end of the yarn slot to reduce wear from abrasive yarns like linen and hemp. The spring slot on top is covered either with ebony (black) or pink ivory (red). In the shuttle descriptions below, we list the shuttle weight, L,W,H. Damask shuttles are less than 3/4″ height.

Any quill shuttle: $160 plus shipping. Personal check or USPS Money Order is preferred.

Above: 2025qs547: Ash Burl t/b, red oak center. 14 5/8″L, 1 7/16″W, 7/8″H, 3.6 oz.

Above: 2025qs548: Mesquite t/b, red oak center. 14″L, 1 7/8″W, 13/16″H, 3.4 oz.

Above: 2025qs549: Quartersawn oak t/b, figured black walnut center. 15″L, 1 7/16″W, 7/8″H, 4.0 oz.

Above: 2025qs550: Tiger maple t/b, red oak center. 15″L, 1 1/2″W, 7/8″H, 3.9 oz.

Above: 2025qs551: Figured koa t/b, Tiger maple center. 14″L, 1 1/2″W, 1″H, 4.4 oz.

Above: 2025qs552: Mesquite t/b, Black walnut center. 15″L, 1 1/2″W, 3/4″H, 3.6 oz.

Above: 2025qs553: Tiger maple t/b, Black walnut center. 15″L, 1 1/2″W, 7/8″H, 3.9 oz.

The following types of custom shuttles are offered:

4″ bobbin standard shuttles: these range from 12″ to 14″ overall length, 1 3/4″ width and low (1″ to 1 1/8″) heights. Heights can be made custom up to 1 1/4″. Ashford and LeClerc nylon/plastic bobbins work best with low-height shuttles. Quills also work.

6″ bobbin shuttles: these are 14″ overall length with the same width and heights as the standard shuttles.

Double boat shuttles (for two 4″ bobbins): these are 18″ overall length, 1 1/2″W, and same heights as standard shuttles.

Quill shuttles (for 6″ quills): these are 14″ overall length, 1 3/8″W, and about 3/4″ height.