Saw a lovely restored wood/canvas canoe, builder unknown. The story was that a previous owner tried to restore but got in too deep for his skills, after which it changed hands a couple times before it got to someone who knew how to do it right. Consequently, with new gunwales, decks, seats, those clues are gone. But it does have a number stamped into both stems: 1753 18. Very clear, no doubt about it. It is 35 1/2" outside width at center and 12 1/2" deep. It has a sleek look, slightly round bottom. 3 or 4 cant ribs. The rib tips are very tapered, thinned, in the last inch, and the gunwales that are on it now (can't say that they match the originals) have no gap in the middle, so like a 'double gunwale'. That's about all the information that will ever be available. Any guesses who the builder might have been? Tom McCloud
