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

[Mtbreed]

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.

I just pulled my Iliad paddles from the rafters for a closer look. Iliad Inc 168 Circuit St. Norwell, Mass. 02061
Blade width 9” Blade ht. 27.5”. 1 is 56” the other is 53.5”. Just posting this for further info. A bit different shape than the grey shafted one shown in the previous post.

 

[Jake ffield]

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.

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.

 

[Alan Gage]

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.

Can you give us some history on your father and the company? When did he start it? Did he only make paddles? How long did he own it? Why did he sell it? Did he sell it to Stewart Coffin or someone else?

Alan

 

[Jake ffield]

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.

The iliad molds and design were not Mr. Coffin. John Ffield was the founder and designer.