Faber wood/canvas canoes

[davelanthier]

Anyone out there have the model name for this 14' Faber canoe? The dimensions are quite unusual and don't fit the normal Faber canoe information available. 35" width, 15" depth, 5/16" x 2 1/4" ribs spaced 2" apart, 3 9/16" and 4 5/16" [ two sizes ] wide planking. It is extremely well built and the craftsmanship is superb. It is the exceptional depth and heavy ribs that suggest to me that it is some sort of a special prospector canoe. Thanks.

 

[Dick Persson]

Hi Dave,

The rib size and spacing suggest that this is a canoe from Faber’s all-purpose “Ranger” model series. There were four models in this series; Mohawk, Muskie, Moose and March. The canoe you have is possibly a Muskie built deeper than normal, which was a common practice.
Their "Prospector" series had ribs spaced 1 1/2" apart.

Dick Persson
Headwater Wooden Boat Shop

 

[davelanthier]

Makes sense, thanks Dick.

 

[Splinter]

Photos?

Hey, If you can figure out how to do it, post a photo or two of the thing. I've only seen one myself , it was very deteriorated and man oh man what a garbage skow. I couldn't imagine how anyone could lift the thing to get it anywhere. It's enormous and unglamorous shape suggested someone had intentioned a really ill formed, undignified looking rowboat but, alas, it came out as a really mean looking canoe instead. I would love to see a good looking Faber. There must be one. Show us, PLEASE!

 

[davelanthier]

Hey Splinter, no time right now for photos but I promise to post some this weekend. I didn't say it was pretty, I said it was well built. 'Til then think in terms of a voluptuous lady or an old cast iron bath tub without the legs.

 

[Splinter]

Ah.

I see. Can't wait.

 

[davelanthier]

Just for you Splinter

Pictures as promised. One picture shows it sitting on top of a 17' Chestnut Cruiser with a 13' Chestnut Teddy [ red ] and an 16' Old Town Guide [ green ] in the background. Babiche seats are just sitting in place, plan to canvas it next week. Original color may have been yellow but I'm wondering what other colors were available ????? Anyone know?

 

[davelanthier]

And here's a 16' Faber prospector I restored last year. They were actually a very well built canoe.

 

[Splinter]

Much better than anticipated

Thanks for those. Man, yellow must have been the going thing, huh? The one I saw was yellow. Good for safety, I guess. But in the end, every day that you wake up to see that boat it's still going to be yellow. Until you despise it and paint it. My apologies to every person who loves their yellow boat. A fun bit of research would be to find out somehow which color has been painted over the most frequently.

 

[davelanthier]

Bet it's yellow. I have a Bastion Brothers 14' prospector that was yellow, then red and is now Chestnut gray. [ pea soup green ]

 

[Dave Wermuth]

All right yous guys

Everyone has prefernces on canoe color. Roxie likes yellow for her MIni and her Shell Lake.