Longitudinal strip ID

[Al Witham]

We're looking for help to identify the maker of a longitudinal strip canoe. Specs are as follows:
LOA 17'
Beam 33 1/4"
Depth 13 1/2"
Ribs 5/8" elm on 1 3/4" centres
Thwarts 3, possibly cherry?
Seat stern seat only, located immediately behind stern thwart
Trim mahogany outwale and deck kingplank, floorboards
Decks 3 pcs, birch (? - possibly replaced) with mahogany kingplank, 22 1/2"
Serial # 0 201 stamped under stern seat, on seat cleats, and underside of thwarts

Canoe was purchased 25 yrs ago in Temagami Ontario, no other provenance known, has not been used since restoration 25 yrs ago
Serial # does not match for a Peterborough, have been unable to find any serial numbers for Canadian Canoe Co or other Cdn manufacturers
Thanks in advance for any guidance or clues.
Al Witham

 

[Benson Gray]

The builder information at the link below has a good summary of dimensions. Good luck,

Benson

Builders | Wooden Canoe Museum

woodencanoemuseum.org

 

[MGC]

The old chestnut, "a picture is worth a thousand words" is worth mentioning. There are several expert Canadian forum participants who seem to have a knack for identifying these Canadian cedar strip canoes. To the untrained eye, many of them look quite similar, but the experts will spot things the rest of won't. One thing I have learned is that the measurements may not tell the entire story. Some dimensions varied canoe to canoe and some over time. If you are able, images of decks, thwarts, stems, seats, etc. might help someone to identify your canoe.
As noted by Benson, Wooden Canoe Museum is an outstanding resource to explore.

 

[Al Witham]

Still learning how to use the forum. Here are pics for the boat in question. 1st pic shows view from stern, next is bow deck with mast partner, then view of interior from bow, last 2 show stern seat fitted around ribs with serial number on the bottom Thanks for any insight you can offer

 

[Al Witham]

One more

 

[MGC]

One of the aforementioned experts came and went this morning. Let's hope he returns with some suggestions for you. That canoe looks to be in nice shape!

 

[Dan Miller]

There are others who know better the identification features of Canadian strip-built canoes. However, there are many features of your canoe that match up well with Peterborough catalog pages in the 'teens and 'twenties. Attached is the page from 1927. Note the three piece decks, the mast partner, and the stern seat set behind the thwart.

 

[MGC]

It shares so many classic details, only one of our Canadian experts will be comfortable to hazard a specific guess. I always love to see the subtle craftsmanship details these boats share, details that were passed forward for so many years and later amplified by WW. It's brilliant.

 

[Michael Grace]

HI Al,

This canoe is very interesting, but seems still to be an enigma. Its outside stem being essentially mortised into the hull (as opposed to mating with the keel) and the keel being tapered to run out on the hull - these suggest an earlier model canoe, but the square-drive screws (if original suggest later (post-1908). What kind of screws are in the ends of the gunwales? You don't need to be told that this canoe is in remarkable condition. It is so pristine that it looks much newer than it surely is.

Are there any ghosts of thwart end tags on the outside of the hull? Any hint of a deck decal?

I was curious about the fasteners holding down the floorboards. They appear to be square-drive screws with modern finish washers. Then I noticed what look like screw holes from standard Canadian floorboard clips, so perhaps this canoe has had some (high quality) work done on it in the past, work that may obscure the builder's identity.

 

[cwf]

I'm no expert on Stricklands (1893-1904) but I've been working on one for a few years and there are similarities.

The mast step and collar are very similar.

The boards (v modern on mine) are held with brass clips, which appear original.

The seat mounts (seat missing on mine) have a stamp on the back. The font is not the same :

The bow has been reinforced, presumably for sailing (and hence, the inwale and coaming).

 

[Michael Grace]

I'm no expert on Stricklands (1893-1904) but I've been working on one for a few years and there are similarities.

This is the problem: so many of these cedar strip canoes are very similar in their construction including rib shape and size, the strip planking, the deck-mounted mast ring and cup below, etc. The solid board stern seat fitted to ribs and sitting on cleats is also seen on canoes from multiple makers. On your canoe, the extra piece of woodlander the gunwales is a later add-on. The coaming and its backing piece appear to be original. This is an upgrade, an addition made to make the canoe more stylish. Most Canadian strip canoes lack this feature yet most came from the factory ready for the addition of a sail.

 

[Al Witham]

Thanks for all your replies, and thanks Michael for your service - much appreciated! The list of serial numbers I have from the Canoe Museum shows 200, 207, and 209 to all be rib and batten canoes. There is no listing for 201. 212, 229, 237, 259, 267, and 269 are all listed as "Canvas, Longitudinal Strip" but none are 17'. As mentioned in a previous post, the mast step and collar are identical to both a Lakefield 143 and a P'boro Canadian that I'm working on. The canoe in question doesn't belong to me, I'm just trying to help the owner identify it. There is no evidence of any previous thwart tags, nor a decal shadow on the deck. And the canoe did have some work done 25 years ago, so it's not unlikely that the Robertson screws and the lack of a deck shadow date from then. I'm unable to answer the question about the type of screws in the gunwale until I see the canoe again. The owners are pursuing further inquiries at the Canoe Museum tomorrow, so we'll see what comes of that. Thanks again to all for your interest.

 

[Al Witham]

The owner has had a preliminary email from the curator at the museum who suggested he further clean the centre thwart blocks and the number 201 is present there also, apparently a common feature of Lakefield canoes. So the current theory is that the 201 may refer to a model number rather than a serial number. The 17 1 below may be the way they refer to LOA. We’ll see what develops further.

 

[Michael Grace]

Without my notes with me I kept wanting to suggest William English, but I think it is Lakefield that has a similar model/serial number scheme stamped into the thwart blocks. If I can find photos will share them, but we have one or two canoes with this look to the number stamps. I just found photos of my Wm. English canoe numbers and they are different.

And by the way, thank you Al for your kindness.

 

[Michael Grace]

Al, here are the serial/model numbers of a Lakefield that's now in our group, and one other - numbers stamped into the thwart block:

V

Thread 'Beautiful old Lakefield canoe - serial number'

Dec 24, 2013

Hi all - I've got a question about a beautiful antique Lakefield wooden canoe. I've looked around here and seen very little discussion of these canoes. Also found the Dragonfly page on Lakefield. Unfortunately, everything I've read sheds no light on this serial number - "2-21" on one line and "16" on another. See photo. It is a 16' all-wood cedar strip canoe. Many narrow ribs. Very tiny keel (maybe 1/2" at thickest). According to the Dragonfly table, a varnished cedar strip canoe like this should have a serial number in the 140s, The #2 should be a painted, iron-fastened basswood...

• VallierOutdoors
• Replies: 35
• Forum: Traditional All-Wood Construction

And here are two others that begin with "0-XXX" like yours:

E

Thread 'Lakefield Canoe'

Aug 7, 2006

I have a Lakefield canoe that I am trying to identify. It is 15' 5" long, 36" beam with a sail mast port in the bow cover. The mid brace block has the following identification numbers- 0 277 over 151 over 2. It has 105 ribs with metal float cans formed to fit in the bow and stern. The ID plates are of the original Lakefield type. I've taken several photos of the canoe and can send if desired.

• Ed Noll
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Research and History

A

Thread 'Lakefield Canoe'

Feb 22, 2013

I have been offered a lakefield canoe with number 0-177 can anyone give me some information on year of manufacture model etc. I am UK based. Andy

• Andy
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Serial Number Search

The canoe you've been discussing actually has "17 1/2" on the thwart block - that would be the length in feet.