Pack Canoes
The issue with, chat rooms emphasis on “I like mine so you will too” is that perspective is lost. Here’s an overview of the genre.
Pack Canoes: a Historical Overview cc cew 2014, 2016
Low seated, double blade solo canoeing was popularized by Scotland’s John MacGregor during the US Civil War through his “Rob Roy”, a semi-decked touring canoe, but Hunter Canoes had originated in the Adirondacks in the 1850s, the paddler sitting on a slats in the bottom and also using double blade paddles. They were similar to modern recreational kayaks but are open topped canoes for easy paddler entry and exit. Single blade paddles were used when alders interfered with the long/wide footprint of double paddles.
G.W. Sears, who wrote outdoor articles as “Nessmuk”, commissioned a series of plank on frame canoes from Rushton in the 1880s. Between 9 and 10.5 ft in length and between 11 and 23 pounds in weight, they were all Sears, 110 lbs and tubercular, could carry or “pack” on a series of Adirondack paddling trips.
The rebirth of Sears/Rushton’s pack canoes started with Bart Hauthaway, an Olympic Slalom Kayaker. He molded several small, double blade canoes with low seats, sometimes with decks and oversized cockpits presaging the modern Rec. Kayak and retaining the cheeked stems from Rushton. Old Town Canoe molded one in fiberglass as a ~1965 “Pack Canoe”, later forming the Pack in ABS and Rotomolded plastic; with high solo canoe seats.
Peter Hornbeck started molding pack canoes in the 80’s starting with a higher sided, 9’ X 26”“Lost Pond” variant of the original Rushton “Sairy Gamp”. He followed with a significantly longer, wider and deeper version of the Rushton boats, 10’6” X 30” to fit modern sized humans. Over time Peter developed larger models and molded in progressively more sophisticated Kevlar and Carbon, and currently offers a carbon hull with integral carbon rails at 11 lbs with minimal outfitting. Newer, “New Trick” Hornbeck boats have dropped their cheeked stem but continue the original concept: minimal size and outfitting to reduce weight and improve portability at some cost in ruggedness, seaworthiness and paddler comfort and control. Peter attracted attention and competition.
Joel Flather of Compass Canoe copied original Ruston sizes before selling his molds to Heritage in ~2005. Dave Curtis molded his 10’6” X 27” Nessmuk from a Hauthaway hull before stripped his own 11’10” X28” Nessmuk XL, both hulls with traditional flared, cheeked hulls, minimal outfitting and foam pad seating.
Dagger’s Steve Scarborough designed the Royalex Tupelo, with bottom mounted cane seat and back rest ~1991 just as David Yost nudged Bell Canoe into producing “BuckTail”. Both fit modern paddlers, and while retaining the flared sides of Rushton’s originals, modern entry and exit lines increased speed and stability. Bell’s outfitting retained a low foam seat but added an adjustable backband and footpegs, improving paddler comfort and control. Bell wet bagged Bucktail with a foam core as a rugged, river-running, tripper at ~28 lbs.
After the turn of the century Grasse River and Savage also both developed small pack canoes named Wee Lassie. GRE also came out with two sophisticated design based on modern marathon canoes. Both companies offered minimal outfitting but optioned footpegs in cored and bagged or infused construction.
Placid boatworks changed the genre in 2004, their Yost designed SpitFire incorporating tumblehome to improve the paddler’s station in a modern Swede-form hull with differential rocker. Outfitting includes high shaped molded seating, footpegs and adjustable backband to maximize paddler performance and comfort. Infusion molded carbon/ Kevlar laminates with integral foam rails and thwarts result in very rugged, lightweight, boats. All feature two tone gel, with off hite wterline patches to hide scratches. Placid pioneered longer tripping- oriented hulls with more capacity and speed. Construction, outfitting and two tone trade dress places Placid’s boats in the premium catagory.
Vermont Canoe commissioned Robbie Frenette to design their “Tupper” in 2005. Tupper was offered in all Kevlar construction bottom mounted cane seat, footpegs, and backband. WeNoNah entered the pack canoe market ~2006 with the 12’6“ X 27.5“ Wee Lassie and,13’ X 31” Fusion; wet bagged with sliding seats, footpegs and backrests in Kevlar with flared sides and minimal rocker; they are reasonably rugged and priced.
Swift has built pack canoes since 2010 with flared 12’4” and 13’8” models both 27.5” wide are now joined by a 14 ft tumblehomed Yost design with a 13 footer in development. All are Swede Form with differential rocker and are light and rugged, with infused and cored laminates and integral foam cored rails and composite thwarts and grab handles. Outfitting includes footpegs and a comfortably padded seat with adjustable backrest. These premium hulls feature stunning trade dress including two-tone gel.
Mad River offered the Serenade pack canoe for in 2012 at 13’ X 28.3” with tumblehomed sides and the expected V bottom. in Fiberglass at 32-36 lbs plus seat and attractively priced, it was heavy until built in cored Kevlar for 2015. There are three new pack canoe builders. Slipstream focuses on hulls reminiscent of Rushton shapes in price pointed glass, Kevlar and ultralight carbon. The Adirondack Canoe Company makes minimally outfitted Kevlar pack canoes with modern, cheekless hull designs. NorthStar has remolded the Bell Wee Lassie as the Adirondack 12 and Old Town’s Bob McDonough designed Next arrived fall 2014. 13’ with a tumble homed hull, footpegs, and adjustable seat in OT’s very heavy but price pointed triple-dump poly construction.
The pack canoe market supports two design schools in late 2015. Minimalist concept reduces weigh to improve portability via short length, light construction and minimal outfitting. The Tripping concept improves on water performance with comfortable outfitting in more rugged hulls. The variety of hulls satisfies a broad array of individual preferences.