New to me, 16 foot Chestnut canoe.

[Pook]

Hi Sean,

Those photos confirm no taper- just like mine.
I don't have a great picture on my system- but i think this side by side of my Bob's Special with tapered ribs next to the Pal may give you an idea of what they should look like.

BTW nice score with the Chestnut paddles! I have a few of them, too.


Bruce

 

[Hunter Gee]

Hi folks
Not sure if this is the way to go about this, but here goes:
Can anyone assist in identification of a Chestnut Prospector with the number 40716 on the stem?
Thanks,
John

 

[MGC]

Welcome, there aren't any know serial number records for the Canadian manufacturers so the dimensions may be your best hope for an identification. The details at https://woodencanoemuseum.org/builder-history/chestnut-canoe-company might help. There are many here who know much more about Chestnut canoes than me. Good luck,

Benson

Earlier in this post, Benson Gray responded to a similar request.
Chestnut is one of many canoe builders for whom build records are not available. There is no magic decoder ring for Chestnut serial numbers. The fact that you know that your canoe is a Chestnut and even what model puts you far ahead of many other Peternut owners who struggle to identify which of their many models they own.
Persons familiar with the nuance of these Peternut canoes can generally identify the approximate age of them by studying specific construction details.
If you want to try and pursue that detail, your best bet is to post a fresh thread and include images and also dimensions of various features. There are such experts who visit these pages and comment.
Rib thickness and spacing, hull depth and width, deck style and decals, hull roundness, rail splices and wood type all play into this guessing game of Peternut identification. If you browse the earlier posts on this thread, you will see examples of such detailed sharing of measurements.
Good luck in your search. .

 

[Andre Cloutier]

There is no magic decoder ring for Chestnut serial numbers. So you dont think that nice man on Craigslist that sold it to me was legit?! Next you'll probably tell me he's not even a prince.

 

[samb]

WOW - nice ruby!

 

[MGC]

I did say;
"Persons familiar with the nuance of these Peternut canoes can generally identify the approximate age of them by studying specific construction details.
There are such experts who visit these pages and comment."

Andre, I had you in mind when I wrote that. Now I must I beg forgiveness. I did not know that the secret to your vast knowledge and seeming expertise, was in fact a secret decoder ring. Who knew? Information about the existence of such a miraculous device has been withheld from all of us South of 403.....

 

[Andre Cloutier]

Mike, the ring was a dud, but delicious. I have reverted back to my main source of information when faced with critical decisions about which i am unsure.

 

[MGC]

Years ago, I kept one of those on my desk for critical decision making. We also consulted a very special dart board to decide product pricing and contract bids. We had some difficulty properly documenting these business practices when we went full ISO. The talking Dilbert doll that randomly blurted out, "this will not look good on your resume" was taken out of service, post ISO.

 

[Andre Cloutier]

"thread drift achieved" please also cease using the made up word Peternut; its offputting and my names not even Peter. Mike, for your viewing pleasure an original prefire sponson, and cruiser of the variery that causes your wife to wonder aloud ‘you paid money for that?’

 

[Andre Cloutier]

Don't be misled about dating Chestnuts by deck shape. This is my 1913 ish Teddy Absolutely correct Sam, both the above boats are closed rail prefires and the cruisers all demonstrated cuticle, or rounded decks, while the pleasures most often show heart lobes. Same is true for the prefire open rails i have.

 

[MGC]

Mike, for your viewing pleasure an original prefire sponson, and cruiser of the variery that causes your wife to wonder aloud ‘you paid money for that?’

Nice pair....and as requested, that nut thing is no more.
My wife has long since given up on attempts to rationalize some of my purchases. Here she might see scrap value in those elegant, galvanized brackets, or not. I certainly do. Thos can be handy to have around.
My own acquisition credibility is shot. After years of swearing to never, ever, never, never, never ever again by buy a glassed canoe, not only did I, but I have also stored it in my MIL's garage. What was I thinking?