Old Town Motor Boat

[shillabers@aol.com]

When my father-in-law sold his lake property, he couldn't bear to part with his Old Town Canoe. It had been in his family a long time; my two sons grew up with it learning safe boating from an early age. At the time I was a lawyer/farmer and didn't have the time to enjoy it so it preserve it for my retirement we hoisted it on block and tackle to the top of the barn where it would be safe and out ot the way. Recently a strong wind blew thru the barn, dislodged the boat and sent it crashing to the floor. It survived the tumble without damage and motivated me to "get going".

On line I learned with a serial number the history of an Old Town Canoe can be traced. The number is 148698 16. I would appreciate any information anybody can furnish me concerning this Old
Town.
Russ Shillaber

 

[Al Sienkiewicz]

Russ: The Old Town with serial number 148698 is a 14 foot long, AA grade, Square stern model with 48" decks, spruce thwarts and seats with a keel, outside stems, floor rack and sponsons. It was built between May, 1947 and June, 1947. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on July 7, 1947 to Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. A note references a painter ring and bilge keels were included. Let me know if this is your boat, this is a 14 footer while your serial number ends in 16 which identifies a 16 footer. 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/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php 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.

- Al

 

[shillabers@aol.com]

Old Town Motor Boat

Al, thanks for your response to my inquiry. It convinced mme the serial No. I furnished was incorrect. The canoe is definitely a 16 footer. Checking the number again I read it as 146699-16. It is very difficult to read because of discloration in the grain of the wood. Thaks again. Russ

 

[Al Sienkiewicz]

Russ: Check that number on both stems again. 146699 comes back to an OT 15' 50 pound model. Could you describe the canoe/boat or provide a picture that may help in identifying it. I can try various combinations if you can provide the digits you are sure of. When you deal with the 6's, 8's, 3's, 9's etc. it's easy to misread the number. - Al