Yes, there
was a brief and interesting collaboration between
Jim Henry and
Ted Bell in the
early 2000s, after both had established reputations in the canoe-building world.
Here’s a concise summary of what’s known:
The Bell “Vermont” Canoe
- Model Name: Bell Vermont
- Designer: Jim Henry
- Sold By: Bell Canoe Works
- Timeframe: Early 2000s, roughly around 2001–2003
- Design Lineage: Based directly on one of Jim Henry’s existing Explorer-style designs, or a variant thereof—possibly a refined/updated version of his well-known shallow-V hull.
Who Built the Hulls?
- The hulls were produced by Bell Canoe Works—not Mad River Canoe.
- While Jim Henry licensed or collaborated on the design, Bell Canoe molded and finished the canoes themselves in their Minnesota facility, using Bell’s composite layups (BlackGold, WhiteGold, etc.).
- There’s no evidence that Bell simply rebranded existing Mad River hulls or had them supplied by Mad River (which by then was owned by Confluence).
Context of the Collaboration
- Around this time, Jim Henry had stepped away from day-to-day operations at Mad River (which had changed ownership a couple of times by then and lost some of its original character).
- Ted Bell, still operating Bell Canoe Works as an independent, high-quality composite canoe builder, saw value in offering a Jim Henry-designed model to broaden his lineup.
- The Vermont was intended as a versatile tripping canoe with traditional Henry-style performance—probably aiming to draw in longtime Mad River fans who no longer felt aligned with the direction of the brand.
Why It Didn’t Last
- The Bell Vermont was short-lived—likely due to limited market demand, some overlap with existing Bell models (like the Northwind), and possibly the costs associated with producing a separate design with distinct molds.
- It quietly disappeared from Bell’s catalog after just a couple of seasons.
Additional Notes
- The Bell Vermont is now a bit of a collector’s oddity—sought after by enthusiasts who appreciate the Henry design pedigree in a Bell composite construction.
- Used models occasionally surface, often in BlackGold layup, and are valued for their quality and rarity.
Let me know if you’d like help digging up an archived Bell catalog or specs for the Vermont—some early 2000s catalogs are still floating around online.
www.facebook.com
