After fundraising about $10,000 all on its own and applying for several grants to help to buy the new canoe, club captain Doug Henderson said the craft should arrive in the next few weeks.
The club ordered it from Composite Surf Products about October last year. It was still in Gisborne waiting to be picked up.
Last year's major earthquake near Kaikoura delayed delivery of the canoe.
Mr Henderson said McLay Boats, of Milton, had generously offered to pick it up during a routine trip to the North Island.
Last year, club members Olivia Richardson, Jessica Craik, Kayla Dent and Ashlea Katon competed in the national championships in a similar-style canoe for the under-19 short and long course canoe races.
A single-hull canoe, dubbed the Mistress, is also used in the canoe events.
Jessica said the canoe was a lot heavier and just ``crashed'' through the waves.
The current double-hull canoe used by the club was a lot heavier than the new one expected in the next few weeks.
``Even though it looks the same, it [the new canoe] is still a lot lighter.''
She was ``most definitely'' looking forward to trying it out.
``It means we'll be able to spend a lot more time in the water training and hopefully win a lot more races.''
Olivia said the new twin-hulled craft would perform a lot better in the water.
``It means we've got a better chance of doing well.''
She helped with several of the fundraising events including chopping and selling firewood and catering for a horse trek.
It was her last year to compete in the under-19 event for the club before she moved to Dunedin for study.
Mr Henderson said he hoped the new canoe would bring a lot more enjoyment to the club's competitive events and more people would join the club.
The national championships will be held at New Brighton, in Christchurch, later this month.
The Surf Life Saving Championships comprise a major event in New Zealand with several age groups from under-16s through to Masters competing over four days.
