pat chapman
Willits biographer
Could I please get a copy of the build record for Old Town 171835-17? Thanks, as usual.
Build record for OT 171835-17
- Thread starter pat chapman
- Start date
The Old Town canoe with serial number 171835 is a 17 foot long Otca model with a keel, sponsons, mast seat, rudder, and complete sail rig. It was built between February and May, 1962. The original exterior paint color was pale blue. It shipped on May 21st, 1962 to San Francisco, California. It may have moved to Belvedere, California by January, 1975 when there was a previous request for a copy of this build record. Scans showing both sides of 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 as you probably know well. 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/shop to donate or join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Thanks,
Benson
This scan and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. 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/shop to donate or join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Thanks,
Benson
Cjackson45
New Member
Hi Benson. I was just gifted an old town with this exact serial number. But it doesn’t have the mast set up or rudder features that is on the build slip. Was it possible that there are many with this same serial or are they unique to each build?
Yes, there were goofs occasionally where two canoes would get the same serial number but the intent was to have them unique to each build. This serial number does not appear to have been duplicated. The rudder was probably removed and the mast seat replaced during a previous repair. You may want to contact Pat Chapman at the link below to see if he remembers them being present when he saw the canoe a few years ago. Good luck,
Benson
McFarland Lake Canoe Company | Willits Brothers Canoes
McFarland Lake Canoe Company is dedicated to repairing and restoring Willits Brothers canoes, wood and canvas canoes, consignment sales of used wooden canoes, manufacture of wooden canoe paddles, and sales of the book "The Willits Brothers and Their Canoes".
www.mcfarlandlake.com
