Harrie Tieken and Wilderness Kayaks

[JohnAbercrombie]

While doing some reading about the Sealution kayaks, I found this interesting information about the designer, Harrie Tieken.
I didn't realize there was a connection between Canada and the Wilderness kayaks.

http://tiekenkayaks3.blogspot.com/

 

[chodups]

What an interesting article. Thank you for posting!

 

[drahcir]

I concur with Jon - thanks for posting John!

 

[JohnAbercrombie]

Thanks; the credit is due to Oud Horinees who wrote that blog.
The sea kayak manufacturing 'world' was a small one in Canada and the USA 'back in the day' - lots of interesting personalities.

 

[Mowog73]

I'm not sure how I came across this thread but I used to live in Chezzetcook, NS, and met Harrie back around 1995. One of his Sealutions was the first kayak I ever paddled. I didn't like the boat but knew that kayaking was something that I wanted to get into. Reading that blog reminded me that there were Wilderness System Sealutions all over NS and NB.

 

[markbeaver]

I met Harrie Tieken in the winter of 86/87 as he was setting up his Canadian manufacturing facility in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia. He brought over his Derek Hutchinson moulds from Holland and began to build them under license in Canada. I ordered and bought serial #00002, a Baidarka Explorer, which I still own. At that time in 1987, there might have been six or seven sea kayakers in Nova Scotia - how things have changed!

 

[AM]

Wow, a Baidarka Explorer! A rare boat. I’ve only ever seen two of these in BC waters. Do you have a photo to share?

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[dmon707]

It's my favorite boat for paddling in the (S.F.) Bay Area. Good for rolling practice. Easy in and out/ launch and land. Really durable. I bought mine in 1998.

 

[Mike Lundeen]

I met Harrie Tieken in the winter of 86/87 as he was setting up his Canadian manufacturing facility in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia. He brought over his Derek Hutchinson moulds from Holland and began to build them under license in Canada. I ordered and bought serial #00002, a Baidarka Explorer, which I still own. At that time in 1987, there might have been six or seven sea kayakers in Nova Scotia - how things have changed!

I just picked up s/n 0004! A friend gave it and two Nordkapp HMs to me, all in desperate need of tlc and some restoration. The Baidarka belonged to a friend of his when he lived near San Francisco. The friend gave it to him when the friend got cancer and could no longer paddle. I’m 6’4” and will never get into the Nordkapps but I’m hopeful I can squeeze into the Baidarka. My friend who gave the boats to got to be a friend with Derek Hutchinson and paddled some with him in the Bay Area.

 

[Jurfie]

I just picked up s/n 0004! A friend gave it and two Nordkapp HMs to me, all in desperate need of tlc and some restoration. The Baidarka belonged to a friend of his when he lived near San Francisco. The friend gave it to him when the friend got cancer and could no longer paddle. I’m 6’4” and will never get into the Nordkapps but I’m hopeful I can squeeze into the Baidarka. My friend who gave the boats to got to be a friend with Derek Hutchinson and paddled some with him in the Bay Area.

Awesome! Welcome to WCP. Make a post in the build section as you do the restoration so we can follow along!