Ot #145725 17

[JClearwater]

I just got back from looking at a canoe listed on Craigslist as a 1946 Trapper model with the above listed serial number. All the planking, ribs, inside stems, both decks and outwales look good - nothing broke, no visible rot. The down side is that both inwales are cut in two places each and butt jointed together - no glue. Both are cut opposite each other in front of the stern seat and behind where the bow seat would have been. The bow seat is missing and there are no holes in the inwales to show that there ever was one. There are no corresponding cuts/repaires on the outwales - one piece of wood. The owner said it was always that way, however he is not the original owner. I explained that a one piece inwale is necessary for the strength of the boat and to keep the curves smooth, which it no longer is. I have never seen a canoe with three piece inwales other than as a repair to the tips. Correct? Replacing the inwales is certainly possible but not for the price offered. Canvas would have to be replaced etc. as well. Maybe some kind person can check the serial number. It is a CS grade and used to have a floor rack, now missing. I was hoping to bring it home - that would have been the third one this week - sort of a record for me. Thanks

Jim C.

 

[Al Sienkiewicz]

Jim: The Old Town canoe with serial number 145725 is a 16 foot, CS grade double end model, with a keel, outside stems and a floor rack. It was built between June and August, 1946. The original exterior color was dark green. It shipped on January 1, 1947 to Mohonk Lake, New York. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the thumbnail image attached below.

These scans and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. 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 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 renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your boat. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Al

 

[JClearwater]

Thanks Al

The number provided by the owner must be wrong. It's definitely 17' and a canoe not a double end boat. I should have verified it myself when I was there but it was dark in the basement. I'll give him a call. Thanks.

Jim

PS: 9:25 AM, I just spoke to him. Try 146725 17

 

[Al Sienkiewicz]

Jim: The Old Town canoe with serial number 146725 is a 17 foot, CS grade HW model with a keel. It was built between October and December 1946. The original exterior color was bright green. It shipped on March 12, 1947 to Long Island City, New York. Apparently the canoe was damaged at some point as reference is made on the back of the card that repairs would cost $150 so a new canoe was shipped. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the thumbnail image attached below.

These scans and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. 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 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 renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your boat. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Is this closer?

Al

 

[JClearwater]

Thanks Al

I think we' re getting closer. There is no evidence of green paint under the peeling red paint, but it could have been recanvased at some point. It also had a floor rack at some point, but that could have been added as well. I may have to make another trip and look at it myself to check the number and make some measurements. Thank you for your help. I'll keep you posted.

Jim C.