Skaneateles Boat & Canoe Co.

[JClearwater]

I was given a canoe last Sunday that has the remnants of an Old Town decal on the bow deck and a Skaneateles Boat & Canoe Co. plate on the stern deck. The serial #118256 16 is on the bow stem. The canoe is a 16' AA grade with half ribs. It has a mast step and a bow seat with a mast hole. No sail rig came with the boat. Condition is rough to say the least. Like they say price reflects condition. I assume that it is an Old Town canoe that was repaired by Skaneateles or sold by them at some time. Old Town build sheet?

Thoughts anyone? Thanks.

Jim C.

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Doesn't sound like the same boat that comes up on the OT records--
Old Town 118256 is a 16 foot CS grade HW with open spruce gunwales, ash decks, and a keel... painted dark green and shipped to Meddybemps, ME on August 25, 1936. Cool name= Meddybemps.

Kathy

 

[Michael Grace]

Hi Jim,

It's clearly an Old Town Otca, AA grade, rigged for sailing with Old Town parts. I'll bet that your serial number has a mistake in the "8" or the "6" digit, but the general timeframe is appropriate (20s-40s) given the open wales, long decks and hand-caned seats (pre-WWII), and presence of diamond-head bolts (post 1920 or so).

M

 

[Dan Miller]

I concur with Michael, so if that Skaneateles tag is looking for a new home...

 

[JClearwater]

Serial #

I will check the serial number again in the daylight tomorrow. The canoe is definitely worth fixing - someday. Until then it will live in my barn. Thanks to all who responded.

Jim C.

 

[JClearwater]

One more time...

Ok, make that '5' a '6'. After stripping off some varnish the correct number is 118266 16. That should bring up a 16' Otca AA grade with half ribs set up for sailing. Thank you. Sorry I didn't get it right the first time.

Jim C.

 

[MikeCav]

Hi Jim,
Think you got it this time. 118266 shows on a 16' Otca in AA grade with 20" mahogany decks, seats and thwarts, 1/2 ribs, outside stems and a keel. It was originally painted yellow with a gold hairline stripe with ND ends similar to design # 16. It was shipped to Macy's in NYC in July 1936. There is no mention of a sailing rig, but that could have been added later. The build record is attached.

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, http://www.wcha.org/wcha_video.php to watch a 10 minute video about WCHA and our programs 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.

 

[JClearwater]

That's it

Thank you Mike. That's the canoe!

Jim C.