Old Town 81099 17

[Steve Anglin]

Hi, I am hoping to find some information on my grandfather's canoe, My aunt thinks she has the build information, but I thought I'd ask here as well. It is SN 81099 17.

It's in really good shape, my uncle had it restored around 30-35 years ago, I was too young to remember what it had done at that time. I am hoping to get it back in the water soon and am very great full for all the great information I've found here. I'll post some picture once we get it out of the barn.

Since I am already asking for help, my main question at this point is; it has two areas where the canvas has separated from the bow and stern. Both areas are small, less than a square foot, maybe half a square foot. Is it possible to re adhere the canvas or should I be planning on re canvassing.

Thank you very much, Steve

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome, the Old Town canoe with serial number 81099 is a 17 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, HW (heavy water) model with red western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, birch decks, birch thwarts, birch seats, a keel, and a floor rack. It was built between October, 1923 and January, 1924. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on July 21st, 1924 to Poughkeepsie, New York. A scan showing 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/catalogs/old-town/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-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/store/membership to join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Small holes in the canvas above the water line can often be temporarily patched with another piece of canvas and glue (or silver tape) but the best solution is to replace the canvas. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck,

Benson

 

[Steve Anglin]

Thank you very much Benson.

My grandfather and his brother bought that canoe new, and it's still in his/our barn 20 miles north of Poughkeepsie right now.

I'm glad to know it was green to begin with, I was wondering what color it should be.

Cheers

 

[Craig Johnson]

Plan on recanvasing. the canvas is not adhered to the hull, it is only attached with tacks under the gunwales and along the stems. If you glue it to the hull you will just be creating problems for proper canvasing.