1915 OTCA 17’ Restoration - SCKC Jax Fl

[Big E]

The finishing touches are all that remain. One issue was the front deck coaming, currently in 2 pieces. I tried several different techniques to bend new coamings of Cherry. I really didn’t like the bright yellowish oak pieces the previous repair looks to have installed. It’s only 1/4” thick, but I couldn’t get it the cherry to work. Most likely the wood grain orientation was just wrong for this application. I ended up using epoxy to glue the piece back together and then screwing it into the deck and inwales with new brass screws. I did strip the varnish off, which removed most of the bright yellow color. A bit of early american stain and they blend in nicely. Time for varnish inside, then put in the floorboard and seats. Only one thing left now: Brass Stem bands.

 

[Big E]

The boat was safely transported back to the club boathouse and has been curing. I’ve received the Old Town water decal from the WCHA store to put on the front deck, and the boat will need a few more coats of varnish on the decks and inwales. The club’s annual annual spring gathering and open house is right around the corner - June 6th, where everyone will have a chance to paddle this piece of history. I’ll be back with some action shots.

In closing,
I’m very thankful for this opportunity to restore a wood and canvas canoe. What a fantastic learning experience it has been. I have much to learn about bending wood for sure, but overall the guidance in Jerry and Rollin’s book truly enabled me to succeed in what at times appeared to be a project way over my head. My thanks also to the fine folks here on the forum. Their willingness to share information and encourage others is a blessing. You inspired me with your projects and helped me believe I could do this as well.

Now to get back on the sail rig for my decked canoe.

 

[Rob Stevens]

The saga of complete restoration. Way to persevere! And thanks for sharing with detailed description, photos and learnings. This may inspire folks to embark on the journey, or not. And that $1,000, well, that may have covered the materials.

 

[Big E]

The saga of complete restoration. Way to persevere! And thanks for sharing with detailed description, photos and learnings. This may inspire folks to embark on the journey, or not. And that $1,000, well, that may have covered the materials.

Oh yes, The Budget. The extra ribs and tacks increased the budget a few hundred. I also contributed quite a bit in the form of general shop supplies, brushes, gloves, sandpaper etc, the epoxy repairs, I also bought and made some tools that will be useful on future projects. The biggest resource of course is time. Very difficult to put a finite value in that.

For me, the experience of working with a 100 year old boat, seeing how it was made and putting it back to working order was very special.

The next step for this boat is to serve as our Club Mascot boat, and go out on club paddles.

 

[Worth Gretter]

If you have read "Sailing Alone Around the World" by Joshua Slocum (he was the first to do so) then you might remember the neighbors mocked him (at first) for his restoration of the derelict sloop the Spray. Thus this quote:
"Now, it is a law in Lloyd's that the Jane repaired all out of the old until she in entirely new is still the Jane."
(That would be Lloyd's of London, the maritime insurer.)
If your canoe does not yet have a name, may I suggest Jane! Or Spray!

Seriously, congratulations on the completion of a very big project!

 

[Big E]

Thanks Worth, original serial numbers on each stem, both bow and stern are original ribs, a lot of original planking. I purposely kept the original inwales, and I’m fairly certain the Mahogony gunnels are OT. So Repaired? Yes, at least 2 major overhauls. Easily spotted, And that in itself adds to the character and legend of a boat like this.

I’m hoping to get some history from the family on how the canoe came to Florida, and they travels it has had. But perhaps more importantly is what adventures lie ahead.

I think we’ll have it on a multi-day Suwannee River trip in the fall,, and certainly some day trips in the Okeefenokee Swamp. But it will probably be seen the most on club paddles at Florida Springs. There is an annual paddle race in the spring here, we may field a team next year and see how we do against the dragon boat team. Who knows.