1974 Guide

[Sniggins1]

Hi all
I am a new member, looking for info. I have an Old Town Guide, purchased I think in 1974. I got it as a gift as it was thought by the owner to be beyond salvage and saved it from becoming kindling. It had been holed in the center next to the keel, then sat upside down on the ground uncovered for many years. I have completed the repairs to the wooden parts, but due to unforeseen circumstances have lost a lot of the information.
The serial number is 194352. I would like to find out if it was originally clear fiberglass or canvass. Then I would like to find someone who can help me complete the repairs. The photos are from when I got it, I can send more of the current condition whenever I find someone interest to assist.
Thanks
Tom

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 194352 is a 16 foot long guide model with fiberglass in place of canvas and a keel. It was built between April, 1973 and February, 1974. The original exterior fiberglass was left clear to show the natural wood. It shipped on April 17th, 1974 to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A scan showing this build record can be found 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/pricing-plans/join to donate or renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Someone on the list of restorers at https://www.woodencanoe.org/builders-suppliers or local chapters at https://www.woodencanoe.org/chapters can probably help you complete the repairs. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the project,

Benson