John Visser
Curious about Wooden Canoes
I bought a canoe this past weekend that I do not recognize. I saw the FB Marketplace ad and shared it to the Fans of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association Facebook page, and several people said it might be an E.M. White canoe, which intrigued me. That and the seller agreed to let it go for $100 because of the fiberglass covering.
I figured I'd post some more detailed photos and measurements here to get a positive ID on make and model. I'll be as detailed as possible to help with the ID and to help others that might come after looking for info on similar canoes.
Length overall: 16'8"
Width at sheerline centerline (measured to outside of planking): 33-1/2"
Depth at center: 13" Bow height is 19" Bottom is straight, no rocker at all.
Ribs are 2-1/4"x5/16", tapering to 1-1/4" to 1-3/4" at the gunwales. Spaces between ribs are 2-1/4" wide. Halfribs are 1" wide and 5/16" thick.
Planking is 2-7/8" wide. Maybe originally 3" wide but has shrunk? The plank edges are square.
Stems are white oak, 7/8" square. No markings visible here.
Decks are 4"x11", white oak. No tags or shadow of where a tag would have been.
Seats are white oak and slat style on 8"x10" frames. Appear to be original slats seats, not caned seats that were repaired this way. Bolts are brass flat head slotted drive machine screws.
Thwarts are 2-1/2" x 5/8" thick, also white oak.
Inwales also seem to be white oak, 7/8" square.
Outer gunwales are spruce or similar softwood, 1-1/4" tall by 5/8" wide, fastened through every other rib with brass flat head slotted drive screws.
There was a keel which is now gone, fastened through every other rib the regular way.
Bolts near the middle indicate there was a middle seat at some point. Stems have a very pronounced recurve/torpedo shape. Sheerline is noticeably flat. Bottom is straight and flat as well. Fairly interesting lines on this one. Hull appears to be true to original shape, no undue unfairness or warping.
Thanks for any help!
I figured I'd post some more detailed photos and measurements here to get a positive ID on make and model. I'll be as detailed as possible to help with the ID and to help others that might come after looking for info on similar canoes.
Length overall: 16'8"
Width at sheerline centerline (measured to outside of planking): 33-1/2"
Depth at center: 13" Bow height is 19" Bottom is straight, no rocker at all.
Ribs are 2-1/4"x5/16", tapering to 1-1/4" to 1-3/4" at the gunwales. Spaces between ribs are 2-1/4" wide. Halfribs are 1" wide and 5/16" thick.
Planking is 2-7/8" wide. Maybe originally 3" wide but has shrunk? The plank edges are square.
Stems are white oak, 7/8" square. No markings visible here.
Decks are 4"x11", white oak. No tags or shadow of where a tag would have been.
Seats are white oak and slat style on 8"x10" frames. Appear to be original slats seats, not caned seats that were repaired this way. Bolts are brass flat head slotted drive machine screws.
Thwarts are 2-1/2" x 5/8" thick, also white oak.
Inwales also seem to be white oak, 7/8" square.
Outer gunwales are spruce or similar softwood, 1-1/4" tall by 5/8" wide, fastened through every other rib with brass flat head slotted drive screws.
There was a keel which is now gone, fastened through every other rib the regular way.
Bolts near the middle indicate there was a middle seat at some point. Stems have a very pronounced recurve/torpedo shape. Sheerline is noticeably flat. Bottom is straight and flat as well. Fairly interesting lines on this one. Hull appears to be true to original shape, no undue unfairness or warping.
Thanks for any help!
