luckyfind18
New Member
I just bought an old wooden canoe. Found a serial #122615. It is 18’ long. Needs work but is in good shape. Just hoping to find out more details. Thanks
Garage sale find, serial number 122615. Looks similar to what I see on Northwoods FB. Help identifying manufacturer and year built.
- Thread starter luckyfind18
- Start date
Sandon or Sandy
Lifetime Member
Photos of the canoe, with details of the serial number, decks, gunnels, thwarts and seats would help in the identification process.
Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 122615 is an 18 foot long, AA (or top) grade, HW model with open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, a keel, a floor rack, and sponsons. It was built between July, 1937 and May, 1938. The original exterior paint was similar to the one shown at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/designs/design04.gif which was know as the design number four. There also was a monogram "M. T." in red on the right (starboard) bow. It shipped on May 18th, 1938 to Fort Wayne, Indiana. A scan 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. 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 http://www.wcha.org/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/pricing-plans/join to donate or join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer this description doesn't match the canoe. Please attach some photographs if the original design is still showing. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
This scan and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. 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 http://www.wcha.org/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/pricing-plans/join to donate or join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer this description doesn't match the canoe. Please attach some photographs if the original design is still showing. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
luckyfind18
New Member
Thank you Benson! Extraordinary help.
I’m hoping to restore this old beauty. It needs canvassing. Curious if fiberglass epoxy is ever used or recommended, rather than canvas?
Any particular resource material you recommend to help in this renovation? Or chapters nearest the Indianapolis area? Pictures coming soon. Thanks again.
I’m hoping to restore this old beauty. It needs canvassing. Curious if fiberglass epoxy is ever used or recommended, rather than canvas?
Any particular resource material you recommend to help in this renovation? Or chapters nearest the Indianapolis area? Pictures coming soon. Thanks again.
Fiberglass epoxy coverings are generally not recommended here. The books at https://www.woodencanoe.org/books can help you with the renovation. The chapter list at https://www.woodencanoe.org/chapters doesn't include one in the Indianapolis area. Good luck with the project,
Benson
Benson
Worth Gretter
LOVES Wooden Canoes
I think you will find that no-one on this site likes fiberglass, because it is too hard to remove if you ever need to repair the wood.
In the past, other coverings have been used (similar to the plastic coated fabric used on Folbots) but only in rare cases.
Today, the only viable alternative to canvas is Dacron (polyester). It has the advantage of being lighter in weight and is plenty strong, but it requires a bit more care to smooth the surface under it.
