Old Town 17' sailing canoe

[Kevin Conley]

Hi, I just scored an Old Town (pretty sure) 17' sailing canoe, in fairly good shape. It needs to have some sections of canvas re-glued, not too bad, just at the ends and a little under the gunwales, and the seats re-caned. I'm wondering what year it was built, serial No. 145067. Also, I'm wondering what the best (short of total refurbishment) way to re-glue the canvas would be best. I'd like to keep the patina intact, and just put a fresh coat of paint on it.
Thanks for the help and advice,
Kevin

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 145067 is an 18 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, HW (Heavy Water) model with open spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash thwarts, ash, seats, a keel,a mast seat, a mast step, and a rudder. It was built between April and June, 1946. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on July 10th, 1946 to Fairlee, Vermont. 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 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/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 possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. The canvas is not typically glued to the planking so yours probably needs to be replaced if it is coming off at the ends and under the gunwales. Silver tape may hold it all together for a short while but this is typically not a permanent solution. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[JClearwater]

Kevin,

Post a few pictures of the canoe and in particular the canvas issues. Generally speaking trying to reattach failing canvas is never very successful. It was never glued in the first place so re-gluing is not going to solve the problem for very long. If the canvas is the original from 1946 it needs to be replaced completely. Replacing the canvas is not a difficult job. The wood repairs need to be addressed first then the canvas replaced. There are any number of threads on here about canvasing and how to do it and many members with ready advice. Depending on where you are located there may be a local chapter or a local member who could offer first hand advice or help. The WCHA Assembly is in mid-July where you can get all the help and inspiration you will need. Welcome to the WCHA.

Jim C.

 

[Kevin Conley]

Thanks Benson & Jim,
I just discovered this forum a couple of days ago, and have been searching the posts concerning canvas repair/replacement and have learned a great deal. I'll try to get some pictures posted over the next few days. I was originally under the impression that the canvas was applied similarly to airplane wings using "dope". I had no idea that it was stretched dry and nailed in place. I'd like to see if I can do a temporary repair just to have a little fun this summer, and do a proper re-canvas over the winter next year. When I first bought it, I was intending just to re-sell it and make a few bucks, but now I'm afraid the hook has been set.

Kev