CanoeMarket is the place where you can list, sell and buy canoes, kayaks, paddles, equipment and anything else that you need for your favorite water sports!
This is a very rare and unique blue hole canoe. Early model production #219th canoe made in Antioch, TN in 1973 before they moved the factory to Sunbright. This is a true survivor canoe with professionally installed color matched kevlar skid guards on both ends, custom decals reflecting "Made in Antioch, Tennessee", original brass serial plate as well as a custom aluminum plate reflecting same "Made in Antioch, Tennessee". All original seats as well as vinyl guards on the deck plates. This is a very cool canoe that will get many double takes going downriver! Take a look at the photos, they tell the story of what great condition this boat is in.
FREE HAT WITH CANOE PURCHASE !
The Blue Hole OCA (Open Canoe, Aluminum) is a durable, 15'9" Royalex whitewater canoe with aluminum gunwales, known for its technical river performance, featuring a 15" depth, 35" max beam, and a weight of about 70 lbs, designed for serious river running. It differs from the OCB model by having aluminum trim and deeper, technical design for whitewater, whereas the OCB had wood trim and was for recreational use.
Key Specifications
• Length: 15' 9" (4.8m)
• Material: Royalex (a durable, impact-resistant plastic)
• Gunwales: Aluminum
• Weight: Around 70 lbs (31.7kg)
• Depth (Center): 15 inches (38cm)
• Beam (Max): 35 inches (89cm)
• Beam (Waterline): 33 inches (84cm) at 4" waterline
• Hull: Tumblehome (inward curve)
• Usage: Technical whitewater & river running
Key Features & Design
• Whitewater Focus: The OCA is built tough for navigating technical rapids and rocky rivers.
• Royalex Construction: Provides excellent impact resistance, allowing it to take hits and maintain structural integrity.
OCA vs. OCB
• OCA (Open Canoe Aluminum): Aluminum gunwales, deeper (15"), for technical whitewater.
• OCB (Open Canoe Birch/Wood): Wooden decks/gunwales, shallower (13"), for recreational paddling.
If you want a canoe that will handle a couple weeks worth of supplies to head out on a wilderness adventure, this canoe is for you. In the OCA you’ll find all the great characteristics that have made this canoe a paddling legend. With lots of volume to keep you and your gear dry and in whitewater or waves it still tracks well with good hull speed on flatwater. The durable royalex material and classic Blue Hole lines make the OCA 16’ the ultimate wilderness extended tripping canoe.
The Blue Hole Canoe Company was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1972 by Bob Lantz, Roy Guinn and Bill Peatman. The factory was on Blue Hole Road in Antioch just outside Nashville. Several hundred of the original design, for which Bill Griswold of Nashville was also responsible, were manufactured there. After building and selling the first fifty boats, Bill Peatman sold his share of the company to the partners/investor. In 1974 the company moved to Sunbright, Tennessee (not far from Oak Ridge). Blue Hole canoes were among the first to use ABS ("Royalex") plastic and quickly became the dominant canoe used in the growth of whitewater canoeing in the 1970's. In the mid-80's the remaining founders parted ways, and Roy Guinn joined up with Joe Pulliam to found the Dagger Canoe Company in 1988 in nearby Harriman, Tennessee. By 1990, Dagger had begun producing kayaks in addition to canoes. Since then, their main competitor, Perception, purchased the company and relocated it to Easley, South Carolina. However, at the time Dagger was being started, the name Blue Hole Canoe Company was sold and they were continued to be built for a while in Gordonsville, Virginia. That company closed, and the name was bought by another canoe company, which my produce them again at some point in the future. However, the legendary Royalex material is NOT being produced any longer. Canoe makers have been scrambling ever since to find a suitable replacement. The new T-Formex is a promising material but has not been proven.
Spring is just around the corner folks! Rivers will rise and be waiting for you to enjoy! Happy Paddling!
![Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]](https://www.canoemarket.com/img/items/470_image_1_2026_02_02_07_01_43.jpg "Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]")
![Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]](https://www.canoemarket.com/img/items/470_image_2_2026_02_02_07_01_43.jpg "Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]")
![Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]](https://www.canoemarket.com/img/items/470_image_3_2026_02_02_07_01_43.jpg "Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]")
![Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]](https://www.canoemarket.com/img/items/470_image_4_2026_02_02_07_01_43.jpg "Blue Hole OCA - Early Model #219 Made In Antioch, TN - [click here to zoom]")
