Old Town 17' ?Kevlar canoe XTC08862M76A

[Carmck76]

Hi there, I am interested in facebook marketplace ad that claims that their Old Towne Canoe with the serial number of XTC08862M76A is 60lbs and made of Kevlar? It has wooden gunwales. Before making the trek to where it is located, what would be a fair price for this including paddles and an electric motor that needs a battery? Thank you!

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome, the Old Town canoe with hull identification number XTC08862M75A and serial number 208862 is a 17 foot long, Chipewyan Tripper model with plastic gunwales that weighed 70 pounds. It was built in July, 1975. The original exterior vinyl color was green. It shipped on August 21st, 1975 to San Francisco, California. The back side of the record indicates that it had many skin tears on the outside of the hull. Scans showing both sides of this build record can be found below.

These scans and several hundred thousand more 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/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 http://www.wcha.org/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/pricing-plans/join to donate or join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer this description doesn't match the canoe. This is clearly not a Kevlar canoe. A similar one sold recently at https://www.ebay.com/itm/298513062778 for $500. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the decision,

Benson

 

[Carmck76]

Oh my goodness! You are incredible!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!
The seller also stated the gunwales were wooden and that is weighed 60lbs ? I am not sure his information is correct haha

 

[Carmck76]

*oh! I realized there is a slight difference in serial numbers that you researched - XTC08862M76A rather than 75A? I reckon it is a similar boat?

 

[MGC]

Benson will get you sorted out with the records but while we are waiting, could you confirm that the canoe that you are interested in is the one that you provided an image of?
The image shows what appears to be an Old Town Royalex/Oltonar (not Kevlar) canoe with molded seats and ABS rails. The Royalex hulls have a tendency to do a bit of tin canning in big water, but they are very nearly indestructible.
A Kevlar hull will be both lighter and possibly more fragile but far more rigid. How you plan to use the canoe should be given some thought. The Old Town Kevlar hulls from that period were well regarded, as were the Royalex boats.

 

[Benson Gray]

there is a slight difference in serial numbers that you researched - XTC08862M76A rather than 75A?

The "M76A" on the end of a hull identification number (HIN) from this period indicates a canoe that shipped in August, 1976. The build record clearly shows a canoe that shipped in August, 1975 so something doesn't match. My guess is that either the seller misread that digit or the person who created the original HIN tag mistyped it. The canoe in your picture appears to have the original plastic rails. Their color is much different from the wooden thwart. Sellers are often optimistic about the weight of canoes. Page seven of the 1975 Old Town Canoe catalog at https://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/Library/21FA5A4C-6A4A-4F23-9692-433539293670 lists this canoe at 74 pounds. Let me know if this doesn't answer your questions,

Benson

 

[Carmck76]

Wowsas, thank you both SO much for saving me the time and effort of going to see this boat in person! It is not quite the right fit for my needs. I am so amazed with your eye for details and for the generously spending your time to share your knowledge and expertise with me! I really appreciate this!