Skin-on-Frame Adirondack Guideboat Master Class

The Adirondack guideboat was considered the workhorse of the Adirondack mountains in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, before modern roads and rail opened up travel to interior sections. A cross between a canoe and a rowboat, the guideboat is an exceptionally fast and stable craft. Capable of being rowed solo, or repositioning the oarlocks to accommodate passengers, the boat is equally at home on tranquil ponds or open water.

Compared to many commercial options, the skin-on-frame version of the guideboat is relatively lightweight and retains all the best aspects of the boat. Light, fast, and seaworthy, the guideboat is a joy to row.

Take this rare opportunity for a master class in boat building from full time teacher and guideboat enthusiast Jon Richer. A “master” class means that you will be exposed to and experience the complete building process: very little will be pre-manufactured before the class begins. To minimize weight and cost, and maximize efficiency, the wooden ribs will be covered in a reinforced nylon skin.

Students will work together to build one boat. The finished boat will be raffled off to one participant for the cost of materials. Oars can be purchased separately from the instructor, or students are invited to carve their own in Jon's shop after the course is complete.

Students at any skill level can take this class. Familiarity with hand and power tools is helpful, but not necessary. Some of the skills you will gain in this course include: improved hand tool and power tool skills; a basic understanding of lofting, which is the transference of the design to full scale; and an understanding of and an appreciation for the complete boat building process, from design to creating the boat parts, assembly, and finishing. PLEASE NOTE: the running time of class days will vary depending on the work to be done. Some days will run longer than 8 hours and some less.

Dates: Mon., June 24 - Sun., June 30
Instructor: Jon Richer
Class size (max.): 5
Attendance (min.): 3*
Skill level: basic
Prerequisites: none; hand and power tool experience is helpful but not necessary

Registration
Household Member & Above: $1,000**
Individual Member: $1,050**
General Public: $1,155
Register By: June 9

Materials: $1700 (This will be the cost of the boat.)

*Classes that do not meet the minimum attendance number may be cancelled or rescheduled. If so, you will receive a full refund, or class credit, regardless of the cancellation date.

**We encourage students to become members (for as little as $30/year) to receive 10-15% off class tuition. You must be a current member on the date of registering to receive your discount. Please login to activate your member discount. To become a new member, please sign up here, or call 845-338-0071.

Instructor: Jon Richer is a school teacher in Westchester County. He fell in love with framed boats as a little boy exploring the Native American exhibit in the Museum of Natural History. Searching for a lightweight alternative to a heavy wooden canoe he built about 20 years ago, he became acquainted with modern skin on frame boat building technology. Since then he's traveled around the country to take classes, and he has taught classes at his school, at summer camps, for private clients and with the Yonkers Paddle and Rowing Club. He's especially interested in building skin-on-frame Adirondack guide boats.