Beaverton, you're right--that Dirigo one-foot steering was a prime example of a first-class Bad Idea that never should have made it onto the production boats. But maybe it seemed like a great way to separate Dirigo from the competition. Did you go to two-feet steering like I did? Or get rid of the rudder entirely? Did I mention that I replaced the seat back with a backband (from Wilderness Systems); it greatly improved comfort.

I'm going to tackle the seat problem before the ice is off the lake, I'll look into the Wilderness Systems backband as you suggest; thanks for the tip. I now have two peddle steering on sliding tracks...a bit spongy but I'm switching to stainless cable to fix that. Even though the boat is a bit slow by today's standards, it's a joy isn't it!?

The Wilderness Systems backband that I used has two adjustable straps on its upper edge that I screwed into/onto the inside of the coaming just about where the two screws were that anchored the rubber stops for the original seat back. Didn't use the single lower strap at all (though I suppose you could). I drilled holes into the side seat supports about halfway front-to-back, and anchored the backband there with stainless nuts, washers and bolts. Worked great!

It is/was a great boat. Made many of my most memorable trips in it, and it always looked good (which, as we know, is maybe even more important than being good).

Thank you Strange. I've ordered the backband and the seat cushion too. Beaverton

http://s859.photobucket.com/albums/ab156/dnb238/

long time no post.... my apologies to the club... above is a link to pictures of my two dirigo 17's... i now own both one from blue hill, maine and one from wichita. i was fortunate enough to find the wichita one in north carolina. it was kept in pristine shape by a fantastic guy who treasured it and took great care of the boat. it is getting late here, so i will sign off for now. thanks again robert. i will share some of the stories i have soon.

Frank, Great Photos! The boats are in A-One condition. Interesting to see again the slight differences that evolved as ownership of Dirigo moved from Blue Hill to Wichita. Thanks for sharing.

Frank- Thank you so much for those photos! I forgot what they looked like new and shiny. I'm still looking for another. It was a rough winter on mine. Sure wish I had the plugs. Or better yet had the time, space, and money to knock off a couple from mine.
I'll try and get some recent pics of mine up for laughs.

Bilnik

thanks guys...i feel pretty lucky to have both in the shape they are in. my thoughts on having a second boat is that i'd like to put a skeg on one to help with weathercocking...and that i wouldn't feel bad cutting into one if i had another. odd, i suppose. both boats still have the single rudder control, and i plan to change that for sure. hey bilnik...guess it is pretty far, but there is one for sale in vancouver....

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/boa/1755761944.html

i drove 1550 miles roundtrip for the wichita boat, from massachusetts to north carloina. i just think the dirigo 17 has the most beautiful lines i have ever seen. well worth the trip. the guy that sold it took exceptional care of it and also gave me the original magazine articles featuring the dirigo. a tremendous gentleman. he had not paddled it in some time i believe, and wanted it to be in the water where they belong. i am very grateful for the experience.

Frank- Thats why I had two, no skeg, but I elongated the cockpit for layout hunting on my first boat. She is still in pieces on rockpile lighthouse off L.I., N.Y.!? (Long story.)
I would love to go out and buy that one on the W. Coast. I used to paddle just north of there in Grey's Harbor, WA.. My wife wouldn't appreciate it though, right now.
Sounds like you found a beauty in N.C. though! I still have my original ad, plus the brochure from the Maine builders. If you ever want to paddle the Adirondacks, let me know. I guide fishing/hunting/camping up here (And Alaska.) and can recommend some great trips in the area.
All the best- Bilnik

thanks for the offer bilnik....i will happily take you up on it this fall...i bet the adirondacks are magnificent then. i just wanted to say that there is a dirigo 17 in florida that looks in pretty decent shape if anyone is interested:

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/1832997884.html

Anybody still out there reading this. I just found all these posts today. My partner and I where the ones that bought Dirigo and moved it to Wichita. I would enjoy talking with anyone still interested in these old boats.

P.S. I still have two and paddle in Southwest Florida

Hello Wiggs- I've been checking this thread every few months. I still have my old Dirigo 17. I paddle it all winter duckhunting southern New England and northern N.Y.. I bought it when they were built in ME..
What happened?

Wiggs, great to hear from you! You've found the most definitive internet source for Dirigo 17 information and history right here, and it would be extraordinarily fine if you could fill in the Dirigo story, starting from when you acquired the marque from the Blue Hill Boys. Tell us the tale, with as much detail as you choose. Some of my best trips ever were in my trusty White Whale.

I'm hoping Wiggs is busy popping a few new Dirigo 17s out. I'll take two please.

i hope everyone is having a fine summer. we just went through a hot spell here in massachusetts, and it was a scorcher at times. i was hoping wiggs would find his way back here, i was looking forward to the history. guys, i have a question. has anyone ever changed the color of their cockpit coaming? i cleaned and lightly sanded the teak rails of one of the dirigos, and stained them with teak oil. they came out nice, but now look a rich, dark color, much darker that the ash/mahogany? coaming. do you think it would be ok to do the same to the cockpit? any thoughts would be appreciated.

thanks,
frank