Gifted Old Town birch print canoe....need info please!

[lforgue8]

So this was my deceased father's canoe that I thought had been lost since he passed 30 years ago, but just tracked it down this weekend! I'm excited to try and use it but I'd love to know more info on it if possible. Now I know nothing about canoes only to know that Old Town is a respected brand. The exterior has some cracks the biggest being may 8-10" but looks to be repairable.

green tag shows XTC94412M731...and a small embossing on the opposite end shows 194412.

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 194412 and hull identification number XTC94412M73I is a 16 foot long fiberglass Carleton model with a keel that originally weighed 81 pounds. It was built in April, 1973. The original exterior design was the birch bark pattern. It shipped on A[pril 25th, 1973 to East Greenwich, Rhode Island. A scan showing 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 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. Canoes with a family connection are always extra special. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[Todd Bradshaw]

From a 1975 Old Town catalog. Click to enlarge.

 

[lforgue8]

Man thanks so much guys! It feels so good to have this back. Now ill get on seeing how bad it is and if it will float on the water. Fin and Feather are still in business just looks like they moved to another town in RI.