Chestnut ID help

[Serge Lemay]

Yesterday I manage to get a hold on 3 (with an option on 2 more) 15' Chestnut.

Here's some of their specs.

34" beam, 12 1/2" deep. Ribs are 2 3/8" X 1/4", spaced 2".
One tapered keel (approx. 13/16 X 3/4 X 1/2), 1 thwart and 2 cane seats. The decks are heart shaped 5" X 12". Are concave, but one is flat.

I repaired/restored one this spring that has the same features albeit with a few differences (maybe from a previous owner's repairs). Some pictures to help with the research/ID. They have serial # stamped either on the stem or the inside gunwales. 050, 054, 013 (and 050 at the other end).

Thanks for your input in the matter.

 

[Pook]

Serge,
The specs you have provided sound like a Chestnut Chum or Twoser, one of the 15 foot Pleasure Models. The ribs are a bit thin though- should be 3/8" rather than 1/4". Only Bobs and Featrherlight had 1/4" ribs.
The shape and specs for the various models did change over the years with canoes typically gettier beamier.
Those decks look like early Chestnut decks, though I've seen heart shaped on more recent boats too.

5 Chums, eh?

Cheers!
Bruce

 

[Serge Lemay]

Thx Pook/Bruce. Yup, the gentleman who owned the canoes had them in his small barn. Got them from his father who owned a fishing club on the Mattawin river in Qc.
The whole outfit was equipped with Chestnuts!!

 

[Pook]

Nice!
From the look of the photos that's a nice restorable selection.

Not that i'm needing another Chestnut (according to my wife), but if a Chum came along at the right time that is probably the canoe I'd jump at!

Bruce