The Adirondack guideboat is a rowboat that was developed in the 1840s for recreational activities in the Adirondack region of New York state.1 It was designed to have a shallow draft, carry three people and their gear, and be light enough to be portaged by one man, the guide. It is propelled by oars in rowlocks, as a rowboat, rather than a paddle, as in a canoe. Typical dimensions are 16 feet (5 meters) in length, 38 inches (1 m) beam, and a weight of 60 pounds (25 kilograms).1 While superficially resembling a canoe in size and profile, its construction methods are very different and are one of its defining features.2
The stem and ribs are made from spruce, a wood which has a very high strength to weight ratio. The hull is planked up with cedar laps, with seams tacked with copper tacks. The hull has a bottom board, like a dory, typically made of pine.2 Ribs are traditionally cut from spruce roots which have a grain following the desired curvature of the rib.3 Adirondack historian Alfred L. Donaldson credits Adirondack guides Mitchell Sabattis and Cyrus Palmer with the invention of the guideboat.4: 79 5: 23–24
Since 1962, the annual Willard Hanmer Guideboat Race has been held on the closest Sunday to the 4th of July in Saranac Lake.6 It is a 10-mile (16-kilometer) canoe and kayak race on Lake Flower and down the Saranac River.
In 2016, modern hand-crafted versions sold for about US$20,0007 (equivalent to $26,000 in 20248).
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References
References
- Swanson, Rodger (January 7, 2016). "The Adirondack Guideboat". Small Boats Monthly. No. Small Boats Annual 2017. WoodenBoat Publications. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- "Construction of an Adirondack Guideboat". Adirondack Guideboats. Saranac Lake, NY: Woodward Boatshop. n.d. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- Sulavik, Stephen B.; Comstock, Edward; Woodward, Christopher (2018). The Adirondack Guideboat: Its Origin, Its Builders, and Their Boats. Peterborough, NH: Bauhan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-87233-260-7. LCCN 2018027600. OCLC 1008765211. OL 27365346M.
- Donaldson, Alfred L. (1921). A History of the Adirondacks. Vol. II. New York: The Century Company. LCCN 21009060. OCLC 1383265. OL 6634671M. ARK ark:/13960/t1bk1hw46. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- Aber, Ted; King, Stella Brooks (1965). The History of Hamilton County. Lake Pleasant, New York: Great Wilderness Books. OCLC 1720192.
- Kurtz, Mark (July 2, 2012). "50th Anniversary Willard Hanmer Guideboat Races". North Country Public Radio. Canton, NY. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- Lynch, Mike (May 23, 2025) [First published September 16, 2016]. "Building On Tradition". Adirondack Explorer. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025.
- Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
Further reading
Further reading
- Durant, Kenneth; Durant, Helen (1980). The Adirondack Guide-Boat. Blue Mountain Lake, NY; Camden, ME: Adirondack Museum; International Marine Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-87742-125-2. LCCN 80080778. OL 4123964M. urn:urn:lcp:adirondackguideb0000dura:lcpdf:f97fd26c-0da4-4e97-acc0-d8e947ca9072.
- Sulavik, Stephen B.; Comstock, Edward; Woodward, Christopher (2018). The Adirondack Guideboat: Its Origin, Its Builders, and Their Boats. Peterborough, NH: Bauhan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-87233-260-7. LCCN 2018027600. OCLC 1008765211. OL 27365346M.