Just taking a look at an Old Town Canoe we inherited with a property we purchased on Walloon Lake. The serial number is 133761-18 and if anyone has insights into what that means, I would be greatly appreciative. The canoe is leaking - both holes and cracks. It looks like maybe it's been repaired with fiberglass at some point in the past. I'm not sure how best to get started on repairing it further and advice is welcome!!
old town canoe - wooden
- Thread starter macdouga
- Start date
Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 133761 is an 18 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, Guide model with open spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash thwarts, ash seats, a keel, and number eight canvas,. It was built between October and December, 1941. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on March 30th, 1942 to Detroit, Michigan. A scan of this build record can be found 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 donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.
It is possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. The 1942 catalog at https://www.woodencanoe.org/_files/ugd/537308_8101f094d8c44a57aed153063a77357a.pdf has more details on page nine. Silver tape or paint can temporarily help with most minor leaks. A full restoration will require removing the fiberglass and replacing the canvas. One of the restorers listed at https://www.woodencanoe.org/builders-suppliers can help with that project. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the project,
Benson
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 donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.
It is possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. The 1942 catalog at https://www.woodencanoe.org/_files/ugd/537308_8101f094d8c44a57aed153063a77357a.pdf has more details on page nine. Silver tape or paint can temporarily help with most minor leaks. A full restoration will require removing the fiberglass and replacing the canvas. One of the restorers listed at https://www.woodencanoe.org/builders-suppliers can help with that project. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the project,
Benson
Here're some pics of the canoe highlighting the problems. My sense is that it is structurally sound, but needs some bandaids in the short term, and maybe serious love and care in the long. I'd love to get your perspective on how to get it in the water! I made a paddle for my wife (pic attached) and we want to try it out.
Attachments
MGC
Scrapmaker
Hi,
Your canoe was indeed glassed at some point, and apparently, not very well.
Many of us on this forum are not in favor of replacing the original canvas with glass. When we encounter this, we will remove it as a first step in a restoration. What you do is entirely up to you. If the weight of the canoe (they are heavier when glassed) is not a showstopper for you, you could most definitely sort out the leaks well enough to use it more or less as is.
It looks like someone has painted over the resin so not only are you dealing with a mediocre fiberglass job, you are also dealing with peeling paint or resin.
If you simply want to get into the water, patch those holes with duct tape and go. Do not use anything that has silicon in it to stop leaks, at least not if you plan to try and sort out the glass.
If it were mine and if I were leaving the glass on, I would start by sanding the entire hull with an orbital sander. I would probably be pretty aggressive and try to remove those flaking areas. You do not want to cut into the glass cloth, but you need to remove anything that is loose and oxidized. Once this is done, clean it up (I use acetone) and see what you are dealing with. Small divots like you have shown should be repaired. I would use glass fiber and resin to fill those spots. Areas where there is glass weave showing need to be properly glazed with resin if you want a smooth appearance, but if they don't leak, you can probably live with it.
Once you have the leaks sorted out and the hull smoothed, you may decide to apply a layer of two-part epoxy paint. This should get you a lasting and tough outside finish.
You must be sure that you take care of the wood. It also needs to be sanded and varnished to prevent it from rotting. Several good coats of good quality marine spar varnish will protect the wood. Do not use a urethane varnish.
All of that said, my preference is removing the glass and doing a proper restoration, but that is a time-consuming job and might not be worth trouble. If you get curious about doing a proper restoration, check this site for books that provide step by step instruction and also search this forum for information.
If you made that paddle (cherry?) you should be able to restore the canoe.
Your canoe was indeed glassed at some point, and apparently, not very well.
Many of us on this forum are not in favor of replacing the original canvas with glass. When we encounter this, we will remove it as a first step in a restoration. What you do is entirely up to you. If the weight of the canoe (they are heavier when glassed) is not a showstopper for you, you could most definitely sort out the leaks well enough to use it more or less as is.
It looks like someone has painted over the resin so not only are you dealing with a mediocre fiberglass job, you are also dealing with peeling paint or resin.
If you simply want to get into the water, patch those holes with duct tape and go. Do not use anything that has silicon in it to stop leaks, at least not if you plan to try and sort out the glass.
If it were mine and if I were leaving the glass on, I would start by sanding the entire hull with an orbital sander. I would probably be pretty aggressive and try to remove those flaking areas. You do not want to cut into the glass cloth, but you need to remove anything that is loose and oxidized. Once this is done, clean it up (I use acetone) and see what you are dealing with. Small divots like you have shown should be repaired. I would use glass fiber and resin to fill those spots. Areas where there is glass weave showing need to be properly glazed with resin if you want a smooth appearance, but if they don't leak, you can probably live with it.
Once you have the leaks sorted out and the hull smoothed, you may decide to apply a layer of two-part epoxy paint. This should get you a lasting and tough outside finish.
You must be sure that you take care of the wood. It also needs to be sanded and varnished to prevent it from rotting. Several good coats of good quality marine spar varnish will protect the wood. Do not use a urethane varnish.
All of that said, my preference is removing the glass and doing a proper restoration, but that is a time-consuming job and might not be worth trouble. If you get curious about doing a proper restoration, check this site for books that provide step by step instruction and also search this forum for information.
If you made that paddle (cherry?) you should be able to restore the canoe.
Dan Lindberg
Ex Wood Hoarder
Short term, duct tape and go paddle.
Longer term, follow Mike's advice.
Longer term, follow Mike's advice.
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