Unidentified wood canoe??

[cbntmkr]

I need help identifying this canoe can any one help? I have determined that it is a Canadian manufacturer due to the shoe keel and the square headed screws. Otherwise i have no idea who made ite. it also is coverd with fibreglass, but I want to restore with canvas.

I can not seem to upload pics here any help?

[cbntmkr]

Here is a link to a webshots page with photos of this canoe.
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=215861974

[Dan Miller]

Hi Scott,

Your link to your album isn't working for me - it tells me I'm not the owner of the album and to use the back button to fix the problem...

To post pictures here, use the Advanced Reply (rather than the Quick Reply). Below the box where you type your message, click on the button labeled "Manage Attachments". Click the "browse" button to locate the image on your computer. Choose up to five images - they must be a common format such as JPG or GIF, and less than 1 MB in size. Once you have selected your file(s), click the "Upload" button.

Cheers,
Dan

[cbntmkr]

Hey Dan, i tried to upload the pics again, but I keep getting errors.
If you go to www.webshots.com, then the community tab on the top and search for a member " cbntmkr" the photo album should come up.

Scott

[Dan Miller]

Scott, Tried it, got "Sorry! No photos were found for "cbntmkr" "

What error message do you get here? Try emailing me one of your photos...

Dan

[cbntmkr]

Hey Dan, I had one of my coworkers try it and it worked????

I will try to e-mail you the photos. The webshots is better though as there are approx 80 pics.

[cbntmkr]

The error is "cannot find server or dns error.

[Fitz]

http://community.webshots.com/user/cbntmkr

[cbntmkr]

Thanx Fitz.
Seeing as how you found it, what do you think??

[Dan Miller]

Thanks Fitz, that got me in...

I've uploaded one of the pics.

Looks like it could be a Chestnut to me. With one thwart maybe the 15' Doe? What are the measurements?

Cheers,
Dan

[cbntmkr]

measures 16'7" long, 12 1/2"high and approx 32" wide

I can confirm over the weekend but that is fom memory

[davelanthier]

I agree Dan. It sure looks simular to the 16' Chestnut prospector I'm working on .

[cbntmkr]

Can anyone direct me to an accurate site for Chestnut canoes, sizes, styles?

[Benson Gray]

Dan's Wood Canoe Identification Guide at http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/id/ has all of the basic Chestnut sizes. More information is available from http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/cdrom.htm on the Canadian Wood Canoe and Boat Company Catalog Collection CD.

Benson

[cbntmkr]

What makes a prospector a "Prospector"???

[Dan Miller]

What makes a prospector a "Prospector"???

The shape of the hull.

For its length, the Prospector is a beamy, deep canoe (e.g. the 16' Prospector has a 36" beam and 13" depth), that has a shallow arch bottom carried into a fairly hard bilge. It is wall sided with minimal tumblehome (1"). The entry has a distinctly hollow waterline. There is a lines drawing of the 17' Prospector in Roger MacGregor's book. The Prospector is perhaps the most widely copied (and often *******ized) design out there - a great number of contemporary canoe builders, working in wood and plastics, offer a version. Few are close to the original design, though.

If your dimensions are correct, then your canoe may not be a Chestnut. The only design Chestnut offered longer than 16' with a beam as narrow as you mention is the Cruiser, but the 17' Cruiser should have 3 thwarts (plus carry thwarts) and the ribs would be the full 2-3/8 width, not the narrow ones yours has. If your canoe is closer to 16' feet, it might be a Pal, which should measure 16' by 34" maximum beam. Where/how did you measure your length, beam and depth?

Cheers,
Dan

[cbntmkr]

I was going by memory for the sizes when I posted and will try to re-measure tonight.

[Andy Hutyera]

For what it's worth I'll add my two cents. Judging just from the overall shape of the canoe, the narrow ribs, the shape of the stems and the trademark Chestnut slat seats this canoe is a dead ringer for a Pal. If it is, you've got a real gem on your hands. The Pal is really a sweet handing canoe.

[davelanthier]

With that question answered I now wonder what the difference is between a prospector and a guide canoe ?

[Dan Miller]

With that question answered I now wonder what the difference is between a prospector and a guide canoe ?

If you are talking about Chestnut (and related company) canoes specifically, then the Prospector and the Cruiser/Guide's Special are distinctly different designs. For the same length the Prospector is much wider and deeper than the Cruiser and Guide's Special. The Guide's Special is the same hull design as the Cruiser, but with close ribbing.

If you are talking generally, then the Prospector is still a specific hull design. A guide canoe is any canoe capable of carrying a guide, his sport, and their gear. Most companies offered a "guide" model of some sort - usually a larger canoe (e.g. 18-1/2 or 20 feet in length) and built to a lower grade than their standard models.

Cheers,
Dan

[cbntmkr]

OK Boys, I had a chance to measure it today, so here they are. 16' long, 35 1/2" out to out of the gunwhales @ midship and 14" from the bottom of the keel to the top of the gunwhales @ midship. The keel is approx. 1/2" thick.

I hope this can narrow it down but it does sound like the dims required for a prospector Dan.

Andy are sure about the seats being a Chestnut trademark??

There is also a serial number stamped on the stem, but it does not seem to match any of the criteria on Dans site.

[Dan Miller]

I've learned to never say never, but in any case, I've not yet seen a Prospector with 1-1/2" ribs... Your dimensions (measure depth to the inside of the planking, not the bottom of the keel) are consistent with a Deer (narrow-ribbed version of the Pal), and the slat seats would put it circa 1968, based on catalog descriptions.

What is the serial number - they usually aren't helpful for Chestnuts but there a clues in them nonetheless, and depending on the number we might be able to turn it into a Peterborough or a Canadian, or even something else!

Cheers,
Dan

[Douglas Ingram]

Oakbank? You're in Oakbank! Bring that canoe down to Lorette, and I'll tell try and help you out...

[cbntmkr]

Hey Doug, where in Lorette?? I have a 2 brothers in Lorette. How do I get a hold of you.

[anthony]

Hey Scott. Anthony(tony's good) from Brandon Mb. Isaw your pics. and have a canoe that looks like yours.Ifound a serial # stamped on stern stem...inboard top:5 digit # 23135. maybe yours has one here as well. I have been over and over this canoe steady for 2 wks. and only today found it!!! let me know if you find! thanks T.M.

[cbntmkr]

Hi Tony, Yes there is s serial number stamped into the stem. I can check when I get home from work and post on Monday. I think it was similar to yours approx 5 numbers and spaced eratically apart. Also started with a 2.
Where did you get yours from??
Do you have pics??

Scott

[anthony]

Hi there! My Dad gave it to me.(thanks pop).I just got a dig. cam. If I can just get my son to show me how to use!?! I was at a scout jamboree in '77. (A killer storm set in which saw several pup tents[with gear included] flying away into the ocean!!!). Is that the type of scouting you are referring to? thanks T.M.

[darkwatersimilkameen]

could a competition prospector ( Chestnut's 3rd line) have 1 1/2" ribs. I hava a friend who has one

[anthony]

Hey,D.W....The Guide says no on narrow ribbed prospectors(although...as many would agree[especially in Chestnut's latter years],"never say never". What's your friend's o'all measurements/wood types? (quickly becoming Chestnut nut...need input... ) T.M.