davelanthier
Wooden Canoes are in the Blood
About 15 years ago this canoe was retrieved from our local garbage dump. Since then its' identity and vintage has eluded me yet it appears to be quite old. No doubt it has had alterations over the years but the original basics remain. Any help would be much appreciated.
It is 15'6"L, 33"W, 12.5"D and has a rise of 25" including a standard keel. Clinching tacks are copper. Screws are slotted.
Ribs: Of "special note" is that the centre of each rib along the keel line is quite bent, more so at the bow and stern, lessening as they progress to mid canoe. Including the cant ribs they are 3/8" thick, 1 3/16" wide tapering to 1 1/4" wide at the tips. Their edges are angled and the ribs are spaced 1 1/4" apart. The top of every rib tip has at least one small nail hole suggesting it had closed gunnels at some time.
Planking: Appears to be red cedar. 3 5/8" wide at keel decreasing to 3" before the gore strips and top planks which are up to 5" wide. I have outlined the upper planking seams with yellow tape for better clarity.
Decks: Contoured, heart shaped and heavily undercut at the base. They are 1 1/2" thick, 5 3/4" wide and 11 1/2" long. "Special Note" here, the bow deck face has 4 nail holes spaced 1" x 2" apart suggesting a missing makers tag. Note, no marks found on stem faces.
Thwarts: one only oak thwart placed 10" off canoe centre towards stern. Mounted with one bolt per side and is trimmed at both ends to fit between the ribs
It is 15'6"L, 33"W, 12.5"D and has a rise of 25" including a standard keel. Clinching tacks are copper. Screws are slotted.
Ribs: Of "special note" is that the centre of each rib along the keel line is quite bent, more so at the bow and stern, lessening as they progress to mid canoe. Including the cant ribs they are 3/8" thick, 1 3/16" wide tapering to 1 1/4" wide at the tips. Their edges are angled and the ribs are spaced 1 1/4" apart. The top of every rib tip has at least one small nail hole suggesting it had closed gunnels at some time.
Planking: Appears to be red cedar. 3 5/8" wide at keel decreasing to 3" before the gore strips and top planks which are up to 5" wide. I have outlined the upper planking seams with yellow tape for better clarity.
Decks: Contoured, heart shaped and heavily undercut at the base. They are 1 1/2" thick, 5 3/4" wide and 11 1/2" long. "Special Note" here, the bow deck face has 4 nail holes spaced 1" x 2" apart suggesting a missing makers tag. Note, no marks found on stem faces.
Thwarts: one only oak thwart placed 10" off canoe centre towards stern. Mounted with one bolt per side and is trimmed at both ends to fit between the ribs