Can you guess the year?

[whudson]

Do any of you "old timers" have a guess what year this picture was taken? I thought it might be a fun summertime topic.

[Tmuse]

1996 back when the piney had good surfing at the surfing rapid.

[dogpatch]

The inner tube, the Seda PFD, and and new OCA tell you something. Mid 80 's?

[GutIt]

Well…

Looks like a Seda brain bucket, old school compartmentalized PFD that also folds up at the waist for kayakers, all cotton clothing! Inner tube floatation, broken cane rear seat in the bow (the boat is head to tailed for solo work), front lashings for a floatation bag which is not there (it’s in the stern because the boat is end for ended), and the boat looks to be a very rare red Blue Hole, aluminum rails all around. If that is the case I couldn’t say the model because I was never much of an OC-1er, but it looks very new in the shot. Not sure if Igloo made those coolers back in the day, and I wonder if that is a “Palm” sticker on the bow (stern). Looks like a pretty new boat or at least a very cool vintage. Very cool shot and I wonder if it is really that old because of the quality of the shot. Not sure if that is a pelican or a dry bag or what up in the bow (stern)!

Very nice shot whudson and very thought provoking!

Not much on vintage OC-1’s but I’ll keep thinking about it!

And that's got to be what we used to know as "Surfing Rapid"!

[Steve S]

1981

[RandyJ]

1981

Agree - would say '81 or '82.

[whudson]

That is a bailing bucket that is flailing from the bow. It was probably cut from a bleach jug. High tech, huh?

[RandyJ]

That is a bailing bucket that is flailing from the bow. It was probably cut from a bleach jug. High tech, huh?

Yeah - not too accessible, either. ???

I'll bet Cap'n Downstream or other "experienced" boater could put a positive ID on the paddler in this picture. Anybody?

And whudson, where'd you find that picture? Any more where that came from?

[RandyJ]

Other features:
Paddler: cotton t-shirt; looks like denim cut-offs. We didn't need no stinkin' polypro or neoprene! Drytop? What's that?
Gear: Norse paddle (tough as nails). Spare paddle (Mohawk?) lashed in front right.
Boat: OCA, with busted wood/cane seat in the front. Was that a factory option? Don't ever remember seeing that on one.

Paddler in the background too far away to ID.

[canoe]

The paddler is WH himself, I'm guessing 1984. Dale

[davidbob]

The paddler is a fine figure of a man, and that points to the greater Dover metropolitan area (it's a well known fact that Dover men are just naturally photogenic). Also, since Walter posted the picture I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that's Walter. As for the date, I think it's a trick question. I think there must have been an oldtimers day paddle last year (they probably were shuttled by mule team), everybody brought their "throwback" gear and equipment, and Captain Rockport temporarily rearranged the rocks to give Surfin' Rapid that old school look.

[whudson]

It was not on "old timer's day" last year.

[GaryPaladino]

I'm going to guess 1988. The older Blue Hole canoes had interiors that were the same color as the exterior. Later models all had grey interior regardless of exterior color.
Of course the Norse paddle was the paddle through the decade. I even have a rare (I guess it's rare, I've only seen one other) Norse kayak paddle. Weighs about 20 lbs, but it is indestructable.

[RandyJ]

Anyone remember that Blue Hole made canoe paddles? I've still got one out in the garage. Don't think I've ever seen one anywhere else.

And yeah, Norse paddles were indestructible. I had one that didn't get tied down to the roof rack and was run over by at least one car. Bent the shaft a little (aluminum core), but I was able to put it in a vice and get it mostly straightened out. Then I lost it.

[Gordon Kumpuris]

Might not be as old as you think. I'm guessing 1992. Quality of the photo itself makes me think maybe it's not that old. Guessing high quality cameras were not hauled on the river often way back when. Plus I started paddling seriously in 1994 I think and I recall plenty of blue holes still out there. Plus I still have a bleach bottle bailer hanging in my storage room so that Low Tech device is still pretty darn effective. I've seen Walter Felton bail with a bleach bottle faster than he can now with his nuculear powered bilge pump. :) Paddler is probaby walter hudson but it also kinda looks like Max Welhouse.

Now I will say I don't recall that many innertubes being used as floatation for non goob boaters but who knows.