1939 Old Town

[wwstoner]

I am restoring a 1939 Old Town 50 pound model. I’m not sure if it came with the toggle in floor but it doesn’t have it now. I can make a new one but would like to know if this is vital to the strength of the floor or I can just omit it.

 

[Benson Gray]

The brass toggle on the floor simply helps hold the floor rack in place as shown below. It is not vital to the strength of the floor so you can just omit it if you haven't replaced the rack. A replacement can easily be made from an extra piece of stem band.

Benson

 

[wwstoner]

It’s the floor rack itself that is missing and I want to know if it is a necessity.

 

[Benson Gray]

The floor rack was an option and it is not a necessity. Most canoes shipped without them. The choice is yours,

Benson

 

[wwstoner]

Thanks

 

[Howie]

The ribs and planking used on 50 Pounders were slightly thinner than those used on other canoes. This is why these canoes weigh less - hence the name '50 Pounder' (which BTW I figure is slightly less than what an 11' 50 Pounder actually weighs with the seats removed). For my 13' 50 Pounder (which I paddle 'solo' from the front seat facing the aft end of the canoe) I made short 30" long floor rack to just cover the area where I stand to to get in & out of the boat. It helps spread my weight over several ribs, which I figure compensates for the thinner ribs. It's also easily made from standard 60" rib stock - just remember that the cross bars need to be maybe 1/32" thinner than the canoe's rib thickness so that the rack rests on the ribs and not the planking.

 

[Todd F]

Howie, I think that is a great idea. Well done.