Old Town 173873 17

[Bethewaz]

Hello, ALL!
I have dug out my old canoe and would like some info on it. It had a canvas that was taken off about 10 years ago. The keel is good, the ribs are great, as well as the seats. The very end points (front and rear) need a little attention. Serial # 173873 17. Can anyone figure out some stuff about it like model, year, color, etc.?
Thank you all very much!
Bethewaz

 

[MikeCav]

Canoe # 173873 is assigned to a 17' OTCA, built with narrow (2-3/4") planking, It was delivered to Liverpool, NY (near Syracuse) in July of 1965. It was painted in design #37. A copy of the build record and design are attached. Are you still in the Syracuse area or has this boat traveled a bit?

Scans of approximately 210,000 records were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. Additional information about the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. Please join WCHA or make a tax deductable contribution 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.html to join. If you are already a WCHA member, THANK YOU!

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.

 

[Bethewaz]

Thank you

Mike,
Thank you so much for the info! Wow, what an interesting design. Was the black and gold painted on over the red?
ANother thing, what is the "Narrow Planking" for, and why did some come with it and some not? Any info you have I would appreciate. I need to recanvas it. I live in Avon, NY (Just south of Rochester), and this canoe was owned by an older couple near Cape Vincent up until about 10 years ago.
Thank you again.
Gerry

 

[MikeCav]

The design is sure a pretty one. I believe it was painted on over the red. On most of the earlier canoes, the design work was done by hand.

I'm not sure of the purpose of the narrow planking, except that it might result in a more "fair" (smooth) exterior surface since the narrow planks can bend to the curves of the boat more easily.

I get to Avon occasionally, I work for NYSDEC and we have an office there. In the Rochester area, there are a number of very active WCHA members in our Chapter One local chapter. Look them up for advice.

 

[Dan Miller]

I suspect that narrow planking was used simply to use up planking stock that wasn't as wide as the standard planking. No sense wasting it...