Peter Hornbeck lightweight boat design was perfect for pond-hopping and exploring hard-to-reach areas. Photo: Nancie Battaglia
Dec 27, 2020 Iconic Adirondack boatbuilder Peter Hornbeck died on Saturday. He was 77.
Hornbeck suffered an apparent heart attack after going on a hike with his family, according to a post on his business Facebook page. We take solace from knowing he went quickly, in the place he loved, with the people he loved most, it said.
Hornbeck was a school teacher at Johnsburg central schools in the early 1970s when he started designing and building ultralight and sleek canoes. At first, he used the garage at his home in Olmstedville as a workshop, until he opened Hornbeck Boats, which became a destination for paddling enthusiasts all over the East Coast and beyond. Hornbeck s lightweight design was perfect for pond-hopping and exploring hard-to-reach areas.