SouthernKevlar
Curious about Wooden Canoes
I picked up an interesting old canoe last week; an Allied Aviation Corporation 16’ molded mahogany canoe with what appears to be mahogany and white oak gunwales. The canoe hull is sound with a small bit of rot on the gunwales and stem, which I plan on repairing. I will also be soldering or replacing one broken stem band and cleaning up a few scuffs. Other than these few issues, the canoe is in very good condition. I have not yet tested the finish, which is in nice condition, to see it is varnish or polyurethane; I’m out of acetone at the moment, but I will be putting on a new coat soon just for safety.
I would also be interested in finding out if the AAC canoes had any identification, such as decals or deck plate decals, other the brass tag with the company name and serial number. This canoe has a hole in both the bow and stern decks with painters attached when I bought it, but I was wondering if it may have originally had eye-bolts?
I have not found much information on this company and its offspring “Whirlwind”; the threads on the WCHA website have been the greatest help with information on this canoe so far. I am looking forward to reading the article in the WCHA Journal on Molded Canoes. Should any readers have any further information on the Allied Aviation Corp. canoes, I would be interested in learning more about these canoes.
According to the seller, it was purchased by his wife’s grandfather, who worked at the company, around 1945 and has been passed down through the family over the years. It spent most of its time on lakes in New England and Minnesota before being moved to western North Carolina. Due to no current family members wanting the canoe, it went on the market. After seeing the canoe, I bought it. The mahogany hull really sets it off and I had comments from several folks before I got home and took it off my car. I have not yet had it in the water, but I look forward to seeing how it paddles!
Since I did not find any specifications on this canoe listed on the web, I thought that I would list them from my canoe for future reference. If anyone wishes any other measurements from this canoe, please let me know.
Allied Aviation Corporation
Serial Number on Nameplate: 849
Length: 16’0”
Hull Width: Maximum 34”
Gunwale Exterior Width 34”
Gunwale Interior Width 31”
4” waterline Width (estimated from internal and external measurement) 32”
Depth: Bow 18.5”, Amidships 13.5”, Stern 18.5”
Rocker: 4” bow and stern, measured from floor to the 4” waterline minus 1” for the keel height
Keel: ¾” wide by 1” deep
Thwart placement: Bow to center of Front Thwart 72”
Front Thwart to Rear Thwart (Center to center) 51”
Rear Thwart to Stern 69”
Thwart Width: 2.25” (Maximum width)
Thwart thickness: 1”
Thwart Length: Front 30 5/8, Rear 30 ¼
Exterior Gunwale width at Thwart: Front 32”, Rear 32.25”
Hull Thickness: ¼”
Weight 56.7 pounds
Thank you, and any further information on the Allied Aviation Corporation canoes will be welcomed!
I would also be interested in finding out if the AAC canoes had any identification, such as decals or deck plate decals, other the brass tag with the company name and serial number. This canoe has a hole in both the bow and stern decks with painters attached when I bought it, but I was wondering if it may have originally had eye-bolts?
I have not found much information on this company and its offspring “Whirlwind”; the threads on the WCHA website have been the greatest help with information on this canoe so far. I am looking forward to reading the article in the WCHA Journal on Molded Canoes. Should any readers have any further information on the Allied Aviation Corp. canoes, I would be interested in learning more about these canoes.
According to the seller, it was purchased by his wife’s grandfather, who worked at the company, around 1945 and has been passed down through the family over the years. It spent most of its time on lakes in New England and Minnesota before being moved to western North Carolina. Due to no current family members wanting the canoe, it went on the market. After seeing the canoe, I bought it. The mahogany hull really sets it off and I had comments from several folks before I got home and took it off my car. I have not yet had it in the water, but I look forward to seeing how it paddles!
Since I did not find any specifications on this canoe listed on the web, I thought that I would list them from my canoe for future reference. If anyone wishes any other measurements from this canoe, please let me know.
Allied Aviation Corporation
Serial Number on Nameplate: 849
Length: 16’0”
Hull Width: Maximum 34”
Gunwale Exterior Width 34”
Gunwale Interior Width 31”
4” waterline Width (estimated from internal and external measurement) 32”
Depth: Bow 18.5”, Amidships 13.5”, Stern 18.5”
Rocker: 4” bow and stern, measured from floor to the 4” waterline minus 1” for the keel height
Keel: ¾” wide by 1” deep
Thwart placement: Bow to center of Front Thwart 72”
Front Thwart to Rear Thwart (Center to center) 51”
Rear Thwart to Stern 69”
Thwart Width: 2.25” (Maximum width)
Thwart thickness: 1”
Thwart Length: Front 30 5/8, Rear 30 ¼
Exterior Gunwale width at Thwart: Front 32”, Rear 32.25”
Hull Thickness: ¼”
Weight 56.7 pounds
Thank you, and any further information on the Allied Aviation Corporation canoes will be welcomed!
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