Old Boats (of the Ye Olde)

We went to the Adirondaks for the 4th and on the last day hit the Adirondak museum.  There is a whole building FULL of old boats.  Its a pretty amazing collection of canoes and fancy old speed boats.

This is a older style rowing shell, built for cargo as much as speed.

This is power boat called a "sled" which is the first flatbottom hull, which led to modern race boats and eventually to hydroplanes.  I love how this is still from the time when craft was important and wood was cheap.  Check out the huge Evenrude outboard, one of the first.

Once White folk stole Canoes from Natives Americans, they started "improving" them.

This is a Sailing canoe, known as a "poor mans Yacht" though they cost $170 at the time, and the people making them would have to work for almost a year to afford one.

These were the coolest, Adirondack GuideBoats.  A cargo canoe that could be rowed by a single person.  They were used by Guides who were hired by vacationers, called "sports".  The sport sat at the stern with a paddle, but often did no work.  The boats were built to carry gear but also to be light enough for the guide to portage solo between lakes.  They are Badass!

The museum has a sort of "living history" program where a boat builder-in-residence builds an authentic guide boat that is auctioned off each year.  This one was start last june.  The previous boat sold for $24k.  they are so Pretty!