Old Town - Serial # 98328

Colin Fegeley

Curious about Wooden Canoes
I was hoping someone may be able to provide some information on an antique Old Town Canoe (circa 1928) with the serial # 98328. Could also be 93328, 98329 or 93329?

I believe it is either a sea model or a square stern canoe with a long deck. See photo. Any help would be much appreciated!
 

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Welcome, the Old Town with serial number 98328 is a nine-foot-long dinghy, 98329 is a 7.5 foot dinghy, 93328 is an 18 foot Otca, and 93329 is a 17 foot HW. None of these are a good match. Some of the tricks described at https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/791/ may help. Can you provide some pictures of the numbers on the inside stem and center transom brace? Thanks,

Benson
 
Two images attached.

Possibly 88329 or 88328?
 

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I believe it to be a 1927 or 1928 Sea Model if that is of any help...
 

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My guess is that you may have the Old Town with serial number 98820. This is a 16 foot long, AA (or top) grade, square stern model with red western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, 48 inch mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, a keel, outside stems, a floor rack, and bilge keels. It may have originally had sponsons as well. This was built between 1928 and February, 1929. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on May, 28th, 1929 to Rainbow Lake, New York. A scan showing 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 also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match. See http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/15063/ for the page describing it in the 1951 catalog. The full catalog from 1931 is available from https://woodencanoemuseum.org/index.php/manufacturer-catalog/old-town-canoe-company-1931 if you want more details. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson



OTC-98820.gif
 
Benson ~ Thank you! Many of the details provided here make sense. When I get home today I will try out some of the methods described in the links above to make sure I have this serial # right. I will be back in touch and will certainly donate to the WCHA!
 
Just spoke to my uncle who seems to be the only one that has the "real" story about the boat, which by all accounts has always been in my family. He says it has always been RED and was purchased NEW from a bookstore in Watertown, NY. I need to make sure I have this serial # right. The build sheet above places the boat in upstate NY, which is right, but apparently my great-great grandfather purchased it new. Let me see if I can get a better look at this number!
 
99320 is a 16' OTCA originally shipped to Maine. 98320 is a 16' Charles River canoe shipped to North Carolina
 
Thanks Todd... Still not adding up. I will get in boat this afternoon with a flashlight, some paper and a crayon to see if I can get this right. Much appreciated!
 
You came to the right place for info. Benson and many others on this site are a wealth of knowledge and support for all things wooden canoe and other craft. Nice looking boat.
 
The Old Town with serial number 98826 is a nine-foot-long dinghy. Number 98326 is a 16 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, new square stern model with red western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, 48 inch spruce decks, spruce thwarts, spruce seats, a keel, outside stems, and a floor rack. It may have originally had sponsons as well. This was built between October and November, 1928. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on December, 18th, 1928 to Netcong, New Jersey. A scan showing this build record can be found below. Is this a better match?

Benson



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I must still be off with this serial #...

I am confident the third number is 3 and the 4th number is 2. I am not as confident in the first 2 numbers. The last number is hardest to read.

I believe it was originally sold to a store in upstate New York. Perhaps Watertown, NY in 1928 (-ish). Based on the catalog photos you provided me it is either a square stern canoe with a long deck or a sea model. I believe RED was the original color.

_ _ 3 2 _


THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!
 
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How long is the deck? Number 98323 is a Sea model with a 60 inch deck and maroon paint that shipped to Clayton, New York (near Watertown) on July 6th, 1928 as shown below.

Benson



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Great, you should bring it back to Clayton for the Antique Boat Museum's Annual Antique Boat Show & Auction on August 4-6, 2023. My understanding is that they plan to be featuring Old Town and Herreshoff this year. Boats with a family connection are always extra special.

Benson
 
Benson ~ I wanted to thank you again for your help yesterday. I really appreciate you going the extra mile to help me with my research. As of this AM, I am a member of the WCHA and look forward to being part of such an amazing group. I shared the build sheet with my grand parents and uncle. They had never seen this information before. It was very cool. Thanks again. Maybe our paths will cross in Clayton next year!
 
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