Old Town Canoe? 139402 17

[redswallow77]

I just bought a cabin in Northern Wisconsin and on the property was a wood canoe. The canoe is 17' long with wood ribs and planking, two seats, and I've been told the exterior is made of fiberglass. Unfortunately the canoe has not been maintained and has been sitting in the woods for years. It needs a lot of tender loving care should it ever float again. The serial number is stamped at the bottom of the canoe interior at both ends. The number is 139402 17. I have a friend with an Old Town canoe and it looks quite similar, so he thinks it is an Old Town Canoe....unfortunately the label at the front is missing although you can see where it was once was attached. Any information I might acquire here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[smallboatshop]

139402 - 17

Hi,

Your canoe is a 17 foot CS Grade ( Common Sense or middle grade), OTCA model with open spruce gunwales, western cedar planking, a keel and was originally painted dark green. It was built in 1944 and sold to Ruggles Marine in Milwaukee.

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 andhttp://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.

Dan
smallboat shop
Denmark, Maine
www.smallboat-shop.com

 

[redswallow77]

Thanks for the information...but if I might ask further....

Hi,

Your canoe is a 17 foot CS Grade ( Common Sense or middle grade), OTCA model with open spruce gunwales, western cedar planking, a keel and was originally painted dark green. It was built in 1944 and sold to Ruggles Marine in Milwaukee.

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 andhttp://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.

Dan
smallboat shop
Denmark, Maine
www.smallboat-shop.com

So would it make sense then that the boat now appears to be fiberglass rather than canvas?...or perhaps the person I showed it to
did not give me the correct information. I am amazed that I could get this information about the boat this easily.....and that the boat is older than me. It gives me a greater sense of ownership of something rather special. Thanks again. Wish the smallboat shop was in my part of the country!

 

[redswallow77]

A further question....if the canoe is now covered with fiberglass can it be changed back to canvas?

 

[smallboatshop]

Many wood/canvas canoe owners fiberglassed their canoes when the canvas failed. Fiberglass was easier to maintain and stood up better to treatment that would be too rough for canvas. Some canoes were glassed because there was damage to ribs and planks and the glass provided structural strength. This apparently appealed to many owners who did not want to repair damage. If a canoe was glassed and taken care of, it would last for many years. There are fleets of glassed wood/canvas canoes at kids' camps which are in fine condition.

There are some downsides to glass - it's heavy, doesn't flex like canvas, will hold water against the planking and often cause rot, and, of course, isn't historically correct. Other forum members may expand more fully on the negative aspects of fiberglass on wood/canvas canoes.

Most canoe owners on the forum would opt to remove the fiberglass, repair the canoe and recanvas. If you search these threads you'll find lots of discussion about removing fiberglass and about repairing/restoring your canoe. Restoring an old canoe, putting it back in service, is a very rewarding endeavor.

Dan

 

[Dave Wermuth]

We are of two opinions when it comes to 'glass. Some like it and some really dislike it and you can search all the pros-cons using the search function. I think smallboatshop sums it up well. Sometimes people mistake a canvassed canoe for being 'glassed. Dave Osborn is a top restorer living in northern Wisconsin. 'glass can be removed and canvas applied. a heat gun is useful (required). there are some youtube videos on 'glass removal.