Penobscot 17?

Chris Dyer

Curious about Wooden Canoes
I recently purchased what I believe is a Penobscot 17'. It has the deck design unique to this builder. The stem is numbered 2562 17. I am wondering what you can confirm or tell me about this canoe? Thanks
 
Welcome, it is my sad duty to report that the scanned Old Town records stop just over 250,000 in 1984 so no one here can provide more detailed information for this canoe with serial number 256217. The last few digits of the hull identification number on the starboard stern should have the model year. The information at http://www.usps.org/national/safety/HIN/HIN.pdf may help you interpret this number. Good luck,

Benson
 
PeCaCo deck.jpg
PeCaCo Number.jpg
PeCaCo Number.jpg
 
Thanks. I don't think it is a Old Town. I think it is a PeCaCo 17 based on the deck design. I also included a shot of the number it seems like the 17 is too far from the main number to be part of the serial number, maybe it is the length or the year?
 
Sorry about that, I agree that this doesn't look like an Old Town. Old Town offered a 17 foot long Penobscot model plastic canoe during the 1980s. There are no known serial records available for the Penobscot Canoe Company (PeCaCo). The 17 on the end is most likely the length in feet and not the year. This was common with most builders. The information at https://woodencanoemuseum.org/index.php/builder-history/penobscot-canoe-company may help if you haven't found this already. There aren't many of these canoes around. Congratulations,

Benson
 
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You stepped on a crack. I held off on replying to your first post because I was not sure what canoe you were describing. Most of us are conditioned to think about the Old Town Royalex Penobscot canoe when someone na,e drops "Penobscot". I own a 17 foot Old Town Penobscot so in my mind, I did exactly what Benson did.
Pictures are super helpful when we are talking about canoes and especially older ones. Thanks for adding those.

Yes, it looks like you may have a Penobscot Canoe Company boat. It could also be a St Louis Merrimac.
You may explore the links attached that will take you to the Wooden Canoe Museum website. You will need to see if you can distinguish between the two builders using the measurements and descriptions you will find there. Or, post some more pictures and we will help you as best possible.
Penobscot Canoe Company | Wooden Canoe Museum
[URL='https://woodencanoemuseum.org/index.php/builder-history/st-louis-meramec-canoe-company']St. Louis Meramec Canoe Company | Wooden Canoe Museum
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It is (as marked) a 17 foot long canoe.
There are no serial number tables or records to establish build dates for the Penobscot's. There are apparently some preserved records for the Meracos.
 
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