Thank You
Thank you Benson. It certainly fits the description of the Carlton. The more I look at it the more work it looks like it will be needing. When you say "very interesting canoe" it brings me to a question that I asked a while ago about a 1922 HW that I've started working on. Kathryn Klos so beautifully answered it then and I'm wondering if I should stay with her advise from that post or would this canoe require some different handling. Here is her quote...
"Glad you plan to USE your historic boat! This is part of the magic of owning a wood and canvas canoe: you can return it to its original self... let it start over as a "youngster" and live its life again... without having to find the Fountain of Youth, as we humans would have to do!
Although a 1922 Old Town HW is classified as an historic canoe, it isn't so rare a craft that you shouldn't enjoy it because you might damage something irreplaceable.
The magic of wood/canvas is that you CAN do more than simply make the canoe usable... a plastic canoe can be patched and used and patched again... and eventually will live forever in a landfill.... but a wood/canvas can be restored to its original glory--- or, with modern paints and your careful woodworking, can be better-than-new.
There are some historic canoes that are so rare that they probably shouldn't be restored at all, but left intact as they are found. But my feeling is that all the others--- which would be a majority of what's "out there"--- should be restored for the use and enjoyment of their owner.
This is the magic-- the poetry-- of wood/canvas canoes: they can take generation after generation down rivers and across lakes... they are containers for happy people-- smiling faces-- laughing children-- panting pooches-- those sitting peacefully, contemplating nature-- those excitedly pulling fish from the water.
You owe it to the canoe, not to let it gather dust.
And how you restore it--- the degree of historical accuracy you choose to assume--- is up to you. Some folks will change a CS grade canoe to AA-- after all, the original owner was able to choose. Some will add a longer deck. Some stick firmly to what the build record says... others will follow the build record in all respects, but will choose a different color.
Our 1912 HW with sponsons was originally painted with the "Indian cross" design. We plan to restore the canoe, complete with sponsons, but will use the "Greek ends" design instead, because the Indian cross is a reverse swastika.
I like Gil Cramer's now-famous quote, which begins with "it's your canoe--". Do what you're comfortable doing. If you have a question about something, run it past the folks here if you want... but, in the end, "it's your canoe".
Also, for most old wood/canvas canoes, the original build-information doesn't exist. Those with Old Town, Carleton, Kennebec, and a few others have the luxury of knowing the original colors... but my feeling is that having the original record shouldn't obligate the owner to make the canoe that way again... it says where it has been (appearance-wise)-- but you don't have to go there again unless you want to. Having the original build information should be a luxury... not a firm directive... or nobody would consider buying our "Indian cross" canoe!
Whatever you choose to do, share pictures!"
It was rescued from the trash quite a few years ago by a friend. It's had work done to it before but the methods and craftsmanship look questionable. Aluminum seats on a wood canoe??
