Ot 16 sponson record request

Hi could someone please search this serial # for me, i am new to the wooden canoe forum and just got and brand new used oldtown 16 with sponsons and would like to find out any info i could about it thanks and all info and advise is welcome.
ser#129 930
thanks Aaron

Greetings, Aaron, and welcome to the WCHA--

Old Town 129930 is a 16 foot CS (common sense, or middle) grade HW model canoe that was finished from April-November of 1940. It has open spruce gunwales, a keel, sponsons and was originally painted dark green. Wood species of decks, thwarts, and seat frames is not specified on the record, but CS grade canoes were trimmed in hardwood other than mahogany... this could be birch, ash, maple, or oak. If you are unsure of wood species, post a picture.

The canoe was shipped to W.L. Masters and Son in Chicago on December 14, 1940. The reverse of the record shows an inquiry from Delavan, WI, on September 7, 1975. The scan of this record is attached below-- click on it to get a larger image.

This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/ot_records/ if you want more details. I hope that you and anyone else reading this will join or renew membership in the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php to renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

If you post pictures here or in the wood canvas/fiberglass section, others can give you feedback regarding any restoration questions. There are many here who have restored canoes similar to yours and can walk you through the process.

I'll look through the catalogs and find more information on your year and model. More information on the Old Town Company can be found in Sue Audette's book, "Old Town, Our First Hundred Years", which is available from Sue herself at http://www.waterworkscanoe.com/book.html, on eBay, Amazon, and at public libraries.

Kathy

Attached is information on the sponson canoe from the 1940 Old Town catalog, courtesy "The Complete Old Town Canoe Company Catalog Collection, 1901- 1993", available on CD from http://www.wcha.org/catalog/ and http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/cdrom.htm on the web.

The HW was the model most likely to get sponsons, when a buyer wanted sponsons. The HW was built for "heavy water", or large lakes and wide rivers. The HW, with or without sponsons, made a dandy sailing canoe... and the sponsons made it less likely to heel all the way over.

The OT sponson canoe has small carrying-thwarts at each end because the canoe is heavier than a canoe without sponsons.

Kathy

Thank you

Thanks Kathy I will put up photos as soon as i can get it out side for some good shots, it does not have the canvase on but the wood looks pretty good excpt for a few very small spots on the end but the hull is solid, the seats ary intact and nice. Do the sponsons come off or are the permanent? or would you need to see it to tell?
Thanks again for your help
Aaron

Sponsons must be removed during the restoration of the canoe-- they are attached with screws. The sponsons need to be canvassed separately from the canoe, and then re-attached--- someone who has actually done this will be able to explain it better than I can.

Some people choose not to re-attach the sponsons, but if you decide to do this, I recommend keeping the sponsons in case you ever want to restore the canoe with the sponsons. It's no big deal if you choose to leave the sponsons off--- just a matter of personal choice.

I'll look through my pictures to see if I have any of some nice sponson canoes. Other folks here may post some of their own too.

Kathy

Attached are a couple pictures of Ted and Nolly Michel's Old Town sponson canoe, which-- as you can see-- is gorgeous.

Here's how I did Carleton sponsons. Basically I laid out canvas along the side of the canoe, reattached the sponsons then stretched the canvas up and over the sponson. Then tucked and tacked the canvas ends under.
Aaron, I see we both hail from the great state of Wisconsin. Let me know if I can help.
Good luck!
Dave Osborn
www.littlelakescanoe.com

Thanks

Thank you very much Dave, i sure will contact you when i gget this project started.Everybody is so helpfull, im excited to get pictures up so i can get advise.