LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 22 and today's recreationists prefer the sense of explo- ration they find in facing forward. Even in the 1880s the famous pack canoe trendsetter George Washing- ton Sears, better known by his pen name Nessmuk, lamented the labor of rowing while constantly looking over his shoulder, something his double-bladed paddle didn't require. Canoe and kayak paddles are more ap- proachable for recreational paddlers, and as small craft boating became more popular, the canoe, and even- tually kayak and pack canoe, offered easier access for novices. Another reason for the guideboat's decline was one of their original assets. They were luxury craft to be rented, not owned, and a personal Adirondack guide came as part of the package. For the emerging class of self-guided paddlers, it was more cost-effective to purchase a mass-produced wood & canvas canoe and guidebook along with accompanying maps. New paddlers were looking to explore our public lands for themselves. The appeal of a guide was waning, and their boats fell into disuse. For the wealthy camp owner, the guide- boat held on as an Adirondack icon, but motorized run- abouts came along and guideboats were displaced to racks along boathouse walls, to be taken out more sel- dom with each passing summer. In a time of mass production, the guideboat is still hand-crafted by highly skilled builders using the same time-honed techniques as Martin and Chase once did. In a traditional guideboat there are no corners to cut, and a single boat takes the better part of a year to craft from start to finish. Each rib, plank, and rail are custom carved to fit. The pursuit of lightness leaves no room for excess or error, resulting in some of the fin- est craftsmanship found in wooden boatbuilding. It is a passionate few that still work on and build them today. A great respect is due to individuals like Robbie Fre- nette, Chris Woodward, Allison Warner, Rob Davidson,

• Cover