A Tale of Two Boats: Craft and the Adirondack Guideboat in the 21st Century (2021)

This project examines changing notions of “craftsmanship” through analysis of contemporary Adirondack Guideboat building. Toward that end, I conducted interviews with builders of different backgrounds. While the Guideboat remains a valuable piece of history for the Adirondack region, demand for Guideboats built using traditional methods is dwindling. By contrast, industrially-produced plank–built and fiber glassed Guideboats are fast growing in popularity. In this project, I explore what this trend means for both the future of craft and the encapsulating culture. Will traditional methods continue in active use, or will they be replaced by newer methods and simply become a piece of the Guideboat’s history? How important and necessary is the building process to Guideboat handling and aesthetics? Has salesmanship surpassed craftsmanship in the 21st century, and how will this situation influence regionally-specific cultural meanings associated with the Adirondack Guideboat ? 

• Student(s): Isaiah Cullum
• Project Mentor(s): Timothy Messner
• L&RF 2021 Presentation-Isaiah Cullum
• L&RF 2021 Video Presentation