Old Town 183473 17

[MaineRunner]

Hi,

New member...first post. I have the opportunity to buy a used Old Town wood canvas canoe. It is labeled with 183473 17. Can someone provide the history on this canoe???

I have a couple of ABS canoes, but have always wanted a wood one. The owner is asking $400. It has some obvious canvas patches and some broken planks that were repaired with some type of epoxy. Is this canoe worth $400?

Thanks.

 

[pklonowski]

Posting pictures helps assess the situation, but they'll never convey the real condition ofthe canoe. IF (and that's a big IF) the need for repairs is limited to canvas, then $400 is fair, maybe even quite a deal. But the only way to assess it is to take a very close look at the wood parts, and see how muych damage and rot will have to be addressed. Post pictures -- we like pictures!

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Hello,

Old Town 183473 is a 17 foot Otca model canoe completed June of 1969 to May of 1971, with a keel and original dark green color. The information on build records for canoes of this period is scanty and sometimes folks are disappointed not to get more information, but it is what it is. Old Town stopped designating grade and wood species. Image of the scan of this record is attached below-- click on it to get a larger image.

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/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php 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.

As Paul said, pictures can help a lot in determining damage... but pictures cannot tell-all. A little planking and canvas isn't a big deal. If it's been glassed... well, that can be a really big deal.

 

[MaineRunner]

Thanks!

Thank you for the response...I really appreciate it.

Is a is a 17 foot Otca model regarded as a nice canoe? I'm looking for something to actually use. Something to paddle on lakes and quite waters..

Thanks.

 

[Greg Nolan]

17' is a good length for general purpose paddling -- a bit long for solo paddling, but fine for two people for just messing about, day-tripping, and non-expedition camping trips of up to a week or a bit more long. The Otca is one of OT's more popular models. A canoe with a keel is fine on lakes and quiet-water rivers -- won't turn on a dime, which is a negative on winding, rocky streams, but a plus when going from point A to point B on deeper, quiet water.

 

[Kathryn Klos]

I'll post the information on the Otca from the 1971 Old Town catalog, courtesy "The Complete Old Town Canoe Company Catalog Collection, 1901- 1993", available on CD from http://www.wcha.org/catalog/ and http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/cdrom.htm on the web.

You will also find helpful information by using the "search" function above-- type in "otca" or whatever you're curious about and see what comes up. And don't hesitate to ask specifics.
Also, more information on the Old Town Company can be found in Sue Audette's book, Old Town, Our First Hundred Years, which is available through the WCHA store and most booksellers, eBay, Amazon, and public libraries.

Our Assembly topic next year (July 2012) is Old Town, so get her all prettied-up and show her off at the Assembly!

Kathy