Kathryn Klos
squirrel whisperer
I contemplated writing Benson privately with my questions, but thought others here might be interested in the answers too, or have things to add.
Yesterday, I contacted the seller of a 1915 Old Town HW listed recently in the classifieds on the this website because the canoe appeared to be an Otca, with its long decks--- I wanted to check the build record to see if it was truly an HW with long decks, and it is. I'm not interested in buying it, but was wondering how unusual it is to find an HW with 30" decks (as stated on the build record).
Also, there's no mention of the mast seat on the record, yet the seller sent me a close-up of the seat and it appears to be an older one, perhaps original to the canoe. How often are little things like that omitted from the build record? Or is it more likely the seat was added afterward? Seems to me the build records are pretty specific as to what is included, if it isn't "standard".
And in regard to "things that are standard", I've noticed that when the HW is fitted with sponsons, carry thwarts are often added without mention of carry thwarts on the build record... so I assume that's because carry thwarts were standard on HWs with sponsons.
Thanks for any thoughts...
Kathy
Yesterday, I contacted the seller of a 1915 Old Town HW listed recently in the classifieds on the this website because the canoe appeared to be an Otca, with its long decks--- I wanted to check the build record to see if it was truly an HW with long decks, and it is. I'm not interested in buying it, but was wondering how unusual it is to find an HW with 30" decks (as stated on the build record).
Also, there's no mention of the mast seat on the record, yet the seller sent me a close-up of the seat and it appears to be an older one, perhaps original to the canoe. How often are little things like that omitted from the build record? Or is it more likely the seat was added afterward? Seems to me the build records are pretty specific as to what is included, if it isn't "standard".
And in regard to "things that are standard", I've noticed that when the HW is fitted with sponsons, carry thwarts are often added without mention of carry thwarts on the build record... so I assume that's because carry thwarts were standard on HWs with sponsons.
Thanks for any thoughts...
Kathy