I completed my first Texas Water Safari using a carbon fiber, bent-shaft, Black Bart paddle. After 262 miles of near non-stop paddling, every part of my body hurt. But my hands were remarkably unscathed, which I owe to my flawlessly crafted Black Bart.

In fact, nearly everyone who’s ever picked up a bent-shaft paddle owes something to Bud “Black Bart” Moll.

I checked their Web site last week, and found the following tragic message on the front page:

Due to the sudden and tragic loss of Bud, alias “Black Bart”, Black Bart Paddles is in the process of restructuring.

While we have lost a master craftsman, we have not lost his craft. Black Bart Paddles will strive to maintain the standards that Bud set for himself and his products.

Sincerely,

The Moll Family

Some men, it seems, are destined to die the way they lived. And Bud Moll is such a man. His life was an adventure lived out of doors. Though it’s tragic, I had to half-smile when I got the following email concering the nature of Bud’s death:

Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 17:28:22 EST
From: DFJensen@someaddress.com
Subject: Re: Bud Moll’s fate ?

Bud Moll (aka Black Bart of Black Bart Paddle Company) collided with a bear while riding his motorcycle in early September of this year. He was conscious after the collision, but later went into a coma. He passed away about a week later.

Bud, thanks for the fantastic paddle. I’ll remember you with gratitude and pure joy every time I’m out for a paddle.