Huron canoe maker?

[davelanthier]

I am about to restore two 16' Huron canoes. Canoe # 1 is the usual quality [ or lack there of ] with 20.5" rise, wide gaps between the 3.75" planks and many clinching tacks that are falling out. The second canoe has all the usual Huron traits except for these features. The workmanship is out standing, 22" rise, the 2 7/8" planks are tight [ no gaps ], no clinching tacks are falling out, thwarts have 4 straight sides rather than rounded and it has Verolite canvas. Any ideas who may have made the second canoe?

 

[Rob Stevens]

First by Faber, for Sears?
Second by Bastien Brothers?
It could also be that the second was built much earlier than the first, back when wooden canoes had not yet been shadowed/eclipsed by newer materials.

 

[john hupfield]

I agree with the Sears concept.
In my experiance though Trambley were the only commercial users of verolite. Tell me otherwise.
John

 

[Rob Stevens]

My comment about "newer materials" was a reference to fibreglass.
I can't confirm your comment about Tremblay being the only Huron builders to use verolite.

 

[Dave Wermuth]

Last year I restored an original Chestnut from the late 6o's that had the vinyl covering. I thought it was verolite.

 

[davelanthier]

Can't be Faber as their decks are different and they didn't have inwale caps. Picard had the same thwarts as canoe #2 but didn't have the heart shaped decks either. ------The mystery continues.--- And yes , Chestnut used Verolite in 1968 I believe.

 

[Louis Michaud]

All "Huron" builders tried Verolite at one time or another. Any pics of the stem profil and the goring pattern? Does "rise" mean the sheerline?

Louis Michaud
Rimouski, Quebec

 

[Louis Michaud]

Forgot: what kind of seat spacer on the front seat?

Louis

 

[davelanthier]

Hi Louis: With the canoe sitting on a flat surface the " rise " is the distance from that surface to the bow or stern upper stem tip. Other than the differences I noted on canoe #2 it has the same 2 front seat spacers and goring as any normal Huron.

 

[john hupfield]

Still being willing to be corrected but I must say I've never seen an elegant Faber. Bush boats you know. Trapper models were good.
68 Chestnut eh.
John

 

[Scot T]

Those look a lot like the two Hurons I have. My 14'er is "JUST NASTY" when it comes to build quality (awesome paddling boat, about the favorite of my small fleet) and my 16'er is very much better built. I just chalk it up to the 14'er is the Friday "Gotta get this piece of junk done so I can meet the buddies at the pub" boat and the 16'er is a fine example of a Wednesday "Life's good and there ain't nothing better than making these boats."