TheAdirondack guideboat is arowboat that was developed in the1840s for recreational activities in theAdirondack region of NewYork state.[1] It was designed to have a shallowdraft, carry three people and their gear, and be light enough to beportaged by one man, theguide. It is propelled by oars inrowlocks, as a rowboat, rather than a paddle, as in acanoe. Typical dimensions are 16 feet (5 meters) in length, 38 inches (1 m)beam, and a weight of 60 pounds (25 kilograms).[1] While superficially resembling a canoe in size and profile, its construction methods are very different and are one of its defining features.[2]
Thestem and ribs are made fromspruce, a wood which has a very high strength to weight ratio. The hull is planked up withcedarlaps, with seams tacked with coppertacks. The hull has a bottom board, like adory, typically made ofpine.[2]Ribs are traditionally cut from spruce roots which have agrain following the desired curvature of the rib.[3] Adirondack historianAlfredL. Donaldson credits Adirondack guidesMitchell Sabattis and Cyrus Palmer with the invention of the guideboat.[4]: 79 [5]: 23–24
^abSwanson, Rodger (January 7, 2016)."The Adirondack Guideboat".Small Boats Monthly. No. Small Boats Annual 2017. WoodenBoat Publications.Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. RetrievedJuly 13, 2018.
^Lynch, Mike (May 23, 2025) [First published September 16, 2016]."Building On Tradition".Adirondack Explorer.Archived from the original on August 13, 2025.
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