Chestnut Moulded Mahogany Canoe

[James Carr]

I was curious if anyone has one or knows more about Chestnut moulded mahogany canoes? I can only find it in the 1964 catalog, it isn't in the 1962 or 1965 catalog (I couldn't find a 1963 catalog). Was it only made for one or two years?

I recently picked this one up, it is in fairly good shape overall. Some fibreglass patches to remove and needs some minor wood work and refinishing.

 

[John Sand]

I don't know much about Chestnut canoes. I own a Swedish ABC canoe of similar vintage and construction, there isn't much information about those either. Mine also has a few fiberglass patches, and some other "creative" repairs.

 

[Dan Miller]

Possibly it was made by Plycraft at Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. Here is an example of a known Plycraft canoe: https://hub.catalogit.app/antique-b...on/entry/a0f05c70-39c9-11ed-91d1-55198e1bfe77

 

[James Carr]

Chestnut made molded mahogany boats so I assume they made it. I wasn't previously aware they made mahogany canoes. I only see it in the 1964 catalog.

 

[Benson Gray]

I assume they made it

I suspect that they don't make this canoe. They also listed aluminum canoes in their catalogs which they probably didn't make either. Old Town sold some similar molded mahogany Weldwood canoes which they didn't build (or list in their catalogs). The links below have more details.

Benson

Post in thread 'Molded mahogany canoe- ideas?'

Apr 15, 2006

These were fairly popular in the early 1940s. Old Town sold at least two canoes in 1941 that were "Special Weldwood" models as shown in the attached build records. This model does not appear to have ever been listed in their catalogs. Rollin Thurlow has seen one and said that "The Weldwood patten # was #2073290. The Weldwood sticker was placed under the stern seat."

Penn Yan also advertised a Weldwood version of the 14 foot long Coquette model boats in their 1942 catalog as described in the third image below. These were not advertised in their 1940 or 1943 catalogs. It is...

• Benson Gray

Post in thread 'markings'

Nov 7, 2016

The United States Plywood Corporation made some that were known as a Weldwood model. These were available from a number of sources as shown below. Look for a Weldwood sticker under the stern seat. I don't know of any known sources of serial number or model number information for them. Penn Yan also offered one as described at http://forums.wcha.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1439&d=1145117275 in their 1942 catalog. The build records at http://forums.wcha.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1436&d=1145116570 and...

• Benson Gray