When a pencil rub is coming up light, or even (as we see here), missing a digit, a "trick" I use is to use a thinner piece of paper and a very soft pencil. The paper I prefer for these rubs is a piece of thermal transfer paper, so a cash register receipt.
Having said that, Benson has pretty clearly highlighted the number 2 on the stem. That would date the canoe more correctly. It is clearly not a canoe from the early 1900's for a host of obvious reasons, the serial number being one of them. Your restorer was not well informed.
The canoe, as is, appears to be in good useable condition. Whoever restored it for you opted to leave the original varnish on it (did not strip it) and varnished over the old finish. I can see one replacement rib that looks like it was done properly. It is hard to tell if there were others.
My guess is that some of the detail from the numbers on the stems was sanded off during the restoration. It happens. Good luck with your listing.