Old Town Looking for Info Serial #115543

[markandleann]

We just purchased an old town canoe - built for sailing. Looking for age/info. etc. We are new WCHA members looking for a few tips on how to get started with research. 16' feet - no sail. No. 115543. Thank you. Mark and LeAnn

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome to the WCHA. The Old Town canoe with serial number 115543 is a 16 foot, CS grade, HW (Heavy Water) model with Western red cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, oak decks, oak trim, a keel, sponsons, rowlocks (oar locks), mast seat, mast step, and a rudder. It was built between February and July, 1935. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on July 30th, 1935 to Portland, Maine. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the thumbnail image attached below.

These scans 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 renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.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 your repairs.

Benson

 

[markandleann]

Thank you

Thank you very much for the information. The canoe was restored several years ago and stored in a barn and is in great shape. It stayed in Saco for most of its life apparently. It fits the invoice description down to the color. We plan to take it out this summer and can't wait! One last question, (again we are novices!) What is a mast step?? Also it does not have a rudder... not sure if we'll use it for sailing but do you have suggestions on replacement source?

Thoroughly enjoy reading about the old canoes and learning from the experts... plan on being members for a long time!

Thanks again.
Mark and LeAnn

 

[Ric Altfather]

Mark & LeAnn,

Sounds like a real find...congratulations!

The mast step is what positions the mast to the bottom of the canoe and prevents it from punching thorugh. A catalog page is attached to give you an idea of what it looked like under sail. Check with Old Town and some of the builders under the "Builders/Materials and On-line Builders" listings in the table of contents.

Have fun on the water!

Ric Altfather

 

[Benson Gray]

The page at http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/otacc/ shows a mast step and most of the other Old Town sailing canoe components. You can find lots of sailing canoe information at http://www.cedarislandcanoes.com/WCHA-Sailing/ and http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/aca1935/ if you want to build your own mast and rig. Many of the canoe builders and restorers listed at http://www.wcha.org/buildsupply/ and http://www.wcha.org/builders/ would be willing to build a sail rig for your canoe. Canoe sailing rigs also show up occasionally in the WCHA classifieds at http://classifieds.wcha.org/ and on http://www.ebay.com although you may need to buy a whole canoe to get one. Feel free to reply here if this information doesn't answer your questions.

Benson

 

[markandleann]

Thank you both

Appreciate the information from both of you! Everything we need!

Regards.
Mark and LeAnn