Errol Dennis Sr. recalls it quite well.
“It all started with me wanting to give both of my sons pirogues as Christmas presents,” Errol Sr. said. “The design of the pirogue came from a cypress pirogue built in the 1930s from which a fiberglass mold was made.
“I made two of them and had them in the back of my truck. I stopped to get some gas, and a guy asked me where he could get one of those pirogues. That got me thinking that maybe some other people would be interested in this unique pirogue.”
The timing was perfect.
“I had always been in construction, as a house designer and home builder, but things were slow, so I decided to start making a few pirogues to see how they would sell,” Errol Sr. said. “The demand was great because this type of pirogue was not available on the market. It is designed to carry heavy loads while maintaining maneuverability and ease of operation.”
The business has grown and keeps him busy — when he isn’t hunting or fishing.
Paw Paw’s Pirogues can be reached at 504-908-2408 or www.pawpawspirogues.com.
