Boat ID help
- Thread starter Paul W
- Start date
Kevin Puls
Well-known member
Would you accept "pretty sweet" as an answer?
CAnderson
Well-known member
That looks a lot like the Hellbender boats. From what I recall Bender was from up your way and used an old boat like yours he had gotten from his family, perhaps a grandfather.
Take a look for his website. He may still have some of his boat's history on his website.
Chad A
Take a look for his website. He may still have some of his boat's history on his website.
Chad A
noweil Mike
Well-known member
I had a fiberglass piro that had a similar bottom. Maybe check Bobcat boats.
jode hillman
Well-known member
Yep, looks alot like a 10 foot hellbender. Great little boats, I have two and use them all the time.
Last edited:
Derek Bendell
Active member
Paul - That boat could be a Northern Fiberglass Industries.(1981-87) My original 10' boat was my Grandpa's and was from before NFI possibly made by a St. Paul, MN character who made molds and boats. I have never seen one with eyebolts on the ends. Does it still have foam in the points, or can you see evidence they once were foamed?
NFI sold their boat molds and dealer relationships to Carstens. I know some of the molds for that model were thrown away. You could call over to Express Composites in Minneapolis and ask for Jim. NFI was his company. He has the stories and memory of some of these original boats and where they likely came from.
They did come with oar locks and spud holes but I've seen old ones like that both ways in the region. There was another company called Explore Fiberglass, or Explorer. They used to use a sticker inside their boats which would peel off and get lost. That was in the 70's I believe and they were in St. Paul, MN. Many boats were made off molds by individuals too without any affiliation for their own use so specific lineage is difficult to uncover in my opinion. NFI called that boat model a "Widgeon". There was an old Carstens brochure on this site that shows that boat from the 80's as one of theirs before the current Puddler design. There's still some nice old ones out there in your area, but a lot of them sat out on the woodpile or leaned against the garage for 20-30 years.
NFI sold their boat molds and dealer relationships to Carstens. I know some of the molds for that model were thrown away. You could call over to Express Composites in Minneapolis and ask for Jim. NFI was his company. He has the stories and memory of some of these original boats and where they likely came from.
They did come with oar locks and spud holes but I've seen old ones like that both ways in the region. There was another company called Explore Fiberglass, or Explorer. They used to use a sticker inside their boats which would peel off and get lost. That was in the 70's I believe and they were in St. Paul, MN. Many boats were made off molds by individuals too without any affiliation for their own use so specific lineage is difficult to uncover in my opinion. NFI called that boat model a "Widgeon". There was an old Carstens brochure on this site that shows that boat from the 80's as one of theirs before the current Puddler design. There's still some nice old ones out there in your area, but a lot of them sat out on the woodpile or leaned against the garage for 20-30 years.
Robert Day
New member
Chad is correct, it is the Hellbender, I had them build me one last season.
I propel mine with a kayak paddle.
Great little boat.
R.C.
I propel mine with a kayak paddle.
Great little boat.
R.C.
Good to know - This one is in great shape. It came with a yellowish/tan/khaki color originally that is under the current paint scheme (which is flaking badly on the corners)
Their appears to have been glass bulkheads that were removed to add under deck space - Would have held foam in both points.
Ron Schuna
Well-known member
I agree with Derek. Northern...look on the side of the each end on the edge of the top deck. Northern stamped in the hull ID up near the tip on one end. I sold one just like it last year to a guy that already had one but was looking to have a pair. Sweet little boat.