Howie
Wooden Canoe Maniac
Just picked up a 15' Old Town from Jack McGreivey at his home/workshop near Cato NY. Serial # E43367 15. What can you tell me about it Benson? I'm figuring it's from the 20s or 30s as it uses keel screws with built in washers.
I called Jack on a whim a few days ago as my wife & I would be taking a day trip and could swing by Cato on our way home. I wondered if he had any canoe I might be able to buy off him for a restoration project. Jack very graciously offered me this one.
As Jack explained it to me, several years ago he had two 15' Old Towns, and a customer called wondering when his 15'er would be completed. Jack proceeded to replace all the broken ribs in this canoe before he realized that the customer actually owned the other 15'er. So he put this one back on his canoe rack to be completed later. Some time after this he backed his lawn mower into it... and there it sat.
He figured he wouldn't get around to fixing it up, so I got it! It's the one on the ground in pics 1 & 2.
The stems are really really thin - luckily the lawn mower didn't break them!
By the way, I was very pleased to meet Jack. Sure wish we lived closer.
I called Jack on a whim a few days ago as my wife & I would be taking a day trip and could swing by Cato on our way home. I wondered if he had any canoe I might be able to buy off him for a restoration project. Jack very graciously offered me this one.
As Jack explained it to me, several years ago he had two 15' Old Towns, and a customer called wondering when his 15'er would be completed. Jack proceeded to replace all the broken ribs in this canoe before he realized that the customer actually owned the other 15'er. So he put this one back on his canoe rack to be completed later. Some time after this he backed his lawn mower into it... and there it sat.
He figured he wouldn't get around to fixing it up, so I got it! It's the one on the ground in pics 1 & 2.
The stems are really really thin - luckily the lawn mower didn't break them!
By the way, I was very pleased to meet Jack. Sure wish we lived closer.
