Searching for a canoe....that might not exist.

John Visser

John Visser

Curious about Wooden Canoes
I've been in contact with a potential customer for over a month now about a canoe needed for an interior design project. The length needed is 11-13' for the space. Originally, I thought I would build one on the 11' form I bought earlier this year, but they changed their mind. So I sent a photo of the 11' Old Town(pic attached) that I am currently finishing the restoration on and was told it's not the right shape. I was sent an inspiration photo of a full size canoe hanging in a dining room(pic attached).
I'm assuming they are looking for a canoe of that length that is not so squat and tubby, but rather more streamlined with more upturned ends. I explained that most shorter canoes have a similar shape due to needing the increased width for buoyancy and stability. I offered a solution of taking a more classic looking canoe and scaling down all the dimensions proportionately to build a new 12' canoe that looks like a regular full length canoe, but was told a new build would not work as they are looking for something with a more distressed and aged finish.
I offered to stain the new build darker and take measures to distress the finish and the wood but I guess that wouldn't work.
Yes, I even offered to find a more common full length project canoe and cut the middle out to make a shorter canoe that might have the look they want.
I made sure to explain that old wood canvas canoes in this length almost never come up for sale compared to the seemingly endless supply of 16, 17, and 18 footers.
So, does anyone have an 11, 12, or 13 foot long, vintage/antique wood canvas canoe that is not "football" shaped like almost every other short canoe I've seen that they are looking to sell for use as an interior decoration? In decent shape with a distressed patina? But not a total basket case? They even specified green or blue exterior, and I'm assuming painting it wouldn't work because it would look too new? Does such a thing even exist?
Also I think I was told that it is needed by February.
I'm located in NY and willing to drive/arrange transport for the right boat.
Thanks for any help with this.
 

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John Visser said:
I'm assuming painting it wouldn't work because it would look too new? Does such a thing even exist?
Click to expand...

The short answer is yes, but it will probably be very expensive and could be a challenge to find before February. A good painter can make a new finish look old with a 'dirty wash' technique. Roger Young can explain the process if you don't have a local option.

Chestnut made some small narrow canoes. The 11-foot-long one in the archive at https://wcha.org/classified-archive/Chestnut-Featherweight-11-5-29-23.pdf sold last year. The other option is to get a large display canoe. The one at the first link below could work but these are exceptionally rare. The second and third links show modern alternatives. The fourth link is probably your best option if it needs to be old and a two tone brown exterior could work. The length is listed as 70 inches but this is probably a typographical error since most Kennebec models were about five feet long. Good luck and let us know how the story ends,

Benson



C

Thread '8' Old Town store model'

Hello experts. I just found a nice old 8' Old Town canoe in my antiques picking travels. While it is overpainted, I would say that it is in a good state of survival. The interior is intact and in a crusty old varnish. There is an authentic OT decal on one of the little "decks"
The seats and thwarts are fastened with a kind of diamond shaped rivet head. I wonder if this might date the canoe? Any opinions on value of an "as found" 8 footer?. I will post some pix tomorrow. Thanks Cons

Island Falls Canoe - Custom Made Wood and Canvas Canoes - Old Town Wood Canoe Parts & Materials

Island Falls Canoe - Maine made custom built canoes, canoe restoration, canoe repair, and canoe building classes. We also carry Old Town Wood Canoe parts and materials and we perform repairs on wooden Old Town Canoes.
www.islandfallscanoe.com www.islandfallscanoe.com

www.wooden-canoes.com

B.N. Morris "Salesman" Models - Northwoods Canoe Co.

Specifications Half-Scale - Model A - Type III Length ..... 8 feet, 6 inches Beam ....... 16⅜ inches Depth ...... 6 inches Price ....... $5100 Quarter-Scale Model A -Type III Length ....... 4 feet, 3 inches Beam ......... 8¼ inches Depth ........ 3 inches Price ........ $4800
www.wooden-canoes.com www.wooden-canoes.com

bid.guyetteanddeeter.com

Kennebec Canoe Company, Waterville, Maine, circa 1920s.

Description: Early canoe model in red and gold paint. Cedar frame with oak thwarts and seats. Measures 70" long. Inventorynumber: 87455
bid.guyetteanddeeter.com bid.guyetteanddeeter.com
 
Last edited:
Yes, it's called a Unicorn.
John, I am wondering why you are trying so hard to meet someone else's very specific (unrealistic) wants to sell to someone else for interior decor when you have a full slate of real canoes to work on. What's the incentive?
 
Rob Stevens said:
Yes, it's called a Unicorn.
John, I am wondering why you are trying so hard to meet someone else's very specific (unrealistic) wants to sell to someone else for interior decor when you have a full slate of real canoes to work on. What's the incentive?
Click to expand...
Well originally I was excited to get a chance to build a canoe on my new 11' form. Then when that was shot down, a chance to sell the 11 footer I'm working on to make some room and fund some other shop projects, although I'm relieved that it won't be going to live indoors forever as a decoration. The perfect solution to me would be to build a scale model 12 footer, which would be a fun and interesting project with a relatively quick turnaround before settling into all the restoration work I have lined up. Realistically, all I've put into this is a few minutes of email writing and I think my involvement with their search for something that probably won't be found is over.
 
Dan Lindberg said:
Seems like then the only option is to get a narrow 15+ ft'er and shorten it.
Click to expand...
I was measuring a few of the canoes I have one hand to see how that would turn out. But they didn't respond to my offer to shorten a longer canoe so I guess that won't work? I don't really know what they're looking for at this point or what they think they want, but I think my part in this goose chase is over.
 
Dave Osborn said:
I have a 12’ canoe that would be perfect. Needs restoration. Would likely have nice patina when done on the inside. Not sure how to make new paint look old. February 2025 could work. Keep looking John…
Click to expand...
Is that something you would be willing to sell as is or restore to their specifications? That is a really beautiful little canoe. Very unique lines for a canoe of that length.
 
Dave Osborn said:
I have a 12’ canoe that would be perfect. Needs restoration. Would likely have nice patina when done on the inside. Not sure how to make new paint look old. February 2025 could work. Keep looking John…
Click to expand...
It's a lovely looking canoe. Any idea what it is?
 
Thanks Dave, yes, that canoe should certainly fit the bill, maybe. Obsessive over originality and driven to satisfy a specific vision...yup, so what if most short canoes are tubs, this one must look like a scaled Andrew Wyeth image.
Am I alone in being bugged by the canoe for decoration thing? I know that many of the regulars on this forum have boats on display in their homes, but I give these a pass since these are canoe folks who restore and collect canoes, and as have I, have run out of places to keep them. The "house canoes" are generally exceptional boats that deserve to be drooled on and loved, not just display objects from Bed, Bath and Beyond. The WCHA owners can make your ears bleed with stories about their display boats, the builders, the restoration, the provenance. That makes it "OK" in my book.
Hanging a canoe on the wall or using it as a light fixture simply as a home decor piece seems kind of phony. I often see snowshoes displayed by folks who have never face planted in the snow, but they look cool. This brings to mind my sons MIL displaying a nice Elk rack in her log home that is hung upside down. Looks cool, nice decor piece. It's upside down!!!!! My wife and son have committed me to silence about it..... I have promised not to take them down and flip them over, but...
 
Ok.
My original thought was to restore the canoe, slap a larger than normal price on it and offer it as a decoration to well to do second home owners here in the northwoods. However it seems to fill a need in John Visser’s neighborhood. So be it. Glad to help a fellow canoe restorer in need.
I’ve offered it to John for his very particular customer. Hope we can work out the logistics.
 
MGC said:
so what if most short canoes are tubs,
Click to expand...
I certainly don't mind a tubby short canoe. I guess they just have a different, somewhat vague look they are going for. I was just told the shape was wrong and assumed they meant the canoe looked too short and fat????Hopefully they like this option, if not, I don't think I can help them.
 
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