While dithering about whether to build another guideboat I created a couple of guideboat paddles. I became intrigued with these distinctive paddles back when I was a volunteer at the Adirondack Museum. As a part of my pay ($0 as a volunteer) I was allowed to roam the Museum’s collection freely. I discovered that each guide (and Adirondack Murray} had their own paddle style. They combined their style with certain features common to all. I got so engrossed with what one might call folk art that I wrote a book on them. It is entitled Guideboat Paddles An Adirondack Treasure.
Now you are puzzled. If the Adirondack guideboat is a row boat, then why a paddle? This etching, done by Theodore Davis in 1868, is a clue. To learn more get ahold of my book.
![](http://www.adirondack-guideboat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Fig.-2.-Floating-for-Deer-Davis-300x234.jpg)
The paddles I am selling are a reproduction of those used by Rueben Cary, a famous Adirondack guide. Rueben was born in Long Lake and was the caretaker of the Brandreth Estate for many years. I am offering two Cary paddles for sale, one made of figured cherry, the other of quarter sawn sycamore. Here is a full length view of them:
![](http://www.adirondack-guideboat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Full-Length-122x300.jpg)
Each paddle is just shy of 6 feet long are hand-crafted from a single piece of stock. The blades are 4 1/2″ wide at the widest point and are 32″ long.
All Adirondack guideboat paddles have a “motif “and a lolly-pop grip. Each builder had their own characteristic motif. Here is the motif for the Rueben Cary paddle reproduction done in cherry and sycamore.
![](http://www.adirondack-guideboat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Motif-of-cherry-140x300.jpg)
![](http://www.adirondack-guideboat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Motif-of-sycamore-135x300.jpg)
Here are views of the grain of each paddle.
![](http://www.adirondack-guideboat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cherry-grain-194x300.jpg)
![](http://www.adirondack-guideboat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sycamore-grain-228x300.jpg)
The figure on the sycamore paddle is striking and hard to describe. I would best describe it as “snakeskin”.
Each paddle has five coats of marine spar varnish. They can be used as a decorative piece or put to work from any self respecting craft. They will be noticed!
So I am asking $250 for each paddle plus $20 shipping within the US. As a bonus you get a signed copy of my book on guideboat paddles, a $24.95 value. The price then for a single paddle is $270.
If your would like to buy both paddles the price would be $495 ( I will remove the cost of a second copy of the book and keep the shipping costs the same).
If you would like to purchase a paddle (or two) deposit the amount in my PayPal account (my email is gordonfisher1@verizon,net). If you would rather send a check, contact me at my email address and I will give you my home address.
Happy Holidays, stay safe,
Gordon