Old Town Canoe ID

[Will Brunnquell]

I just purchased an Old Town canoe, Serial Number 173-135 15. The previous owner did not have any information on when it was made or where it came from. I am hoping to start some restoration work on it soon, and would love to learn anything I can about it. Thanks!

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 173135 is a 15 foot long fifty pound model with a keel. It was built between May and July, 1963. The original exterior paint color may have been O. T. (Old Town) Yellow but it was red when it left the factory. It shipped on July 8th, 1963 to Tacoma, Washington. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.

This scan and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.

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. Good luck with the restoration,

Benson

 

[Will Brunnquell]

Thanks so much! This is really helpful, and I am planning to join.