Stewart Coffin, maker of Iliad paddles, canoes & the first whitewater kayaks in the U.S., and wilderness author

Jake ffield said:

The iliad paddle was not designed by Coffin at all it was designed by my father John Ffield. If you look at the label on the yellow shafted paddle with the grey handle the lable will say nothing about Mr Coffin. That paddle was made in my father's basmet i68 Circuit st. Norwell Ma. To be exact ..pre 1975. Stu Coffin had nothing to do with the design or molds of the iliad kayak or canoe paddles,or my fathers canoe design.

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Glenn MacGrady said:

Since it's hard to find a picture of one, here it is:

View attachment 127197

Mine have gray grips, not red. The one pictured says "Sunbright Tennessee" under the Iliad name. That was where Bluehole Canoes were made. I was wondering whom Coffin sold his Iliad molds to in 1968. Not sure, but it seems that they might have ended up with Bluehole in the 70's or 80's.

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Jake ffield said:

Mr Coffin didn't make the iliad molds my father John Ffield did that and founded the company. Coffin's paddles were the reason my father founded iliad. He knew he could do better.

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Glenn MacGrady said:

Since it's hard to find a picture of one, here it is:

View attachment 127197

Mine have gray grips, not red. The one pictured says "Sunbright Tennessee" under the Iliad name. That was where Bluehole Canoes were made. I was wondering whom Coffin sold his Iliad molds to in 1968. Not sure, but it seems that they might have ended up with Bluehole in the 70's or 80's.

Click to expand...