Magazine

Fine Art That Floats

“Boats are designed to work best in the waters of the designer,” says boatbuilder Nick Schade. “The coastline from Long Island Sound all the way up the coast of Maine is wonderful paddling.” Our favorite for these waters is his 18-foot Night Heron kayak. It handles well in rough water such as wind chop and […]

Photo Credit:

“Boats are designed to work best in the waters of the designer,” says boatbuilder Nick Schade. “The coastline from Long Island Sound all the way up the coast of Maine is wonderful paddling.” Our favorite for these waters is his 18-foot Night Heron kayak. It handles well in rough water such as wind chop and boat wake. Nick’s strip-built method of constructing the boats accentuates the grain of the wood and creates an artful pattern. Custom-built boats ($5,000-$20,000) by his business, Guillemot Kayaks, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, are typically made of Western red cedar, which has a beautiful color and is lightweight (the Night Heron weighs only 42 pounds). Do-it-yourself kits — complete with wood, forms, and plans — are offered by Newfound Woodworks in Bristol, New Hampshire (603-744-6872; newfound.com) for $1,500 to $2,200. 860-659-8847. guillemot-kayaks.com

Katrina Yeager

More by Katrina Yeager

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Login to post a comment

Shop the New England Store

Unlock Your Roots – One Free Account, Endless Discoveries.

Get access to New England templates, research tools, and more.