Another unknown courting canoe

[Stephen Vorpagel]

I’ve attached a few photos of an unknown canoe.
Here’s a few measurements to go along with those.
Overall length 16’4” outside rail to outside rail 33” overall length of coaming decks 48” inside radius of coaming to end of stem 36”
Ribs are 2 1/4” wide and spaced 1 7/8” apart. Closed gunwales with tapered rib tops. Mahogany trim through-out, copper stem band, and what appears to be steel fasteners along rails. The seats almost look as an add-on, and I don’t see a serial number, which may mean that I’m just not looking in the right spot.
Could this be a Special K model from the Kennebec Canoe Company or from one of the Charles River builders?

Steve

 

[Stephen Vorpagel]

I found a number on one of the stems, 1962 16
Could someone see if this would match a Kennebec build record?
Thanks

 

[Benson Gray]

Kennebec put serial number 1962 on a 17 foot long Belgrade model lapstrake row boat in 1921. Occasionally they would assign a serial number in the 100,000 range to a Kineo Special canoe and then omit the first two digits when stamping the serial number on the canoe. The Kennebec with number 101962 is an 18 foot long Kineo Special with outside stems that shipped in 1929. Neither of these sound like your canoe so it is probably from a Charles River builder.

Benson

 

[Stephen Vorpagel]

Thanks Benson,
We'll keep looking.
Steve

 

[nickb]

Is it just me, or have there been a rash of courting canoe topic/threads on the board lately? I think I count at least 4 within the last 2 weeks.

I realize this isn't in any way helpful to the ongoing search for the origins of this particular canoe - I'm just encouraged that there are still so many of these lovely boats being brought back to life by the WCHA community.

Someday I'll attempt a courting canoe build...

 

[GOT]

or maybe there's just a rash of old-fashioned courting going on...or being planned. Those future canoeists have to come from somewhere, eh?