I came across a Blackhawk canoe for sale near me but I am not familiar with them or finding much info on them. The seller does not know the model but thought maybe a Kitty Hawk? He states 10.5 foot long and 24.5 lbs. Any idea what boat this may be? Also any info as far as capacity and possible value? It appears in good shape with "normal" scratches. Serial number of BLQ/48/I596 which makes me think it was made in 1996?

Thank you,
Todd

I don't recall any Blackhawk being 10-5. The Kitty Hawk i think was 12-2. I also think Blackhawk went out of biz in 95. Closest model would have been a Proem at 11-10, or a Shadow at 11-7 ,but they did a lot of variations with a lot of models, like the Shadow series, with about 3 different lengths.

I had a Blackhawk. Sold it cuz initial stability was too intimidating for me. Be sure to paddle it before you buy. A few members here own Blackhawks. Maybe you will get helpful responses on particulars.

Well I am not quite sure what I got other than it is a Blackhawk. Not sure if I got a decent deal or not either but here is my new ride.
10.5ft long X 27in wide, 24.5 lbs. Now to give it a water test and try and figure out what it is.

From the looks of the hull and dimensions it should be pretty " tender". ( tippy)

I do think it will dance more then my Magic. Going to keep the hips loose.

ZIMTLSA: "I do think it will dance more then my Magic. Going to keep the hips loose."

Well it will dance but you might dance faster and get wet. Its a small boat for short small folks. Yes its WAY different from the Magic

Wear your swimsuit.

Wow that's an interesting Blackhawk. I have no idea what model it is. The woodwork is not typical Blackhawk so maybe it was replaced at some point. Yes the serial number indicates a May, 1996 production date which I believe was near the end of Blackhawk production. It looks sporty; please let us know how it paddles.

It is a copy of a Rushton Wee Lassie. It would work with the pedestal for maybe 110lb or less and even then must be a pretty competent paddler. It was designed to sit on the bottom. I had never heard of Blackhawk making one. Are we sure that BLQ is the Blackhawk code?

Yes to BLQ....it is for Blackhawk Canoe Company, Janesville, Wi. Never heard of them making one either. Also I didn't think they made any after 95. May have been when the company was limbo.

I agree with the Wee Lassie concept of this boat and was my first guess but I don't know if Blackhawk called it something different. At 175 lbs I fall in the weight capacity of what I have found. Hopefully this weekend I can get it on the water.

175lbs would be fine if you are sitting on the bottom as the boat was designed. Kneeling with the pedestal with be more challenging.

Voyager: "From the looks of the hull and dimensions it should be pretty " tender". ( tippy)"

I thought the opposite. I thought it looks a lot more stable than the solo whitewater boats of a similar length I've paddled.

Paddled kneeling, with kneepads glued down in the chines, it will handle just fine.

I had a Kitty hawk and a Nighthawk the entry and exit lines look too sharp for the production Kitty hawk which had a long fiberglass pedestal. Maybe this was a prototype Phil made? If it is a Kitty hawk, experience tells me you will need to keep you paddle in the water to keep it upright at 175lbs.
Stolen from an old Paddling.net post by "Bob" a Blackhawk canoe lover
"– Last Updated: Aug-21-13 10:23 AM EST –
Actually there was more than one Blackhawk tandem.
1. Phantom
2. Watersmeet

And there was more than 7 solos.
1. Shadow 11'7"
2. Shadow 13'
3. Shadow 14'6"
4. Shadow SS Special 15'8"
5. Ariel
6. Zephyr
7. Starship
8. Covenant
9. Nighthawk(outfitted w/pedestal) aka Fishhawk(outfitted w/ wood/cane seat.
10. Proem

Additionally, a model called the Kittyhawk was offered for sale in 1988(other years?). It was 12'2" in length. The Nighthawk & Fishhawk had the same hull, 13'3" in length.

I have also seen a listing in 1992 of a Blackhawk called a Pro Star. I believe this to be nothing more than an adaptation(minor changes in depths) of the Starship.

One missing from that list is the Combi 15.8
The Solo Plus of the Blackhawk fleet

sedges: "It is a copy of a Rushton Wee Lassie. It would work with the pedestal for maybe 110lb or less and even then must be a pretty competent paddler. It was designed to sit on the bottom. I had never heard of Blackhawk making one. Are we sure that BLQ is the Blackhawk code?"

Where did you get that history? I haven't seen this particular Blackhawk but have seen other Blackhawk models. They all were 12 inches deep.. Wee Lassie was much less deep ( at least in the Rushton form)

Curious, did you know Phil Siggelow?

My Wee Lassie comment was based on the the length/width and how the boat looks. I don't think any of the manufactured Wee Lassie hulls are exactly like the Rushton version. The Rushton plans have a 9 5/8 depth, Wenonah's copy has a 10" depth. It looks like this Blackhawk version maybe a little deeper, which I would want if I was going to use that pedestal. You'll need solid high and low braces and good reflexes to stay dry regardless of the depth.

I did not know Phil. He may have been part of Blackhawk Outfitters in 1975or6 when I bought a Chestnut Pal there. I had moved to GA by the time he was cranking out new and very cool designs.

cowdoc: "One missing from that list is the Combi 15.8
The Solo Plus of the Blackhawk fleet"

U

There was also a Combi 14'9". I had one and had a buddy with one. Cool boat. 14'9" was the solo that could tandem and the 15'8" was the tandem that could solo. I also paddled an "X-boat" once and know the guy that bought it. But I've never seen that short hot rod. Phil made some nice canoes.

sedges: "My Wee Lassie comment was based on the the length/width and how the boat looks. I don't think any of the manufactured Wee Lassie hulls are exactly like the Rushton version. The Rushton plans have a 9 5/8 depth, Wenonah's copy has a 10" depth. It looks like this Blackhawk version maybe a little deeper, which I would want if I was going to use that pedestal. You'll need solid high and low braces and good reflexes to stay dry regardless of the depth.


I did not know Phil. He may have been part of Blackhawk Outfitters in 1975or6 when I bought a Chestnut Pal there. I had moved to GA by the time he was cranking out new and very cool designs."

The problem is the lack of cross section diagrams. In any boat hull shape matters and we just don't get the whole picture from a side view even factoring in keel shape and depth.

The Rushton design was copled pretty well by Pete Hornbeck and with the constant flare hull ( again not visible from the side) was incredibly stable. His Lost Pond was a similarly sized canoe and it was not easy to fill with water!

Not meaning to start an argument but isn't it interesting about the history/ stealing of canoe shapes? I asked because here in New England Blackhawks are kind of a mystery even more than Moore and Galt.

Got the first outing in and I stayed dry. I used the pedestal and kneeled. I tried a kayak paddle, straight beaver tail and my 7.5 degree bent shaft. Most of the time as split between the two single blades but kayak paddle is probably the way to go. Yes the initial feel is tippy but you can learn it over to the gunnels pretty comfortably. Kind of windy out so I was able to try it in some chop water. It is going to make a fun little creek boat.

Fascinating thread and glad I found it. I too just bought the same boat. 10’6”, Kevlar, with a BLQ hull ID, manufactured in 95. No other markings.

So the question is, does anyone know what model this is? My pics attached.

Second hand info from the one time QCC kayaks proprietor is that Phil S would have had access to a wee lassie like mold, at least near the end of the Blackhawk canoe company’s run.

Timmo,
Guess the "value" of mine has just went down since now I know there is another one out there. :)
So have you had a chance to try the Blackhawk out yet?
I have used mine kneeling with the saddle a couple of times along with sitting on a pad on the floor. I have used a standard paddle and kayak paddle. My old body can not take the kneeling very well so looking like the pad version is my go to. I am thinking of installing foot pegs but I hate the thought of drilling holes through the skin.

Todd