Well, winters got us so down that we actually went down to the Atlantic City Boat Show. Note that this is predominently a powerboat show but, to thier credit, G. Winters Sailing Center from Riverside, NJ brought 3 of Compacs cat boats: Suncat, Sunday cat, and Picnic cat. They stood out like pearls among swine! The new Hunter Powersailor was there. Now I thought there could not be an uglier sailboat then the McGregor powersailor but Hunter has outdone them! This is one ugly boat with a serious identity crisis although it looks like it has a stronger rig than the Mac. It's a problem when one owns a beautiful Compac- most other pale in comparison.
Meanwhile, back at the Mount Gay Rum stand, yours truly was flirting with, ah, well no- just accepting free rum samples from the young lady at the stand. A lovely woman of color, she confided that she had never tasted Mount Gay Rum but was instead a Tequila girl. Oh, to be 150 years younger!
At the Adirondack Guide boat stand, owner Steve was there with a number of boats. This was the main reason I came to the show. I love to row and I love these traditional yet funtional and fast rowing boats. I put on my bucket list: Buy a guideboat before it's too late. Check them out at www.adirondack-guide-boat.com.
The first boats we saw were the Ranger Tugs. Just beautiful is all I can say. If I were ever to stop sailing (bite your tounge, man!) one of these tugs would be the next best thing.
There was so much more there but something is limiting me from typing more text. It's a conspiracy, I say!
Bob23
Thanks a lot Bob23. You just cost me an hour of wasted time with your Adirondack Guide boat link! That's one fine looking boat. Now I find myself scheming what canoes I can sell to finance one of those. No worries though the Compac is safely in the "never sell" list. The dingy though.... maybe I could part with the dingy..
mel
Mel:
Yeah, they are even more beautiful in person. I'm in the same boat (pun quite intended) of wondering what I can sell to buy one. How much do they pay to give blood these days?
They are great rowers and according to Steve, one won this years Blackburn Challenge in the singles fixed oar division. To row the Challenge is one of my goals...maybe for 2012.
Sorry about the wasted hours. Boat porn is addictive!
Bob23
Saw those Adirondacks at the Hartford boat show a week ago, very nice! ....just something about fine craftsmanship and wood that is so easy to appreciate, wether it be under sail, row, or power! (someone had a restored wooden '30 or '40 vintage Chris Craft there, fine looking vessel as well)
If you get serious about looking for one keep an eye on Craigslist. My father picked one up about 2 years ago at about half cost. He rows it around Wickford Harbour. Said it rows very well and is stable.
I haven't taken it out yet but it is a nice looking boat.
Shawn
I'll keep my eye out for one but I don't imagine they come up for sale too often.
Bob23
Bob,
You might be surprised. My father had found several of them for sale within a reasonable distance and they were available for awhile.
Shawn
I found one in Vermont for 9k. A handbuilt guideboat, not from the Adirondack Guideboat Company. I keep my eyes open for one. They really are beautiful. I'd like to build the cedar guideboat kit. The finished boat goes for about 14k while the 15' kit is about $3800.00. Although very pretty, the cedar boats look like a maintenance nightmare!
Bob23