@thebob.com said:
You call them pretenders; I call them old school.
Likely a question of semantics, perception, opinion.
The vast majority of the boats pictured are certainly post wood/canvas, post aluminum. That’s old enough to qualify as “old school” to me.
If I wanted to get picky; I could say that your wood/canvas canoe is a “pretender”.
It isn’t made from a log, not made of birchbark, not made of reeds. It is not an Indian made, buffalo skin, bull boat. It is also not a 2 or 3 hundred year old Hawaiian outrigger, nor a Viking longship.
BOB
P.S. I own a Chestnut Pal from the 1960s. Is it a pretender? It only a little over 55 years old…
How about a repurposed Saudi whatever turned into a flower pot?
It’s pretty easy to define “old school” when it comes to whitewater boats - anything longer than 9’ and not made of high-density polyethylene. In other words, its not a Blackfly.
GBG there are a lot of wooden canoe builders. “Production” is a relative term. Each craft requires some 100 hours at least, and the profit margin( or not) means that shops are one or two person affairs.
WCHA has a list of builders… You have some in your area. Jeannie Bourquin and Alex Comb make wonderful brand new wood canvas canoes.
@eckilson said:
It’s pretty easy to define “old school” when it comes to whitewater boats - anything longer than 9’ and not made of high-density polyethylene. In other words, its not a Blackfly.
Someday I’m going to get myself one…
You may have to up your qualifying length Erik. Silver Birch brought their Rebel prototype to ALF. 11 feet plus if I remember.
Old School is definitely a perception of others. My group I paddle with nicknamed me “Old School”. They all paddle kayaks and I’m the only canoe (Rival). I gave up wool for neoprene wetsuit and a dry suit. Still “Old School”. I did purchase a Blackfly Option, still called “Old School”. The pipe tobacco I indulge in on river breaks doesn’t help, but mostly I think they call me that because AARP sent me a birthday card this month
Great pictures everyone.
It’s all relative. Some of what you’re calling “new” was designed and built before computers were common place and computer aided design relatively unheard of. If a vinyl record is old school, isn’t a royalex canoe? If a motorcycle or car from the 70’s and even into the 80’s a classic, wouldn’t a canoe be? If Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Metallic are being played on the classic rock station now, a canoe built with them playing in the background for the first time on radio is surely no longer considered part of the new school is it?
