chris pearson
Michigan Canoe Nut
Customer restoration but it’s a puzzle. Some of the resident experts evaluated it at the assembly and no definitive answers as to maker. Here is what I know…
Hull is made from 2 different types of cedar, first 12 sets of ribs are white and most of the planking. The rest of the boat appears to be red. There are also 2 different sized copper clinch tacks used as well. The white cedar end as well as the sheer plank and next one under that have the smaller headed tacks, then the whole rest of the boat has the larger tacks. The boat is very “open” at the stems in a V shape, and I have never seen this before. Almost like on a rowboat. Bizarre. Very round bottom towards amidships as with many early canoes. Closed gunwales and the inwales appear “clunky to me with no chamfer on the inside edge. I’d say this would be a barn build of some sort but the serial number and length stamped in the stems is what is throwing me, #587 in pretty small font. I’ll post photos. Note the photo of it next to a “newer” Otca I’m restoring just for reference of the extreme hull shape difference in the end. One guess is possible Robertson Old Town but zero evidence of decal remnants. I know it could’ve been sanded off at one point.
Hull is made from 2 different types of cedar, first 12 sets of ribs are white and most of the planking. The rest of the boat appears to be red. There are also 2 different sized copper clinch tacks used as well. The white cedar end as well as the sheer plank and next one under that have the smaller headed tacks, then the whole rest of the boat has the larger tacks. The boat is very “open” at the stems in a V shape, and I have never seen this before. Almost like on a rowboat. Bizarre. Very round bottom towards amidships as with many early canoes. Closed gunwales and the inwales appear “clunky to me with no chamfer on the inside edge. I’d say this would be a barn build of some sort but the serial number and length stamped in the stems is what is throwing me, #587 in pretty small font. I’ll post photos. Note the photo of it next to a “newer” Otca I’m restoring just for reference of the extreme hull shape difference in the end. One guess is possible Robertson Old Town but zero evidence of decal remnants. I know it could’ve been sanded off at one point.
