Old Town Sponson canoe

[BCHC]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the forum and was directed here by a fellow member. I'm wanting to double check some information I was given on a 17' sponson canoe. The serial number I thought was 43716 but was provided info for 45716. What do you guys think? Also is there a model name for this canoe and any other info on it? Thanks a lot.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Dan Miller]

43716 is an 18' Otca without sponsons.

45716, which I sent you earlier (attached here for others to examine), show a 17' HW with long, mahogany decks and sponsons.

Check the other stem - the number is stamped at both ends.

Dan

 

[BCHC]

Thanks Dan,

The serial number on the front stem was in worse shape than the one I showed you. Now the hard part is going to be finding out (if ever possible) how it migrated north over the border. Were there ever invoices saved at Old Town? Be interesting to know how much this canoe sold for in 1917.

Ben

 

[Benson Gray]

Were there ever invoices saved at Old Town? Be interesting to know how much this canoe sold for in 1917.

I am not aware of any known collection of Old Town invoices from 1917 that are available. The catalogs available from http://store.wcha.org/The-Complete-Old-Town-Canoe-Company-Catalog-Collection-CD-ROM.html indicate that a 17 foot long canoe with open gunwales and sponsons listed for $59 in 1917 as shown below. I suspect that you can get more than that for it now. Good luck with the restoration,

Benson