Out of my price range:

http://www.guyetteandschmidt.com/arc.../nov2002p2.htm

Scroll down.

TB wrote:

Out of my price range:

http://www.guyetteandschmidt.com/arc.../nov2002p2.htm

What is it made of, hand carved and painted platinum? ;-)

Those prices are in US dollars, aren't they?

If so that's the most outrageous price I've ever seen for a Old Town
canoe, let alone for a display model!

--
Wilko van den Bergh Wilkoa t)dse(d o tnl
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.
http://wilko.webzone.ru/

Wilko wrote:
TB wrote:

Out of my price range:

http://www.guyetteandschmidt.com/arc.../nov2002p2.htm


What is it made of, hand carved and painted platinum? ;-)

Those prices are in US dollars, aren't they?

If so that's the most outrageous price I've ever seen for a Old Town
canoe, let alone for a display model!


This seems to be part of an antique/collectors auction. The prices are
insane. 11,500 USD for a pintail duck decoy is worse than the boat.

My bet is that the old town is 50+ years old and was sitting, unused, in
a shop window for most, or all, of its life. I still can't imagine
anyone spending that much money for the thing, but auctions like these
are for those who have more dollars (and space) than brains.

Rick

Rick wrote

This seems to be part of an antique/collectors auction. The prices are
insane. 11,500 USD for a pintail duck decoy is worse than the boat.

The prices that the work of some eastern shore master carvers get for
their decoys and other objects is astounding.

But as long as collectors are willing to bid up the prices and fork
over the big bucks I gotta smile. Most of those carvers whose work
commands such prices and attention are the eastern shore version of
good ole boys who have worked the water, hunted and fished and guided
their whole lives.

I wish 'em the best and hope they can keep fleecing wealthy collectors
as long as they can whittle and carve.

Mike McCrea wrote:
Rick wrote


This seems to be part of an antique/collectors auction. The prices are
insane. 11,500 USD for a pintail duck decoy is worse than the boat.


The prices that the work of some eastern shore master carvers get for
their decoys and other objects is astounding.

But as long as collectors are willing to bid up the prices and fork
over the big bucks I gotta smile. Most of those carvers whose work
commands such prices and attention are the eastern shore version of
good ole boys who have worked the water, hunted and fished and guided
their whole lives.

I wish 'em the best and hope they can keep fleecing wealthy collectors
as long as they can whittle and carve.

Mike,

I don't argue your sentiments. To paraphrase an old adage, an object is
only worth what someone will pay for it. Many of these folks have
suffered through some difficult economic times. Me, I'm in no position
to grant such largesse or to support starving artists. I'm glad someone
is, I guess.

As for the boat, I don't think Old Town was ever in the same category. I
could get one of Vaillancourt's birch bark reproductions for less, and
I'd probably enjoy it more (though it would still about 7K USD):

http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/canoepg.htm

Vaillancourt's efforts are documented in McPhee's awesome book,
"Survival of the Bark Canoe," and is a craftsman of the highest order.
Regardless of whether you are interested in canoes, McPhee is well worth
reading. Unlike me, an incredible writer.

Rick

Rick wrote:



Vaillancourt's efforts are documented in McPhee's awesome book,
"Survival of the Bark Canoe," and is a craftsman of the highest order.
Regardless of whether you are interested in canoes, McPhee is well
worth reading.

I second the motion r.e.: Vaillancourt & the birch canoe makers like
him. Their work commands prices nearing 10K & they're worth it. A
Google on birch canoes will give you about a dozen master craftsmen. I
also second the motion on McPhee's book I also highly recommend his
"Encounters with the Archdruid" for an intimate look at the soul and
politics of environmentalism. You'll perhaps find out these two
attributes are mutually exclusive.

Yours in the north Maine woods,
Pete Hilton (Reg. Me. Guide) aka The Ent

--
Either everyone has rights or some have privileges.
It's really that simple.
Walt Kelly

PMH wrote in :

Rick wrote:



Vaillancourt's efforts are documented in McPhee's awesome book,
"Survival of the Bark Canoe," and is a craftsman of the highest order.
Regardless of whether you are interested in canoes, McPhee is well
worth reading.

I second the motion r.e.: Vaillancourt & the birch canoe makers like
him. Their work commands prices nearing 10K & they're worth it.

I've seen a couple of web sites from people that build and sell cedar strip
kayaks with prices that have surpassed $10K. That's outrageous. I spent
about $750 to build mine. Although mine doesn't have furniture quality
construction and finish I don't really care because I built a boat to be
paddled, not a piece of furniture.

there's a religious aspect to everything. it's currently very popular.
they call it "spirituality". overpaying for anything old or hand made is
supposed to be good for the soul. for some people the paddling is a religious
experience instead of just good exercise, a refreshing change of pace, and
for some, an thrill or adventure. remember in the 70's when the Beatles
musical group went to India and it suddenly became a religious experience
to own a sitar? it's all pretty silly in my opinion. what people do with
the product of their labour can be downright wierd. intelligent? who, humans?

there are thousands of canoes and kayaks of various age in various
conditions littering people's backyards and garages. they never use them.
oh, sure, they were enthusiastic paddlers for one or two summers. but it
was never about paddling. it was about owning a canoe or kayak and having
it out in the garage or back yard. when I paddle I see dozens of neglected
canoes and kayaks on the shoreline at the back of waterside residences.
come to think of it you can see thousands of neglected watercraft in
marinas and yacht clubs all around the coutry. why do people spend money
on them and not use them? spirituality.
--
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William R. Watt wrote:

....stuff deleted

there are thousands of canoes and kayaks of various age in various
conditions littering people's backyards and garages. they never use them.
oh, sure, they were enthusiastic paddlers for one or two summers. but it
was never about paddling. it was about owning a canoe or kayak and having
it out in the garage or back yard. when I paddle I see dozens of neglected
canoes and kayaks on the shoreline at the back of waterside residences.
come to think of it you can see thousands of neglected watercraft in
marinas and yacht clubs all around the coutry. why do people spend money
on them and not use them? spirituality.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
warning: non-FreeNet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned

William,

I agree with you that boats are made to be used. Some of the artistry of
boat building, however, is worthy of admiration (though not my money). I
could not justify the expense of such a thing, but I am glad that
someone can, and does, support the "art." I guess I am as befuddled as
you, however, as to why folks buy boats and don't use them. Usually, the
reasons are fairly complex and involve family dynamics, changes in
health or financial state, or changes of interest (my son is 10, for
example, and I expect that there will be a time when his interests will
take him away from his boat for a time).

Still, it is sad to see things like this fall into disrepair.

Rick

Wilko wrote:

TB wrote:

Out of my price range:

http://www.guyetteandschmidt.com/arc.../nov2002p2.htm
What is it made of, hand carved and painted platinum? ;-)
Those prices are in US dollars, aren't they?
If so that's the most outrageous price I've ever seen for a Old Town
canoe, let alone for a display model!

We've got an 1896 fully restored Old Town wooden canoe on display at the
shop I work at, the Alpine Shop in St Louis. I was told it was restored
by a guy who worked at the shop, and that someone once offered him
$30,000 for it, but he refused. Just heresay, mind you, but the shop
does have the 1896 canoe, and it's beautiful too!

John Kuthe...