Help Identify Builder of this Adirondack Guideboat

[J.R.King]

Hi all,

Long time listener, first time caller...

Requesting any and all help identifying the builder and timeframe of this boat.

I just purchased it from a couple in NH that couldn't tell me too much about it. Some Google searches are showing me that this boat has changed hands several times, and went through a 'restoration' in the early '90s. It did not come with oars. The seats and those boards along the bottom of the boat are not original.

It's between 17-18' long, 75-ish lbs. I only have the pictures I have (which are a few more than the ones posted below) but that's it. It's tucked away in storage for the time being. I posted the pictures that show as many of the characteristics as I think are relevant.

Whatever I am able to find out here in this thread, I'll still be taking this boat to NY this summer to get it in front of the experts. My goal is to get it authenticated, if I can, before deciding how to proceed. Ideally, I'd like to get it restored to as close to original as I can - and then get it back in the water.

Standing by to answer anything that I can.

Thanks!
Jon

 

[Worth Gretter]

There is a book that might help you with identification:
"The Adirondack Guideboat: Its Origin, Its Builders, and Their Boats"by Stephen B. Sulavik.
It must still be in print, because a new copy is about $40, and used it is less than $30 at ThriftBooks, AbeBooks, or Alibris.

 

[John Sand]

You might try posting on the WoodenBoat Forum too. Nice boat, good luck.

 

[J.R.King]

There is a book that might help you with identification:
"The Adirondack Guideboat: Its Origin, Its Builders, and Their Boats"by Stephen B. Sulavik.
It must still be in print, because a new copy is about $40, and used it is less than $30 at ThriftBooks, AbeBooks, or Alibris.

For sure. I bought a copy for my dad when he picked up his guideboat a few years ago. He's in Tupper, seeing what he can determine from there. I'll be reading through it myself soon.

I have a copy of Durant's book coming in today, "The Adirondack Guide Boat," to see what additional information I can glean. I'll update this thread with anything that I find.

 

[J.R.King]

You might try posting on the WoodenBoat Forum too. Nice boat, good luck.

Thanks. Will do! I've also emailed Adirondack Experience (Blue Mountain Museum) to see if they can help me with my research.

 

[chris pearson]

Ted Comstock in Saranac Lake NY….He can identify it…

 

[Rob Stevens]

Ted Comstock & Chris Woodward on Stephen Sulavik's book, "The Adirondack Guideboat: Its Origins, Its Builders and Their Boats" (Bauhan Publishing, 2018)

Books: The Adirondack Guideboat

It was known as the 19th century work boat for sportsmen and their guides in the Adirondacks. Today it's an icon of the mountains, and a new book tells the history of the Adirondack guideboat and many of the region's builders. The Adirondack...

www.northcountrypublicradio.org

Also, an Adirondack Almanack piece;

New Book On Adirondack Guideboats Published -

The life’s work of Stephen Sulavik, The Adirondack Guideboat: Its Origins, Its Builders and Their Boats (Bauhan Publishing, 2018) provides a heavily illustrated history of the iconic Adirondack guideboat.

www.adirondackalmanack.com

 

[J.R.King]

Thanks @chris pearson and @Rob Stevens!

I will be emailing Mr. Comstock this morning.

In the meantime, here's a piece of the story that I got in the past 24hrs:

From the couple that I bought the boat from: "...The person I purchased from told me that S Sulavik came to his place and looked at the skiff. He said it was a very early Rice boat from the 1800’s. He describes it in his book. It is the last paragraph on page 276."

Here is that paragraph:

If true - this is Dr. Sulavik describing the EXACT boat that I'm looking to identify. The description checks out.

What do you guys think?

 

[Worth Gretter]

Rob, yesterday it was the Haida video and today the Comstock/Woodward radio interview. Good stuff!

 

[J.R.King]

Here's the link to all of the photos that I have:

Google Drive - Jon's Guideboat

 

[chris pearson]

It checks out, but I’m no expert. What beautiful watercraft they are…..