The Old Town canoe with serial number 197129 and hull identification number XTC97129M74F is a 16 foot long fiberglass Carleton model with a keel that weighed 77 pounds. It was built in August of 1973. The original exterior gelcoat color was avocado. It shipped on January 23rd, 1974 to Liverpool, New York. The back side of the card indicates that three bubbles in the balsa floor ware filled and some scratches were buffed out. The warranty card was returned from Syracuse, New York on September 13th, 1974 indicating that it was purchased on March 19th, 1974 from the dealer. Scans showing both sides of this build record can be found below.
These scans 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/ot_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
http://www.wcha.org/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and
http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Page 24 of the 1974 Old Town Canoe catalog listed the capacity of this 16 foot long Carleton model as four persons or 653 pounds. There was also a note that "If motors are installed, formula capacities are reduced up to 1/2 of those stated." It went on to say "Some regulating agencies have established formulas that limit the number of persons and/or total loading capacities of canoes. Old Town believes that a combination of canoeist's experience, type of canoe, and water-weather conditions, rather than arbitrary formulas, is the best guide in such matters." Your mileage may vary...
There is no significant regular maintenance for a canoe like this. It will last longer if it is not stored in direct sun or left with standing water in the hull for extended periods. A good cleaning occasionally doesn't hurt either. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
