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.