Morris/Kennebec Hybrid?

[Dave Osborn]

Wood Canvas Canoe project
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/boa/d/minneapolis-wood-canvas-canoe-project/7821998151.html

Not mine.
Have you ever seen a BN Morris with short rail caps (ala Kennebec)? Could this be a Morris Kennebec Hybrid?

 

[Benson Gray]

Have you ever seen a BN Morris with short rail caps (ala Kennebec)?

Yes, Morris, Carleton, and others are known for having built canoes with short rail caps on occasion. This clearly looks like a Morris to me.

Benson

 

[Dan Miller]

What Benson said. Morris open- gunwale canoes had the short rail caps. See for example the attached catalog page from the 1919 catalog.

 

[Dave Osborn]

Thanks!

 

[Rollin Thurlow]

I don't believe the Morris-Kennebec canoe had a number tag as the Morris canoes had.
They did have a oval plate that ID'd the boat as a Morris canoe but built in it Waterville Me., located on the foot of the inside stem.

 

[Dave Osborn]

True, Rollin. I restored a Morris/Kennebec some years ago. It had the Kennebec tag on it.
What threw me on this one was the short rail caps. I guess I’ve never seen a Morris with caps, or never noticed. Morris canoes that I’ve restored were all closed gunwale.

 

[Michael Grace]

I've got several in the barn now with the short rail caps just like in the ad and in the catalog. Another open-gunwale Morris in the barn has longer mahogany panel decks, so it does not have the caps. Each of these styles (and plenty of closed gunwales) can be found by searching the forums.

The photos below are #13731 and 15597, the first with curved deck cutout and the second with heart-shaped decks. Sorry they aren't better images.

Kathy posted a great image of Morris caps here:

Post in thread 'Morris seat/thwart bolts'

Oct 24, 2016

Not sure if this is much help, but here is the picture of an open wale Morris from page 112 of "The Morris Canoe: Legacy of an American Family" (only this image is in color). The text beneath it is: "Open gunwale Morris owned and restored by Dave McDaniel. Note short decorative gunwale caps, heavy D-shaped outwales, typical Morris seat with 7-step cane pattern, and beautifully sculpted heart-shaped deck. Seats are attached with round-head slotted screws on an open gunwale Morris. (courtesy David McDaniel)"

Dave may be able to answer some of your questions.

Open gunwales aren't common...

• Kathryn Klos