Vintage canoes looking for new homes

I am helping get out some info out for Tom Whalen of Center Harbor NH (he has no digital capability).
Tom is a former WCHA member and previous owner of Wild Meadows Paddle Sports in Center Harbor.
Over several decades he has accumulated (rescued) over 2 dozen wooden vintage canoes of various ages, types, builders and conditions. Tom is selling his property in the NH Lakes Region and planing to move south in the near future. Before Tom has to be out of the barn, he is looking to get as many of his boats into the hands of folks who will give them a new life.
He has too many boats to list but some are: 16' Nutting, 17' Carlton with sponsons, 17' Old Town Square stern rowing canoe, Old Town 17" sailing canoe, a variety of Old town canoes, 3 are 16' rowing canoes, and some of unknown builder. Some are pretty much water ready, most need some work, some are true "project" boats.
Once the property and barn sells, the fate of these boats is in question. Time is of the essence.
Tom would love to have folks stop by or give him a call to see if any can find a new home and new life.
If interested, give Tom a call at 603-707-1183, or email me if there is any info (or photos) I can help with.
Thanks and happy paddling,
Reed Leberman
reedtntf@gmail.com

 

A brief update to the above post. Tom Whalen has sold the barn and needs to be out by mid to late October. I have added some photos of a small portion of Tom's 2 dozen wooden boats. We found all the gear (lee boards, rudder, mast and booms), to go with both sailing canoes (15' and 17' with sponsons, both Old Town). There are 5 or 6 canoe "carcasses" that might be savable, or maybe just for some parts.
Tom also has some ash and mahogany gunwale stock, a lot of paddles (many older Old Town) and some oars.
If you are attending the WCHA Regional gathering at Geneva Point in NH Columbus Weekend Tom's is just west of the village of Center Harbor, about 10 mile from the GPC. He''' be at the barn and would love to have folks stop by.

 

Thank you to all who have contacted Tom about his wooden canoes and other related stuff. He has until Nov. 1 to vacate his barn before moving to North Carolina.
He still has a Nutting, a 17' White, a 17' and an 18' Carlton , a nice 17' Kennebec (appears original) and many Old Town, 12'-18', 2 are sailing canoes 15' and 17'.

Any remaining boats are likely to go on consignment to KAS transport.
If interested, give Tom a call at 603-707-1183.
Thanks, Reed Leberman

 

Hello all,
Visited Tom yesterday and found some gunnels for a current restoration project. Also found several other bits and pieces. He's the nicest guy, and he's up against a deadline for vacating the barn. Wish I had a big truck and a bigger wallet!

 

Did all of this get dealt with? I'm going to be looking for some OT paddles to go with my new '51 OTCA

 

Hello,
If he has already moved South, he may have arranged with someone to sell off the remaining items. I do know that he had dozens and dozens of paddles when I was there. Perhaps he has the same phone number and some of those paddles are still available.
Good luck

 

Steve at KAS mentioned he'd got the canoes when he delivered mine, so he may also have the paddles. Will check both... Thanks

 

Thanks - yeah I saw some on ebay but it's good to know which ones are right. First choice is correct for the period; second choice is it doesn't matter

 

A week and half ago I helped Tom finish emptying the barn and shop of his canoes, paddles and misc. stuff. He has moved south to North Carolina, just in time given the weather forecast for the next couple days for 8-12" of snow here in central NH!
We have dispersed most of the wooden canoes, some going to KAS transport to be listed on several websites for sale. I'm not sure what he did with the paddles, some maybe still in storage here, but some went south with him. I know he still has some OT paddles that he would like to sell, I recall they are the gold (newer?) decal on the left Benson referenced above. He still has the same phone # mentioned above 603-707-1183.
I have a couple of his canoes, some gunwale stock and misc. hardware and other stuff (no paddles) at my house, some of which I hope to bring to the 2020 WCHA gathering. I'll put some in the classifieds when time permits.
Just curious which of his canoes you got? He had so many nice boats in need of some TLC and new homes.

 

I had KAS delivering my grandfather's '51 OTCA, not one of Tom's. But Steve of KAS mentioned that he'd acquired a bunch of canoes and I knew it was the ones mentioned here. Once I get the OTCA together I might look for a small single-seater. But more likely a 14' catboat! Perfect for Tomales Bay which is nearby.