Adirondacks: Boats

The Adirondacks region has a deep boatbuilding tradition. We’re proud to row boats by local legend Peter Hornbeck, the Adirondack Guideboat company, Alden, and Smallcraft.

Peter Hornbeck started building boats in the garage in 1971, inspired by the boat builder John Henry Rushton (1843-1906) of Canton, NY and helped fuel the contemporary ultralight canoe movement. While the business is family-owned, Adirondack roads are full of cars transporting Hornbecks to the local lakes.

Alden and their 1980’s competitor Small Craft produce high quality rowing shells for the mass market, with Alden still leading in the market for stable, recreational open ocean shells. You can learn how to row these great boat and acquire used vessels through Adirondack Rowing.

The Adirondack Guideboat company makes beautiful lightweight composite and wooden boats in various lengths, including smaller rowable pack boats.