- Joined
- Feb 28, 2025
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Hope you've all had an exciting paddling season, it's been a while since I posted something around here. However I believe this will be worth everyone's time by the end of it.
Just yesterday I saw a listing for a Vermont Canoe & Kayak boat. It looked like it was kevlar so I reached out to a friend who specializes in Vermont's canoe manufacturing history.
After getting this message I knew I had to make a move. The seller just wanted to clear up some space in their barn and the boat came with the place when they bought it. It was originally listed for $75, but their friend bought the seats and center yoke. I was able to buy the bare hull for just $30.
Transporting it home was a little nerve wracking with how floppy composites can be without the essential structures to support them but it survived the ride home. I tied jute cord every 16in or so to help hold it together and padded the parts that would contact the 2x4 roof rails on my van.
I couldn't believe the condition of the hull. It probably weighs 35-40lbs bare and will end up around 50lbs fully decked out with woodwork throughout. There are no signs of UV degradation or any significant damage. There is a slight wear spot on the stern which just barely goes through the gel coat.
I was able to find a picture of one of these boats in near showroom condition, and man is it a fine looking boat!
From what I can gather the encore is more or less reminiscent of the Kevlar Mad River Explorer. A little bit longer end to end (I believe this one is 16'3" while the royalex was 15'11" and several of the composite and special edition explorers have landed between 16'3", 16'4", and 16'6") I may have also seen some note which included a detail about these boats having less rocker in general than their plastic counterparts which is a sensible appointment if true, as it would be a shame to crash this into the rocks on a Class III run.
It is my intention to source some full length ash for gunwales and make a new set of deck plates, seats, hangers, handles, thwart and yoke for this boat with my grandfather in law who has a complete woodshop. I'll be placing temporary structures in the boat before I drive with it anywhere else however, I got incredibly lucky on this run that it didn't get caught in the wind and ripped in half or something.
With any luck by next spring this fine boat will be all gussied up and ready to provide many years of faithful service to our family. With it's appointments it will become an heirloom I fully intend on keeping within the family and passing down for future generations to enjoy. Hope to bring you all along on this journey and perhaps provide info on the way about this fine boat which has so little said about it.
If anyone has experience with this specific boat or the history of Vermont Canoe & Kayak, I'd love to hear about it.
Just yesterday I saw a listing for a Vermont Canoe & Kayak boat. It looked like it was kevlar so I reached out to a friend who specializes in Vermont's canoe manufacturing history.
After getting this message I knew I had to make a move. The seller just wanted to clear up some space in their barn and the boat came with the place when they bought it. It was originally listed for $75, but their friend bought the seats and center yoke. I was able to buy the bare hull for just $30.
Transporting it home was a little nerve wracking with how floppy composites can be without the essential structures to support them but it survived the ride home. I tied jute cord every 16in or so to help hold it together and padded the parts that would contact the 2x4 roof rails on my van.
I couldn't believe the condition of the hull. It probably weighs 35-40lbs bare and will end up around 50lbs fully decked out with woodwork throughout. There are no signs of UV degradation or any significant damage. There is a slight wear spot on the stern which just barely goes through the gel coat.
I was able to find a picture of one of these boats in near showroom condition, and man is it a fine looking boat!
From what I can gather the encore is more or less reminiscent of the Kevlar Mad River Explorer. A little bit longer end to end (I believe this one is 16'3" while the royalex was 15'11" and several of the composite and special edition explorers have landed between 16'3", 16'4", and 16'6") I may have also seen some note which included a detail about these boats having less rocker in general than their plastic counterparts which is a sensible appointment if true, as it would be a shame to crash this into the rocks on a Class III run.
It is my intention to source some full length ash for gunwales and make a new set of deck plates, seats, hangers, handles, thwart and yoke for this boat with my grandfather in law who has a complete woodshop. I'll be placing temporary structures in the boat before I drive with it anywhere else however, I got incredibly lucky on this run that it didn't get caught in the wind and ripped in half or something.
With any luck by next spring this fine boat will be all gussied up and ready to provide many years of faithful service to our family. With it's appointments it will become an heirloom I fully intend on keeping within the family and passing down for future generations to enjoy. Hope to bring you all along on this journey and perhaps provide info on the way about this fine boat which has so little said about it.
If anyone has experience with this specific boat or the history of Vermont Canoe & Kayak, I'd love to hear about it.
