Who’s coming in 2024
As we receive confirmation from various manufacturers that they will be coming to this year’s Rendezvous, we’ll let you know that here.
Hemlock Canoe Works –
It is only fitting that Hemlock head the list of our attendees, as indeed they do every year, since in a manner of speaking, the Rendezvous was Dave’s idea back in 2007. Dave and Carol Curtis have been at the forefront of innovation in canoe design and construction for decades, originally as Curtis Canoe in the early years, and as Hemlock Canoe since the later 90’s. Any number of now-classic designs originated with Curtis/Hemlock, and that spirit lives on with the current Falcon series, Eagle and Eaglet, Nessmuk, Shaman, and SRT. www.hemlockcanoe.com will give you details on their current models, and there are links to some very nice youtube videos of Hemlock boats on the water.
Savage River
…will be at the Rendezvous. John Diller and Savage River have been long-time supporters of the Rendezvous, and we’re always delighted to have them back each year. Savage River has a long and storied reputation for building first rate racing canoes. They also have an extensive recreational line of solo and tandem canoes in their line-up. Among those are included the Deep Creek, Blackwater, and the Marc Ornstein designed Illusion, June Bug, and Harmony. Check their website www.savageriver.com for details and specs on all of Savage River’s offerings, and come meet Savage River at the Rendezvous.
Three Rivers Chapter – WCHA
Our regional Three Rivers Chapter of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association will once again be a part of the Rendezvous. They have been with us from the beginning, and always have a couple of beautifully restored vintage wood/canvas canoes on hand. TRC and WCHA are dedicated to not only preserving these fine craft for their own sake, but also in preserving a part of the long history of which our contemporary canoes are a part.
Bowery Boatworks
A late edition to our 2023 line-up, but now a part of the Rendezvous family, Pete and Jenny Bower, from Michigan, will be returning to Cooper’s Lake in 2024. Bowery specializes in wood/composite pack boats. You can see lots of pics, check out specs on their various models, and generally learn more about their work by visiting the website boweryboatworks.com And of course, you’ll be able to try them out at the Rendezvous!
Noel Canoe (and Slipstream Watercraft !)
A brand new, first-time addition to not only the Rendezvous but to the canoe world as a whole is Noel Canoe, which is our friend and West PA neighbor Dustin Noel. While still a fledging outfit here in 2024, Noel Canoe is a dealer of Grey Owl paddles – a selection of which he’ll have at the Rendezvous – but also, Dustin has just recently become a dealer for Slipstream Watercraft. Slipstream is no stranger to the Rendezvous, Stan and Cathy Zdunek having been with us a number of times in the past. There has been a several-year hiatus since Covid and the aftermath, so it is a treat to have Slipstream represented again. You can preview Slipstream’s designs at slipstreamwatercraft.com As if that weren’t enough, Dustin recently obtained a small number of unfinished Pat Moore/Mike Galt designed hulls which he has trimmed out, and will have those on at the Rendezvous for folks to paddle and experience first hand a little bit of the earlier days when all this was still a-borning. “Noel Canoe – a Tribute to History”.
Redfeather Canoe
A manufacturer new-to-the-Rendezvous, but only in a sense new to the paddling community, will be represented in 2024. Let their website explain: “Redfeather Outdoors products are manufactured and owned by ORC Industries, a not-for-profit company whose sole organizational mission is to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities. After two years of development, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of perfection, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Redfeather Canoes…Redfeather is the result of a passionate team…coming together to reimagine an old canoe company. We have taken Bell Canoe and the old school way of wet-bagging boats and introduced our cutting-edge vacuum-infusion process.” Redfeather expects to have a selection of canoes whose names will be familiar – Bucktail pack, Yellowstone solo, Merlin III, Magic and Prospector tandem. They’re into more than just canoes, and you can learn more about that at their website redfeather.com
