old town 139544 -16
- Thread starter jletsche
- Start date
The Old Town canoe with serial number 139544 is a 16 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, HW (heavy water) model with red western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash seats, ash thwarts, a keel, and sponsons. It was built between March and June, 1944. The original exterior paint color was dark greeen. It shipped on July 10th, 1944 to Long Island City, New York. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.
This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/ot_records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/ot_records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
Attachments
Thank you Benson, for the info. I've send in my membership, but don't have the number yet
.
This canoe is in pretty good shape, except that it was stored improperly. Store on side till wood rots, then flip over and store on other side till wood rots. The outer rails and sponson rub-rails are pretty much shot, but I see no broken ribs. It was covered with fiberglass, and I was reluctant to take it, but it was free... When I got home, I picked at the glass, and it came off quite easily, I was surprised. From what I've read on the forum, it may be polyester resin instead of epoxy. It probably only had one coat of epoxy/poly on it. I've built a cosine wherry stripper and there is no way that fiberglass is going to peel off like this did.
There are only two diamond head bolts, and these appear to be steel, not brass. also the stem bands are steel also.
I'm curious if people think the rib ends have been cut down when this was glassed. With the sponsons, the boat looks a little shallow. Right now, she is resting under a blue tarp in the yard until I can make some room in the garage to begin restoration. Does anyone have a lead on where I can get long lengths of spruce or ash in northern new jersey or surrounding area?
Thanks again,
John.
. This canoe is in pretty good shape, except that it was stored improperly. Store on side till wood rots, then flip over and store on other side till wood rots. The outer rails and sponson rub-rails are pretty much shot, but I see no broken ribs. It was covered with fiberglass, and I was reluctant to take it, but it was free... When I got home, I picked at the glass, and it came off quite easily, I was surprised. From what I've read on the forum, it may be polyester resin instead of epoxy. It probably only had one coat of epoxy/poly on it. I've built a cosine wherry stripper and there is no way that fiberglass is going to peel off like this did.
There are only two diamond head bolts, and these appear to be steel, not brass. also the stem bands are steel also.
I'm curious if people think the rib ends have been cut down when this was glassed. With the sponsons, the boat looks a little shallow. Right now, she is resting under a blue tarp in the yard until I can make some room in the garage to begin restoration. Does anyone have a lead on where I can get long lengths of spruce or ash in northern new jersey or surrounding area?
Thanks again,
John.
The steel bolts and stem bands are probably original since brass was in short supply in 1944. The 1944 catalog lists the "Depth Amidships" as 12 inches for the HW model (including a 7/8 inch keel) so this may help you verity if it was cut down. Good luck with your wood seach.
Benson
Benson
yeolwoodsman
Rolf Warncke
I'm also located in north Jersey. Not to far from Lake Hopatcong. I found long lengths of Sitka Spruce at ML Condon's out in White Plains NY when I did my 1945 Otca a couple of summers ago. Not to far past the Tapanzee bridge. I'm actually headed out there this Tuesday to pick up some mahogany for the trim on my sons canoe project. http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?8332-Construction-of-a-Morris They are not cheap but I was very happy to find the stuff and being a wood shop teacher makes a trip to the lumber yard with nice hardwoods a great treat.
Billm
Canoes & Guideboats
I purchased some long lengths of Sitka spruce from ML Condon Lumber a year or so ago. The guy I dealt with was Ray Wimbert (RWimbert@mlcondon.com). He was very helpful.
I'm in the final stages of restoring a 1940's Old Town that looks a lot like yours, John. It also had glass on the exterior. The glass peeled off very easily but those little blotches of resin that are visible in your first photo may prove to be rather stubborn. It took a heat gun, a putty knife and several tedious hours to remove them from my boat. It's worth the effort, tho. You'll have a great looking canoe when you're done.
Bill
I'm in the final stages of restoring a 1940's Old Town that looks a lot like yours, John. It also had glass on the exterior. The glass peeled off very easily but those little blotches of resin that are visible in your first photo may prove to be rather stubborn. It took a heat gun, a putty knife and several tedious hours to remove them from my boat. It's worth the effort, tho. You'll have a great looking canoe when you're done.
Bill
Thank you all for you replies.
I didn't consider those resin blotches. Oh well, I'm not in a rush to get this done, it's all the process.
Looks like Condon Lumber is where I will go. Last time I was there was years ago, pre-GPS days... I picked up some Sitka for these Tom Hill glued lapstrake canoes. Back then Sitka was pricey. I can only imagine that it is no cheaper now. Has anyone used it for the decks too? or should I look for Ash?
p.s. That's not me in the canoes, I wish I looked that good.
I didn't consider those resin blotches. Oh well, I'm not in a rush to get this done, it's all the process.
Looks like Condon Lumber is where I will go. Last time I was there was years ago, pre-GPS days... I picked up some Sitka for these Tom Hill glued lapstrake canoes. Back then Sitka was pricey. I can only imagine that it is no cheaper now. Has anyone used it for the decks too? or should I look for Ash?
p.s. That's not me in the canoes, I wish I looked that good.
