Just bought an Old Town with Serial Number 86614 17

[paddleman]

This canoe was poorly fiberglassed, but otherwise it was in good condition. I removed the fiberglass and would like to restore it to original canvas and color. Information on its age and original condition would be awesome. Thanks

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 86614 is a 17 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Ideal model with red western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, half ribs, a keel, and outside stems. It was built between December, 1924 and February, 1925. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It was shipped on March 12th, 1925 to Saint Louis, Missouri. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the thumbnail image attached below.

This scan and several hundred thousand others 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/ot_records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.

Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[paddleman]

Thanks for the information! I truely appreciate it. I do have a couple of questions...What are outside stems and what should I do if it no longer has the keel? Will restoration be more than I can handle? I've never done anything like this before. I just came across this canoe while doing yard work for a guy, and couldn't pass it up. I want to restore it, however I would rather sell it if I won't be able to do it right.
Thanks

 

[Benson Gray]

What are outside stems and what should I do if it no longer has the keel? Will restoration be more than I can handle?

The pictures at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?5052 and http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?4175 show outside stems. The information and dimensions necessary to replace the keel are available at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?9027 in some recent messages. Most people with some experience working with wood, a good place to work, and a few tools can repair a canoe like this but only you can decide. There are many great resources available including this forum if you want to take it on. The classifieds at http://www.wcha.org/pp-classifieds/ may help if you don't want a project like this. Good luck with the decision,

Benson

 

[Canoeal]

Check to see if you have a local Chapter nearby. They are often a good source of advice (and help)...