Keuka Lake has long been known for its excellent lake trout population. In
the days before outboard motors, fishermen sought out small, sleek fishing boats
which were easy to row and could safely handle the occasional turbulent waters
of the lake. During the 19th and early 20th centuries,
several boat builders arrayed around Keuka operated small boat shops which
turned out wooden rowboats in response to this demand. These boats were usually
framed with white oak, and carvel planked (plank boards butted together to form
smooth inner and outer surface) with red cedar or cypress. The designs varied
according to the ingenuity and preference of the builder. Few builders affixed
any identification (nameplates, etc.) to their boats, and consequently it is
frequently difficult to determine the origin of surviving examples.
| The boat shown here incorporates many of the characteristics of these early rowboats (carvel planked, round bottom, decked fore and aft, fine entry at bow). It also contains the support brackets for a position able center seat, a feature attributed to Ben Reno and incorporated by several other Keuka Lake builders. This boat was probably built by Charles Pilgrim of Hammondsport during the early 1900s. | |