[Paddlewise] Phoenix Kayaks?

Re: Phoenix kayaks

I have a 1975 Phoenix Isere, a 14'9", 22" beam,  river and lake touring
boat weighing about 32 lbs. (14.5 kilos for you metric-philes), in
fiberglass. It is a fairly efficient cruiser, with little rocker and about
a 14' effective waterline. I rigged it up with a homemade rudder to prevent
weathervaning and toured all over the BWCA and western Lake Superior,
including a circumnavigation of Isle Royale National Park, back in the days
before real sea kayaks were available in the Midwest.

In those days, before the rotomolded polyethylene kayak market took off,
Phoenix was one of the major players in the US kayak scene. Back then all
whitewater kayaks were 13'2" (4 meters for you metric-philes) to meet
racing standards, and everything else was touring. They also made a model
called the Appalachian, which was about 14'3", maybe a 24" beam and  lots
of rocker- a big river touring kayak.

I don't know what Phoenix is doing these days; they were based in Tyner,
then Berea, KY.  You may have found an old classic, although the use of
Kevlar is a newer development.

If this doesn't help, sorry for the history lesson.
-Andy Knapp
Minneapolis
A cold Omaha- and a warm Duluth.
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