We know that’s not a question. But it requires an answer.

Yes, in profile, from a distance, they do look like canoes. However, our boats are rowboats, not paddleboats. Guide boats are graceful, swift, and easily rowed and carried.  They evolved from crude hunting boats. Our design begins with J. Henry Rushton’s already highly evolved Saranac Lake Guideboat. Steve Kaulback, the AGB designer and founder, made several changes to Rushton’s design; these changes enhance stability and handling, ease of manufacture, and produce boats that are more resistant to weather and age. Rushton’s fine entry is still evident; the tumblehome stems lower the boat’s surface area in a crosswind. Even though this boat is modern, using contemporary tools and adhesives, it still retains the lines, characteristics, and feel of classic guide boats, many of which are gathered in museums and personal collections.

“That boat is such a work of art, it seems a shame to put it into the water.”  

Once again, a comment that deserves a sarcastic reply.

And that woman is too beautiful to ask out on a date.

Have we always been perplexed by that thought…. too beautiful to use?  We hear it not only regarding our wooden boats but also regarding our Kevlar boats.  We do think of our boats as works of art, distinctive and easy on the eyes. But works of art are meant to be used. They are durable and tough. They are seaworthy and strong. They are all the things a boat is supposed to be.

Part of our boat’s artful heritage comes from the original designs; part comes from Steve’s background as an artist. He has a BFA from Pratt Institute in New York City, where he also served as an instructor. We have been invited to bring our boats to some of the most prestigious art and craft shows in the country, including shows at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver. Steve has been awarded the H.I. Chapelle Trophy (a prestigious award among us boatbuilders) at the Antique and Classic Boat Show in Clayton, NY, and it was there that his boats were first described as “the Stradivarius of small craft.”

Do AGB boats take a lot of maintenance?  

All boats require periodic maintenance. But it is not nearly as demanding as most people fear.

Our varnished boats should be re-varnished every 5 to 7 years, depending on exposure. Our oiled wood-trimmed boats need to be re-oiled perhaps twice per season, more if we’re talking Florida or Texas.

Do you ever have any used boats?

Sometimes, but almost never. Twice, we almost had a used boat. In both cases, a customer wanted to trade in a 12’ Packboat for a 15’ Guideboat. In each case, a significant other stepped in to say, “You’re doing what with my boat?” And in both cases, those families now own two of our boats.

Check our website; we do accept used boats as trade-ins or trade-ups. Some are resold as is, and some are refurbished and sold with a new boat warranty. Fortunately, our boats hold their value. That’s good news for the customer selling us or trading in his or her boat. Not such good news for the customer looking to purchase one at a greatly reduced price.

Why oars?  Why not paddles?”

Efficiency. And ease of motion. Oars use larger muscles and larger muscle groups, not just wrists and arms. A paddle typically has a mechanical advantage of 1 to 1. (Your hand at the end of the paddle is the force, your hand in the middle of the paddle is the fulcrum…if the paddle is 5 feet long and you have one hand in the middle, the mechanical advantage is 1 to 1. Our oars, depending on their length (which varies with boat size), have a mechanical advantage of 2.5:1 or 3.5:1.  And… as you will be using two of them, your actual mechanical advantage is 5 or 7 to 1. And this isn’t a theoretical advantage. It’s real. You will feel that advantage on every single stroke as you move the water.

There is another difference between rowed boats and paddled boats. When you are rowing a boat, you and your companion spend your day sitting face-to-face. You aren’t talking to the back of the other person’s head. You get to see your companion’s smiles, their reactions to your conversation. And they get to see yours. It’s not a big deal, but it is one of life’s pleasures. And it’s something which doesn’t happen in a canoe or kayak.

“Pretty fast?

Yes, pretty and fast.  At the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, Connecticut, David (the other half of the original partnership) was out on the water, rowing one of our 12-ft PackBoats on the Mystic River. He was warming up for a day of selling and talking. A man came up from behind in a rubber boat with a 6hp Mercury outboard on it. The man laughed when David challenged him to a race. After 100 yards, the man wasn’t laughing, but he was smiling: “I can’t believe you did that to me.”  David said, “Actually, I didn’t do it. My partner did. He’s the one who designed the boat.”

How heavy are your boats?

Face-to-face, we’d answer that question by saying, “Lift the end of the boat and see for yourself.”  Then, when the customer lifts the boat, what they most often say is, “It weighs nothing.”   While that’s not literally true, it seems true because AGB boats are ultra-light construction, and that’s what counts.

Why have I never heard of these boats before?”

Adirondack guide boats were regionally specific. They were difficult to build and demanding to repair and maintain. And, even in the old days, they were expensive. Back then, a good guideboat might have cost you $100. But a perfectly good regular boat would have only been $5 or $10.  It was only if you needed a boat like this that you would go to the expense of having one built. Adirondack guides needed these boats. That was how they made their living. The boats had to be efficient, so you could spend 8 hours rowing and still have the energy and good humor to set up camp and cook the game and fish that your sport had bagged that day.

Also, the building of an Adirondack guide boat was so specific and so demanding; you had to have an Adirondack Guideboat builder close at hand if you were going to own one yourself. We will occasionally hear of a skilled boatbuilder (who builds other boats) being asked to build or repair an Adirondack Guideboat. The good boatbuilders will say, “Nope. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.”

And a last reason Guideboats didn’t spread to other regions…salt water would have killed a traditional Adirondack Guideboat. It doesn’t make any difference to our boats.

What’s Kevlar®?”

We used to say,  “We don’t know.”

We did know that it was an expensive miracle fiber that stops bullets in bulletproof vests and allows us to build tough, very light, beautiful boats. However, we have since met a variety of people who work for DuPont, and they’ve given us some of the missing pieces of Kevlar’s story.

Kevlar® is apparently a molecular cousin of Nylon. It is a long-chain molecule that is very strong and 5 times lighter than steel, given the same strength. Its first proposed use was in tire fire trucks in the 1940s. The only trouble was… nobody needed a tire that cost $1,000 (at 1940’s prices), no matter how light and strong it was.  And besides, fire companies replace their tires every other year, with 5,000 miles on the tires. So…Kevlar sat on the shelf for 25 years. Then the Vietnam War came along, and Kevlar was used to make light, tough flak jackets. Now Kevlar is used in many applications (boats probably still lead the field), but it is also used in crash helmets, and they even installed Kevlar sleeves on the gas tanks of the supersonic Concorde, so scrap metal sitting on runways will have a tougher time puncturing the gas tanks or tires as the planes take off.

That’s what we know about Kevlar. As modern as this technology is, our boats remain the product of a pure eye and sensibility in boatbuilding.

They don’t look like any rowboats I’ve ever seen. Why is that? 

Most people, when they hear the words “row boat,” find themselves thinking of boats that are short, clunky, noisy, slow, and not much fun. If those are your images, boy, are you in for a treat.

Why are the oars so long? 

Leverage.

Long, graceful oars are suited to the shape and use of our Guideboats, Vermont Dories, and PackBoats. Our oars are exceptionally light and flexible. They whip at the end of your stroke. Row with a stiff oar and you’ll discover how little fun rowing can be.
Guideboat oars are traditionally pinned, and cross past one another at the center of the boat. This inboard length provides better balance and a greater mechanical advantage, requiring less effort on a long trip. Pinned oars leave both hands free to tend a fishing rod or firearm when opportunities arise. To row crossed-armed is a knack easily achieved, and after that, you will marvel that anyone would use short oars. Vermont Dories and PackBoats are rowed with match-gripped oars. Paddles are traditionally used in Guideboats as an aid in steering or for navigating narrow passages.

Do you guys have dealers?

No.

We used to. We’ve found that a key element in growing a business is paying attention to what’s going on. We personally talk to every one of our customers. We help them decide which AGB boat is the right boat for their needs. We customize AGB boats for every customer, so they row a boat just the way they want it.

How stable are your boats?

That’s a tricky question. A very stable boat is hard to move through the water. Our boats have a lively feel. It is a sensation you will quickly get used to. That said, you can stand in the AGB Vermont Dory, and fly fishermen love it.

The following proverb was offered to us by a retired Marine from North Carolina. He says it comes from the ancient Phoenicians, “Feast your eyes on a narrow boat; place your goods in a beamy boat.”  With that, he nodded towards our boat and said, “And you guys have both. Lightly loaded, it’s narrow; carrying a load, it’s beamy.”  He now owns one of our wooden boats. Built by himself and other students at the WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, Maine.     Semper Fi

Is rowing good exercise?

Yes. Wait till you experience a rower’s high. Rowing is fun. The rowing motion can be gentle or strenuous, depending on your preference. Being on the water is satisfying in itself. If you can also attain health, vigor, and weight loss in the process, what could be better? A Sliding seat is the most frequently purchased accessory.

Do you deliver?

Yes, near and far. Check out our Zone Map. Delivery is based on where you live in the lower 48 States. Another option is to pick up your boat at the shop. Vermont is a nice place to visit.

Can these boats go in salt water?

Absolutely.  Paul Neil, an AGB customer, set a course record and then broke it in The Blackburn Challenge, a 22-mile open ocean race around Cape Anne, in his 16’ wooden Guideboat. The next year, in his new 17’ wooden Guideboat, conditions were so severe that he was the only person in his class to complete the race.  The following week, a race official said they would never again allow that race to take place under such severe conditions. And…then the race official ordered a wooden Guideboat for himself.

Could you put an electric motor on one of these boats?

Yes, for those so inclined, sure. Steve designed a maple mount that will allow a small motor to be mounted on the side of our boats. A photo of the motor mount is available on our Accessories page.

How do we get to your place? 

We are on RT 7 in N. Ferrisburgh, VT. (Charlotte is our mailing address.) We are 3.8 miles S of the Vermont Wildflower Farm, 6.2 miles N of the intersection between RT 7 and RT 22A, on the west side of the road. Click here for driving instructions.

How long does it take to get a new AGB Boat?

Order early. Plan ahead. Orders come in seasonal surges. For our wooden boats, there is usually a wait of several months to a year. For our Kevlar boats, it’s usually a few weeks to a few months. Your name goes on the building list when we receive your order (and a 50% deposit)

Do you ship internationally? 

Yes, we can, and we have.

You’ll find AGB Boats in England, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Denmark, Scotland, Korea, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.