I bought a canoe about 17 years ago and never knew anything other than it was a brand I wasn’t familiar with and I loved to solo in it even though it’s a tandem. I’m having a hard time finding info on this specific model. Is it a late 70’s Watersmeet? Between 16’ and 17’ tandem. It has a Blackhawk logo but the SN isn’t on the Blackhawk list I have seen. I’ve enjoyed many river runs in it and I’m curious to know more about my favorite canoe. I also want to pass it on to the next paddler with proper info when I’m ready. This old girl doesn’t get her paddle out like she used to. Any help and history info would be greatly appreciated.
I’m thinking there must be a second (older?) Blackhawk canoe company.
I own three of the Janesville WI Blackhawks (Starship, Ariel and Zephyr) and have been a fan for decades. All mine are from what they called their “adventure” series (and there was also an~18 ft tandem in that series called the Phantom.) They had a more conventional line called the “hawk” series which were also very lively canoes. There was also a lower end line called the “combi” series (I’m not sure how many lengths were made in that line. All the combis could be easily identified - they had molded in cup holders.) All the preceding were Phil Sigglekow designs. They also made two Pat Moore designs - the Covenent and the Proem which were favored, at least by folks I was acquainted with, for freestyle sorts of paddling.
All had straight cutwaters. I have never seen one with the curved stem and stern lines of the one pictured nor have I ever seen that logo. The older Janesville logo was:
and the newer one:
Yours looks like a fine boat, but it isn’t anything I’ve seen from the Blackhawk canoe company I’m familiar with. And the company status of the Blackhawk canoe company I know is definitely not “In Business”. Hasn’t been since the mid 90s and Phil Sigglekow has passed away.
I’m curious to see what folks here know about the Arkansas Blackhawks.
