18 foot square end paddling model old town 1937?

Mike G · 2025-05-13T06:24:41-0400

ME boat registration for sq paddling model says 1937 old town. Did Old Town make the 18 ft paddling model in 1937? Transom was replaced would serial number have been stamped on that?

Txs
Mike G

pklonowski · 2025-05-13T06:40:07-0400

The serial number will be on the bow stem, and on one of the transom knees, I think. If you send a picture of that number, or just the number itself, the build record can probably be located, and we'd know the original configuration of the canoe.

Benson Gray · 2025-05-13T07:37:27-0400

Mike G said:
Did Old Town make the 18 ft paddling model in 1937?

Yes, this model was listed in the Old Town catalogs from 1929 to 1971. The serial number would be on the center transom brace at the stern and inside stem at the bow as Paul mentioned. The information at the link below may help if the numbers are hard to read. Many other builders made boats like this so it may not be from Old Town. Pictures could help.

Benson

Thread 'How do I find a serial number on an old wooden canoe or boat?'

Oct 2, 2005

Many old wooden canoes and boats have a serial number on both inside stems and a decal or tag with the manufacturer's logo on the bow deck. The number is usually stamped on the top of the lower part of the stems. The inside stems are the long curved pieces of wood that form the ends of the canoe. You want to look on the part that extends out from under the decks on the bottom of the floor inside the hull. The serial numbers are stamped in each end of the canoe so check both if a single digit is not clear. These numbers in the stern of boats are occasionally on the edge of the center...

Mike G · 2025-05-13T09:15:58-0400

I've looked at the "help to identify Square Stern Canoe" link that I believe Benson gave me back in 2016. The pics with 15' and 18' canoe below it shows exactly the 1937 old town canoe as per my ME boat registration, Sponsons, brass oar locks, even the brass bow line attach. . It is a dead ringer. There is no observable number on the transom brace or the bow stem. I'd assume wear has removed them. I'll assume the ME registration is correct at 1937. Thank you all.

Great site

Mike

Dave Osborn · 2025-05-13T11:19:53-0400

I’ve never heard of or seen an Old Town Square stern or row boat with a serial number on a transom knee, and I’ve restored a dozen or more of them. It could be possible that some were stamped, as Paul stated. And more probable on larger sailboats and runabouts.
The stem is where you will find it if it is an Old Town Square Stern. If it has a long deck, it could be challenging, but it will be there.