Old Town Canoe. Picked up today.

[Coquina17]

I'm new here, but not new to wooden boats. I was offered and accepted an Old Town Canoe today. The previous owner didn't have the time or motivation for a restoration, and I could use a project once my 2 sailboats are freshened up for the season.
The serial number is as follows,

178908. 17

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

The canvas has been removed. No cracked ribs. Bit of damage to the aft "stem".
A bit different to my first 2 builds. Looking forward to learning some new skills.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 178908 is a 17 foot long Otca model with a keel. It was built between September and October, 1967. The original exterior paint color was red. It shipped on December 21st, 1967 to Silver Spring, Maryland. 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 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 and http://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. Good luck with the restoration,

Benson

 

[Treewater]

Good looking boat. Looks like an easy restoration. I'd accept that any day. Welcome to the club.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Yes, welcome to the WCHA. Lots of information about restoration is already on these forums, and if you have a question, someone here will be sure to have an answer.

In addition to the forums, there are three good sources of information about canoe restoration which you would do well to get, or at least look at -- "The Wood and Canvas Canoe: A Complete Guide to its History, Construction, Restoration, and Maintenance" by Rollin Thurlow and Jerry Stelmok, and/or "Building the Maine Guide Canoe" by Jerry Stelmok, and "The Old Town Canoe Company" by Susan Audette and David Baker.

The first is often called the "bible" of canoe repair, restoration, and maintenance; unfortunately it is out of print and may be hard to get -- I've heard that Jerry Stelmok has a few copies for sale, but if not, you should check with local library which can get it on interlibrary loan if it doesn't have it. The second is an excellent study of the wooden/canvas canoe and its construction, and the third is a great history of the OT company and its canoes. Check with the WCHA store, eBay, Amazon, or . . .. Sue Audette also sells her book directly
( http://www.thebaglady.tv/ ).

And as Tim notes above, it looks like you have an easy restoration that should produce a great boat (some people have all the luck, he says under his breath with envy).

Greg

 

[MackyM]

Hello,
Any idea who made the trailer?

Thanks, Macky

 

[Dan Miller]

Any idea who made the trailer?

It's made by Trailex (http://trailex.com/SUT-200-S.cfm). I've got one for my 16/30. It's ok.

 

[Coquina17]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 178908 is a 17 foot long Otca model with a keel. It was built between September and October, 1967. The original exterior paint color was red. It shipped on December 21st, 1967 to Silver Spring, Maryland. 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 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 and http://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. Good luck with the restoration,

Benson

Thank you! Yes it does match the description given.

 

[Coquina17]

Yes, welcome to the WCHA. Lots of information about restoration is already on these forums, and if you have a question, someone here will be sure to have an answer.

In addition to the forums, there are three good sources of information about canoe restoration which you would do well to get, or at least look at -- "The Wood and Canvas Canoe: A Complete Guide to its History, Construction, Restoration, and Maintenance" by Rollin Thurlow and Jerry Stelmok, and/or "Building the Maine Guide Canoe" by Jerry Stelmok, and "The Old Town Canoe Company" by Susan Audette and David Baker.

The first is often called the "bible" of canoe repair, restoration, and maintenance; unfortunately it is out of print and may be hard to get -- I've heard that Jerry Stelmok has a few copies for sale, but if not, you should check with local library which can get it on interlibrary loan if it doesn't have it. The second is an excellent study of the wooden/canvas canoe and its construction, and the third is a great history of the OT company and its canoes. Check with the WCHA store, eBay, Amazon, or . . .. Sue Audette also sells her book directly
( http://www.thebaglady.tv/ ).

And as Tim notes above, it looks like you have an easy restoration that should produce a great boat (some people have all the luck, he says under his breath with envy).

Greg

A copy of Thurlow's book came with the Canoe. I'm going to read it cover to cover before I begin.
She's resting comfortably in my basement shop awaiting restoration. Got to finish freshening up 2 sailboats first.
She'll make a nice addition to the fleet.

 

[Treewater]

And as Tim notes above, it looks like you have an easy restoration that should produce a great boat (some people have all the luck, he says under his breath with envy).

Greg

A copy of Thurlow's book came with the Canoe.
QUOTE]

Envy?? Just because my first wood and canvas was a basket case and I didn't know it...and his comes with THE book even..!!