Thompson?

16' W/C Canoe for sale locally. I thought it looked Thompson-ish, but I haven't got a reply from seller about the tag.

Sure looks like a Shell Lake.

Dan Miller said:

Sure looks like a Shell Lake.

Click to expand...

I don't know enough about either to make more than a guess!

The lack of a frame around the 1/2 ribs made me wonder about Shell Lake, and was basing my very tenuous ID on the decks, which looked like the Thompsons on your ID page, and the brass tag, that looks like the rectangular tag on the only Thompson I've ever seen live and in person.

It's on Northern Michigan Craig's List for $950.

http://nmi.craigslist.org/spo/837078611.html

It is out on the Leelanau Peninsula in a town called Northport. You can't get there from here, or I'd go look at it.

Brian,

I'm with Dan, it's a Shell Lake,

and if you really want one, I'll sell you one for 1/2 what that one is listed for.

Dan

Just got this. Apparently Shell Lake liked the Thompson tags too!


HI Brian, The plate says: Manufactured by Shell Lake Boat Co.
Shell Lake, Wis
There's a serial number on the wood that goes down the center of the floorboards, near the front. 116 349.
We are not sure what the outer cover is. My dad bought it used in the forties and he didn't do anything to it, as far as I know. You probably should see it yourself to decide Don't know when fiberglass came into use. Judy and Dave

Dan - Were they poorly made or are you just saying nobody wants to pay a grand for raw materials for a project?

Brian,

Attached are pics of the 2 Shell Lakes I have.

Note the 2 different deck styles.

And here are a couple of Thompson's.

Hi Brian--

Did you see our Shell Lake? Here's a picture of it, as it heads into the loft. Note that you can see the sky, right through the canoe. It's "a project".

Is that the one that sorta looked like it was paddled through Hurricane Katrina?

Yeah-- but see what a staunch and sturdy canoe the Shell Lake is: it can (appear as though it can) survive hurricanes and someone will pay $150 dollars for it...

Below is what the deck looks like on our Shell Lake...