Longest journey by pumpkin boat (paddling), Steve Kueny sets world record

August 21, 2024

Lebanon, Missouri, United States--Steve Kueny from Lebanon, Missouri, took nearly 11 hours to paddle 38 miles on the Missouri River – from Kansas City, Kansas, to Napoleon – in a 1,208-pound pumpkin christened “Huckleberry", setting the new world record for the Longest journey by pumpkin boat (paddling), according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"After almost 11 hours out on the Missouri River in his 1,208-pound pumpkin boat called Huckleberry, Steve Kueny from Lebanon, Missouri has emerged from his 38-mile journey across the river "cold, tired but pleased with the result." He began his long and cold slog at 7:30 a.m. in Kansas City, Kansas and arrived in Napoleon, Missouri at 6:18 p.m., Kueny told USA Today.

"Kueny was joined by Paddle KC Padding Club along with half a dozen boats to make sure that “we’re doing something very silly very safely,” he said. The crew helped him keep an eye on his pace, to make sure he wasn't paddling along in the dark.

"Growing Huckleberry large enough to serve as a boat took Kueny the entire summer. Dill’s Atlantic Giant is the only pumpkin species that can grow so large. Kueny grew the pumpkin himself, picked it about two weeks ago, took it to a weigh-off and then carved it up over the weekend. It took him about 45 minutes to scoop out all the seeds."

"After an arduous journey of 11 hours on the winding Missouri River, will likely be crowned for the longest journey by padding in a pumpkin boat," the FOX Weather says.

Steve Kueny, a competitive pumpkin farmer from Lebanon, Missouri, will likely break a Guinness World Record after he paddled 39.17 miles in a 1,280-pound pumpkin named Huckle Berry.

"The weather was absolutely perfect, and that was really just mostly luck," he added. "It was, I think, high mid-70s, not a cloud in the sky, not a great deal of wind … just blue skies and calm waters. So it was perfect."

Longest journey by pumpkin boat (paddling) | Guinness World Records

This record is for the longest journey by pumpkin boat using paddles as the sole means of propulsion.
This record may be attempted by an individual.
This record is measured in kilometres (km) to the nearest 0.001 km, with the equivalent imperial measurement given in miles (mi).
For the purpose of this record, a pumpkin boat is a pumpkin which has been hollowed out with part of the top removed to allow someone to fit inside and use the body of the pumpkin as a paddling boat. Motors may not be used for this attempt.

"Steve Kueny took nearly 11 hours to paddle 38 miles on the Missouri River – from Kansas City, Kansas, to Napoleon – in a 1,208-pound pumpkin christened “Huckleberry,” the Houston Herald says.

"Kueny plans on submitting all the evidence collected to corroborate his journey, including witnesses, GPS data, time stamps, video footage, photographs and other documentation to Guinness World Records for verification.

"“I’m pretty comfortable on the water in general, but on a lot smaller water than the Missouri River,” Kueny said. “I felt like I knew enough to understand the dangers I could run into along the Missouri River, and that was why I surrounded myself with people who were specifically experienced on the Missouri.”

"A Missouri man has squashed the Guinness World Record for the longest boat ride on a 1,208lbs pumpkin Monday after a 38-mile journey. Steve Kuney from Lebanon, Missouri, took off at sunrise in Kansas City. After drifting in a pumpkin boat named 'Huckle Berry' for 11 hours, he claimed the world record in Napoleon, Missouri, at 6.18pm," the Daily Mail says.

"It took him an entire summer to grow the pumpkin from a seed. Dill's Atlantic Giant is the only pumpkin species that can grow so large, he told USA Today. Kuney picked up the hobby of pumpkin growing in 2020 when the pandemic hit and everyone began gardening or making sourdough bread, he said.

"After picking Huckle Berry two weeks ago, he weighed it and spent nearly an hour to scoop out all the seeds. He also added a few sandbags on the floor to give himself more stability. 'We test floated it before we carved it so we would know which end wanted to be up. Once we figured that out, we marked it, made the hole at the center,' he said."

"Kueny documented the growth of his pumpkin on Facebook. He named it “Huckle Berry,” then carved out enough room for him to sit with his legs folded. He began his journey in Kansas City and paddled for 11 hours ending in Napoleon, Mo., alongside Paddle KC members," the Spectrum News says.

"“During the 11 hours of almost constant paddling, Steve paddled the wakes of eight barge passings, passed three sand dredges, and had one startling crunchy drag and bounce off submerged rocks near shore,” the Facebook post states. “We had a great time paddling alongside to provide support and assistance if needed.”

"The application and documentation have been submitted and Kueny is waiting for Guinness World Records officials to review and verify, which can take up to 12-15 weeks. “It was a beautiful day for a grand adventure! We even had a bald eagle flyover!” the Facebook post states."

"On Monday, autumn adventurer Steve Kueny of Lebanon, Missouri, potentially set a new Guinness World Record after an 11-hour, 38-mile journey on the Missouri River while manning a 1,208-lb. pumpkin boat," the People magazine says.

" “It takes a lot of planning and also a lot of flying by the seat of your pants,” Kueny told local network KCTV. “I’m just a guy with a pumpkin and a whimsical sense of adventure out to have fun.”

"And if the numbers pan out, the traveler would become the new record holder for longest journey by pumpkin boat, which was previously set by Duane Hansen after paddling over 37 miles in 2022, the Guinness World Records show."