Kennebec Kineo Model 2174 - Any Info?

Nooprah

New Member
Hello all! I have just come across a Kennebec Kineo Model 2174 (from the ID plate). I can't find any info about it anywhere. Can any of you help me? I am attaching a picture of the ID tag (still covered in a bit of varnish). I can submit pics of the canoe itself if you need.

Also, I have no idea how much it is worth, and I need to make an offer.

Thank you so much in advance!
 

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That is a 1911 16 footer....so the third year of production for that model and also the largest production year (256 built/shipped) for the Kineo.
I have always liked that name....Kineo is an interesting "hill" on the the shore of Moosehead Lake and a source of flint. Flint from Kineo was used/traded by Native Americans throughout the North East making it a destination spot long before wood and canvas canoes and "sports". The fire tower views from Kineo are memorable (at least to me) and lend scale to a paddle on Moosehead.

Value is what you can get it for but depends upon condition etc.

Here are a few related links to read :
http://www.wcha.org/frequently-asked-questions/
http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?57-How-much-is-my-old-wooden-canoe-worth
 
Thank you so much for the information and the quick response. I really, really appreciate it.

The condition isn't great. The wood itself is in great shape, just in need of refinishing. The canvas has been repainted about 50 years ago and looks pretty terrible. The seller is asking $500, but I am starting to think this canoe is probably worth more like $50-$100.

Thanks again!
 
The condition isn't great. The wood itself is in great shape, just in need of refinishing. The canvas has been repainted about 50 years ago and looks pretty terrible. The seller is asking $500, but I am starting to think this canoe is probably worth more like $50-$100.

For a boat with all decent wood and no major defects I would give a bit more. It is over a hundred years old and although that does not make it valuable finding one that age in good shape would make me a bit more generous. Canvas is disposable/renewable so don't establish your value from it's condition. Look for rot, broken/cracked ribs, damaged planking, tweaked stems etc. If the decks and stem tips are clean, that may suggest that the stems will be in decent shape to hold fresh canvas without related gyrations.

I assume that you found this but on the chance that you did not:

http://forums.wcha.org/knowledgebase/Manufacturers:Kennebec+Boat+and+Canoe+Company

Good luck.
 
The first Kennebec canoe with number 2174 is a 16 foot long Kennnebec Kineo model with closed spruce rails, cedar stems, and western red cedar planking as shown on pages 54 and 55 of volume one in the Kennebec ledgers. It was planked by Morgan on March 25th, 1911. The decks were "15-M" (15 inch maple?) and the canvas was "58-10" (58 inch wide number 10?). The canvas covering was applied by Stens(?) on the same day. Carrigan(?) applied the first filler coat on the April 1st, 1911 and Smith applied the second filler coat on April 15th, 1911. The keel was "A" (ash?) while the braces (thwarts) and seats were "M" (maple?). It was railed by Knuth(?) on July 1st, 1911. The original color was M. (medium) green which was first applied by Wood(?) on July 8th, 1911. It appears to have been repainted by someone else on December 16th, 1911 and shipped to Stalknedt(?) on April, 19th, 1912(?).

The scans of these build records can be found by following the links at the attached thumbnail images below. These original Kennebec records are reproduced through the courtesy of the Maine State Museum.

The microfilms and scans of these records were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA). 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.

The links at the end of MGC's message have a good summary of how to value a canoe like this. You can also see some similar canoes at http://wcha.org/pp-classifieds/ for comparison. This is the time of year when the prices of wooden canoes usually start to go up so negotiation may not be easy. $500 for an early Kennebec that just needs new varnish, canvas, filler, and paint may be a reasonable price. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson
 

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