Wow- It says a little over 10,000 people looked at our topic here.
The guys in Blue Hill Me. might still be there. I forgot there names. I met them in the 80's when I bought my first one at the Newport RI Small Boat Show.
Let me know what you find. Its duck season, I'm in mine daily for almost another month. Found some cool islands in the St. Lawrence R. this week. Paddled right up to a Snowy Owl the other day.
Bilnik

The Blue Hill, Maine guys were Elliott Speer and Peter Chase. I'm trying to get a lead on the last address of Dirigo (from an old Sea Kayaker Magazine Dirigo ad, from a friend's collection of old SKs).

Out on Barnegat Bay here in Jersey today for the third time this season in the White Whale, about 17 nautical miles total for the day. Boat still looks pretty sharp, and, if I don't push the speed, I can still paddle it all day.

Good paddle!
I've been doing 2 to 10 miles a day almost every day for the past 2 weeks.
Duck season is in full swing up here in N. N.Y.. Went 2 miles back in secret swamp this am for 5 G.W. Teal. Tasty little birds. Had to hump the kayak over 4 beaver dams.
I remember those guys from Maine. I wish I could remember the guys name I bought my 1st one from. He was an ironworker from the New Bedford MA. area that sold Dirigo17s on the side. He had a mess of them.
Bilnik

On the inside of my back hatch cover is a disclaimer sticker that says if you want to contact the manufacturer, they were in Blue Hill, Maine. The sticker lists a phone number of 207-374-2877. I have tried the number before with no answer. I also left a message with John Wigglesworth in Ohio, an apparently highly acclaimed kayaker who is loosely affiliated with the fiberglass business, and have had no return phone call to date. I have not found Mike Wigglesworth yet. I also spoke to the outfitters in Alaska that used them as a fleet, and they are trying to remember what happened to thiers, and where they got them. Gary

Just did another Google search for "Dirigo 17 sea kayak", and came up with just two legit references--our own stuff here, and a year-old ad from somebody in Florida wanting to sell their Dirigo 17: http://www.clubkayak.com/greenwave/default.asp?message=1109 I think I remember trying these people a while ago (email) and getting no reply, but the boat as they describe it seems to be in good condition. They wanted $1200!

Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving. I was hoping to go out on Sunday to watch for seals in Little Egg Inlet here in Jersey, but the forecast is 100% rain, and east (onshore) winds gusting to 30 knots. Not my cup of tea.

Gary, I hope your research finally pays off. Maybe the guy I'm thinking of was named John Wigglesworth, and not Mike.

Carl

I called that guy in Fla., too far for me. I was just getting over not being able to get it last year.
Heading up to St Lawrence River tomorrow. Haven't been out since Turkey Day am.
Gettin it while I can until the ice moves in. Going to R.I. in Jan. for late season Eider hunt.
Bill Stahl

We are planning a Key Largo to Key West kayak trip in July, maybe I could bring it back up to Missouri if that would help on the distance? I left a message for my friend who wants one but haven't heard back from him. Sounds a little pricey, but may buy it anyway, if it is still available. Gary

I wonder if he still has it. I'd grab it if I were you. Over 11,000 views and nothing on the molds or used boats! I've been paddling mine for the past two days around the St. Lawrence R. near Massena NY.. Some great islands to explore plus lots of ducks for the freezer. Saw some Tundra Swans and a Bald Eagle today.
Bilnik

If any one is interested, I found a batch of 13 canoe fiberglass molds for $100 each on Craigslist in Carbondale, Illinois. I was thinking about taking my Dirigo down there (about 2 hrs from home) and seeing if I could set the bottom in one and have the mold for a bottom half? Thoughts?

It wouldn't be a Dirigo.

Gary, I don't think the canoe molds will work as a Dirigo hull mold. While I guess that the original Dirigo was conceived using canoe and melonseed ideas, the freeboard of the Dirigo hull is way less than that of a canoe. The canoe would work only if it was cut way down.

I wish some of our early contributors who posted that they also had Dirigos would also let us know what they've been up to lately. D17 and Lee P, where are you? I'm trying to get out on the water once a week, but it's been really windy lately.

Hey mr. bill- Good luck but I have my doubts also. I don't think cutting it down a lot would get a dirigo hull; too wide fore+aft. Thats most canoes anyway. But go for it and let us know how it works.

Went paddling Mon/Tues this week in snow/ice storms on St Lawrence R.
Lots of ducks! Needless to say, I had it all to myself.

New baby son due any day. I might be done paddling for a little while.

bilnik

Good luck on the future kayaker!
We went to look at the canoe molds today and are going to buy them. My partner on this is an outfitter on a local river who needs another 20. We should be manufacturing after the first of the year. I am kind of excited because of the possibilities of producing a low cost fiberglass canoe, sold only through channels such as Craigslist or any other free forum. (There is no intent on advertising, sorry if misconstrued as such). My hope, is to learn how to dupicate the Dirigo after a while, and maybe produce them if research shows that it would not be an infringement on a patent.
We paddled Sunday on the Gasconade, a local river for 14 miles, scared a flock of about 50 turkeys (not exaggerating), watched a Falcon dive bomb and try to eat a wood pecker, and about 5 Bald Eagles. Apparently, Bald Eagles are becoming more populated in our area, because we see them every time we go out to float now. One thing we don't understand is why the map says the float is a 9 mile, but the GPS says 13.8? We have this discrepency every time and some times it is shorter, other times longer.

Mr. Bill- You'll be a pro after 20 canoes.
Let us know what type of canoes they are. I just bought a wenonah seneca 19' 6" for guiding next summer.

I've got an idea for a different deck on the D17 if that would help.
That and a skeg on the hull might make it ok, I don't know anything about that stuff though.
bilnik

mr_bill

try measuring it on google earth and see what you get. Make sure you are comparing apples with oranges. that is nautical miles with nautical miles statuatory miles with with stat miles etc
Don't forget you don't paddle in straight lines

Cheers

Bill