Restoration Candidate?

[Lew's Canoes]

A friend asked me to look at his w/c canoe, and possibly restore it. Lenght is about 17'3", width just under 34" out to out, depth about 11.5". Has diamond head seat and thwart bolts, and serial # 108090. He thinks it was built in the mid 1930's. I know pictures would be a help, but can anyone offer an opinion on what this might be? Thanks.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 108090 is a 17 foot long, AA grade, HW (Heavy Water) model with western red cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, mahogany trim, a keel, outside stems, and a floor rack. It was built between November, 1930 and January, 1932. The original exterior paint color was probably similar to the image at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/designs/design43.gif which was known as design number 43. It shipped on March 1st, 1932 to Philadelphia, Penna. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.

This scan was 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 join or 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.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. This canoe sounds like an excellent restoration candidate!

Benson