The Newfound Woodworks, Inc. and Geneva Point Conference Center will be hosting the Fourth Annual Newfound Rendezvous on September 15, 16, and 17, 2000 at Geneva Point Conference Center, on Moultonboro Neck, Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. This is a gathering of people who have built mostly cedar/strip epoxy boats or would like to build them. The purpose of this gathering is to share ideas and information on the building process and use of these boats.

We will have a couple of kayaks built with our Hybrid construction technique available for paddle testing. Our Hybrid construction technique consists of a stitch and glue plywood hull with a cedar/strip epoxy deck. We paint the hull and leave the deck brightly varnished to show off the creativity of our building efforts. This combination of the two building methods isn’t necessarily new; kayak builders have built nice kayaks at home in this fashion. What is new is our ability to supply Hybrid Kits based on the stitch and glue kayak designs by Eric Schade of Shearwater Boats. Eric will be stripping the deck of a Hybrid Baidarka at the Rendezvous.

Last year we had a hurricane and still had over 125 boats and 350 enthusiastic attendees. We expect to double these numbers this year. We will be stripping a couple of boats, fiberglassing a hull, showing how to convert your canoe or kayak for sailing, giving demos on basic, intermediate, and Greenland style paddling techniques as well as kayak rolling. Caleb Davis will demonstrate solo paddling a traditional tandem canoe. Late Saturday afternoon we will have the first annual “Paddle By” wherein the various designs will be paddled past the gathered multitude at the beach with commentary as to what design, who built it, and what is unique about it. Later we will have a barbecue and then Celtic music and dancing with the group New Boston Fancy.

This is an opportunity to see many different home-built canoe, rowing boat, and kayak designs in one place at one time. Many will be available for paddle testing, such as these designs built by the Newfound Woodworks: Merganser 18 Hybrid, Merganser 17, Great Auk, Redbird, Bob’s Special, Wee Lassie II, Mini-Grand Laker, Adirondack Guideboat, Chestnut Prospector, Georgian Bay. For more information, go to http://www.newfound.com/2rendezvous.htm. There is still time to register. Some accommodations are available at the Conference Center. Print out the Overnighter or Daytripper Registration Form, fill it out, and fax it to us at 603-744-6892. We look forward to seeing you there.