East Forsyth High School, Kernersville, NC - Home of the Eagles
Class Of 1973

Kayak builder

Oct. 2017.    Chad is the son of Sherry Boyles     

Link to:  Bear Traditional Kayaks: 
https://www.beartraditionalkayaks.com/

Chad Quinn knows a thing or two about paddling.

He has used nearly every boat there is - from cheaper one-man kayaks all the way up to a $6,000 fiberglass model that he was terrified to unload.

Today, he paddles his own handmade kayaks exclusively.

That's not just smart marketing for the boat maker either; he genuinely prefers the way his boats paddle.

Quinn makes Greenland kayaks by hand, only using hand tools in the new location of Next Venture Sports in downtown Brevard. The used outdoor goods store just moved across the street from its old location next to Dugan's Pub.

Greenland kayaks haven't changed much since they were first built, by some estimates almost 4,000 years ago.

As you might guess, there aren't many trees that grow in Greenland, so the folks who first crafted these boats made them out of wood that washed up on the shore.

They weren't a refined vessel either. Stretched with seal skin and stitched together using whatever they could find, these boats were made to hunt and withstand the white caps of northern seas, not look pretty.

But the rough finish is part of what draws Quinn to their simplicity, that and their ability to outmaneuver some of the new fancy boats on the market.

"I don't want a cookie cutter kayak," he said. "I want them each to be different in some sort of way. And they are. Each boat I make is made to fit the frame of the paddler. The same with the paddle."

Quinn said that these boats were some of the first commercial fishing vessels in existence, but technology slowly eroded the culture that created them.

But that their weight, roughly 30 pounds for a boat that fits a grown man, and how they feel on the water are sparking curiosity in the paddling world.

"These boats have gone from a way of living to purely recreational vessels," he said. "They haven't changed much at all, but this art of building almost died out not that long ago. These guys were using spears and these kayaks to get food. Then, along came the rifle and the motorboats. Some of the elders who knew how to build them were dying out and that knowledge wasn't being passed down. When I got involved in making these boats and with the people who enjoy them, I discovered a subculture to it."

Quinn said that his kayaks fair well on multi-day trips. He has done a week-long excursion with his family on Lake Jocassee. He said he can't wait for the white caps that sometimes kick up on the lake.

"Anytime it's white capping, when the whole deck of your kayak disappears, these boats are made for that stuff," he said. "They bob like a cork, and they absorb the shock of a wave. You feel really planted. It's awesome."

Some of the feel he gets from the boats come from the wood frame, but some of it also comes from the ballistic nylon wrap he uses for the boat.

Traditionally, Greenlanders used sealskin to wrap their boats, but that's not really an option in Brevard.

"When you sit in this kayak, the nylon is really soft, so you can feel all these currents that are normally muted in plastic or wood or fiberglass," Quinn said. "With these boats you have more connection with the water. All that information gets translated to your brain faster and makes for a nice rider."

Quinn said that the Greenland paddles are easier on the shoulder than a paddle that requires wrist rotation for proper technique.

Each paddle fits each person's reach and wingspan, so Quinn said they are particularly nice for people with arthritis or other injuries.

Quinn lived in Brevard in the 1990s and owned Blue Ridge Mountain Guides.

After some time away from the mountains, he and his family were ready to move back.

His intention was to sit back for a season and just watch the outdoor recreation scene that has grown exponentially since he last lived here, but the owners at Next Venture convinced him to set up shop in their new location.

 

Quinn already has a waiting list for his boats and paddles.

Quinn is offering an after-school program for local children as well. He is just waiting on the green light from the school system.

Quinn said he is ready to teach students how to make their own Greenland-style paddles and give them a chance to learn how to make kayaks too.

"Kids won't be using any power tools," he said. "They'll be using hand tools. I prefer to make my boats and paddles using hand tools. I may cut out the shape of a paddle with a skill saw or bandsaw, but then from there everything else is carved by hand. I get a good feel for the wood. Sometimes you find that the wood will dictate what it wants to be, and so I prefer to do it with just hand tools."

To learn more about Quinn, his boats and the after-school program, visit http://www.beartraditionalkayaks.com.