Need help identifying older canoe (was told it is an E.M. White)

[FlaaenP]

My neighbor - an older gentleman, recently gave me this canoe (and another one - a Folbot?).

I am really interested in getting this restored, but I wanted to get some information on it.

Here is what I know:
- Serial number: 17532 ? (there is a picture of the s/n)
- My neighbor said he picked up in Maine over 50 years ago from a guy who kept it in his barn. The neighbor always kept it covered but never worked on it.
- My neighbor took it to the Old Town headquarters. They said the serial number was an E.M. White canoe. This would've been in the 1960's or 1970's.
- It is 17' in length

Also, if anybody knows anybody in the Atlanta area that could help repair or recanvas this, I would really appreciate the contacts.

The last picture is the Folbot. I can't find any information on these anywhere on the internet! I know it is not wood but if anybody has information on these, I would appreciate. My neighbor built that canoe in 1973 from the kit Folbot sent.

Thanks - I am excited to start my wood canoe journey!!

Peter

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, White canoes are not generally known for having heart shaped decks. My guess is that you may have the Carleton canoe with serial number 15732. This is a 17 foot long, Regular (or middle) grade, Carleton model with red western cedar planking, open spruce rails, birch decks, birch thwarts, birch seats, a keel, and sponsons. It was built between December, 1922 and February, 1923. The original exterior paint color was dark brown with a white border stripe. It shipped on March 19th, 1933 to Baltimore, Maryland. A scan of this build record is attached below.

This scan was created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. Additional information about the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Does the bow deck have four small nail holes in a rectangle? See https://forums.wcha.org/attachments/2196/ for an example. Good luck with the project,

Benson

 

[FlaaenP]

Thanks Benson!

So I just checked. I don't see 4 nail holes in the bow...but I do see 2 nail holes in the stern...

 

[MGC]

I think Benson has properly identified your canoe. It is clearly not a White. My inclination was to call it a Carleton and as you can see, Benson has provided what appears to be the correct build sheet to support that.
The Carleton tags came in several flavors. Some were held in place with two brads and others were held on by 4. So....your deck with two holes present could have held that two brad iteration of the Carleton tag. If you look at the images offered on the Wooden Canoe Museum site, you will be able to find both types of Carleton tags. https://woodencanoemuseum.org/decals
It's a nice canoe and worthy of a proper restoration.

 

[Worth Gretter]

Peter, your skin-on-frame tandem kayak is absolutely a Folbot. I built one, also from their kit, in 1965.
I just dug out a copy of the catalog, not from 1965 but possibly from 1973.
If you post the dimensions, I will look up the model in the catalog.

 

[John Sand]

Nice looking Folbot, I've owned several, including a vintage wood frame vinyl Super. The Super was a very common model, 17.5' long over 3' wide, around 80#. They are extremely stable, easy to stand in. I liked mine for sailing. The company originated in England in the thirties, moved to NY and finally SC. Models and construction changed over the years, they closed in 2016.