OT Serial Number Search - 15' Canoe

mlackore

Curious about Wooden Canoes
I am looking for the build sheet for Old Town Canoe SN. 187280. Looks like a 15', CS grade, 50 lb model but I would love to know for sure.

Thanks!

Mike
 
Can you post pictures of the serial numbers from each end here? The tips at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?791 may help if you are having trouble reading any of the digits. The build record below for serial number 187280 shows a 16 foot long FG (fiberglass) model canoe. I also checked 187230, 137180, and 137230 but didn't find any 15 foot long canoes. Which digit is the least clear? Thanks,

Benson
 

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The second digit and the second to last digit are the two that are the most difficult to read. The varnish is extremely thick! The "15" stamped in the stem is quite clear. It could be 137290?....maybe 137280? I think 137XXX ,.. that'd put it mid 1930's. I have attached some photos of the SN...whatdya think?

20150331_180426_SN.jpg

20150331_180426_resized.jpg
 
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My guess is that you have the Old Town canoe with serial number 137290. This is a 15 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, fifty pound model with open spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash thwarts, ash seats, and a keel. It was built between March and August, 1943 The original exterior paint color was dead grass. It shipped on August 9th, 1943 to St. Paul, Minn. 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 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 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. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson
 

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Thanks Benson,....the 137290 SN makes sense considering the location of the boat. I have another 50 lb CS grade in my fleet and this one seems very similar. Coincidentally, my other one is "dead grass" as well. I appreciate the information immensely! Thanks again.
 
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