Tom Little
Got canvas
How could I find any information about a Seliga square stern sn 48 112 16?
It came from Ely.
It came from Ely.
Seliga square stern
- Thread starter Tom Little
- Start date
Dan Lindberg's spreadsheet indicates that this was the Joe's fifth canoe made in 1948 and 24th one overall. It is a 16 foot long square stern in green that went to a private party in Minnesota. Dan checks in here regularly and may be able to offer more details.
Benson
Benson
OP
OP
Tom Little
Got canvas
Thanks, Benson.
Dan Lindberg
Ex Wood Hoarder
Tom,
I'm glad you posted this.
Yes, I do know something about this canoe/boat.
But 1st, did you get the decals yet? Steve asked and I supplied a couple very old water slide decals for this boat, (don't know if Steve got them to you or not yet) Be very careful with them. Do not try to straighten them until they have soaked in water for a while or they will break. You should get 3, 1 already broken for practice and 2 complete. Let us know how you make out with them.
The boat,
48 112 - is a 16 ft squareback boat, it was originally bought by Frank Pucel and the Pucel family owned it until roughly June 2009 when they sold it to an unknown buyer. Steve P bought it from a friend at unknown date, this friend reportedly removed the glass. And now you are restoring it for a new life to as yet unknown buyer.
This boat was originally canvas but was glassed by Joe during a previous rebuild. it was built with half ribs and possibly extra keels to strengthen the bottom - the reason, the Pucels used it for trapping. It would have a heart deck, other then this, there are no records of wood species used, though back then ribs/planking would be NWC and ash for the trim, and maybe birch for the deck.
From D Pucel - "It was purchased about 1950 by my dad Joe Pucel, and uncles Frank and Bill Pucel mainly for trapping and canoe trips.
It was used to trap beaver, mink, etc. My dad and Frank probably had the largest trap line of anyone in Ely in those days. They used it with two canoe yokes to carry it over portages. The bottom was reinforced between the ribs by Joe Seliga due to large traps being loaded.
It originally was covered by canvas but later they had Joe Seliga cover it with fiber glass. We could not find the S/N number on the canoe. It may have been covered when Joe Seliga re-worked it. It was never in any lot.
It was purchased for about $200. It was recently sold."
A note on the time when this boat was built - there are no records that show the month Joe started canoes/boats back in the early days, only the year and the sequential canoe number - and Joe also built a number of 16 ft double enders in 48, so the specific order of boats and canoes is somewhat arbitrary on my part. They are currently listed by group but it's possible Joe mixed the actual start depending on desired delivery dates. The jist of all this is that the actual mouth a given boat/canoe was started in '48 is unknown.
If I could ask, I'd love to get pics of before and after for my records.
Dan
I'm glad you posted this.
Yes, I do know something about this canoe/boat.
But 1st, did you get the decals yet? Steve asked and I supplied a couple very old water slide decals for this boat, (don't know if Steve got them to you or not yet) Be very careful with them. Do not try to straighten them until they have soaked in water for a while or they will break. You should get 3, 1 already broken for practice and 2 complete. Let us know how you make out with them.
The boat,
48 112 - is a 16 ft squareback boat, it was originally bought by Frank Pucel and the Pucel family owned it until roughly June 2009 when they sold it to an unknown buyer. Steve P bought it from a friend at unknown date, this friend reportedly removed the glass. And now you are restoring it for a new life to as yet unknown buyer.
This boat was originally canvas but was glassed by Joe during a previous rebuild. it was built with half ribs and possibly extra keels to strengthen the bottom - the reason, the Pucels used it for trapping. It would have a heart deck, other then this, there are no records of wood species used, though back then ribs/planking would be NWC and ash for the trim, and maybe birch for the deck.
From D Pucel - "It was purchased about 1950 by my dad Joe Pucel, and uncles Frank and Bill Pucel mainly for trapping and canoe trips.
It was used to trap beaver, mink, etc. My dad and Frank probably had the largest trap line of anyone in Ely in those days. They used it with two canoe yokes to carry it over portages. The bottom was reinforced between the ribs by Joe Seliga due to large traps being loaded.
It originally was covered by canvas but later they had Joe Seliga cover it with fiber glass. We could not find the S/N number on the canoe. It may have been covered when Joe Seliga re-worked it. It was never in any lot.
It was purchased for about $200. It was recently sold."
A note on the time when this boat was built - there are no records that show the month Joe started canoes/boats back in the early days, only the year and the sequential canoe number - and Joe also built a number of 16 ft double enders in 48, so the specific order of boats and canoes is somewhat arbitrary on my part. They are currently listed by group but it's possible Joe mixed the actual start depending on desired delivery dates. The jist of all this is that the actual mouth a given boat/canoe was started in '48 is unknown.
If I could ask, I'd love to get pics of before and after for my records.
Dan
OP
OP
Tom Little
Got canvas
Dan,
Here’s a list of repairs I’ve done so far,
1 replaced top 1/3 of transom
2 replaced brackets with ash
3 scarfed previous gunnel repair
4 replaced 5 ribs
5 removed pieced in planks with longer ones.
6 made new ash frame seats and put sheet cane webbing in.
I plan on keeping the original keel
I kept the 1967 Quetico decal intact.
I was offered to buy it, but I have plenty of canoes to restore and try to find new homes for. Keeping as much of the original as possible is a priority. This restoration is a special one, after reading The Art of The Canoe, I have a great deal of admiration of Seliga. It’s really a privilege to be able to work on it.
Here’s a list of repairs I’ve done so far,
1 replaced top 1/3 of transom
2 replaced brackets with ash
3 scarfed previous gunnel repair
4 replaced 5 ribs
5 removed pieced in planks with longer ones.
6 made new ash frame seats and put sheet cane webbing in.
I plan on keeping the original keel
I kept the 1967 Quetico decal intact.
I was offered to buy it, but I have plenty of canoes to restore and try to find new homes for. Keeping as much of the original as possible is a priority. This restoration is a special one, after reading The Art of The Canoe, I have a great deal of admiration of Seliga. It’s really a privilege to be able to work on it.
Attachments
OP
OP
Tom Little
Got canvas
Dan,
Decals are somewhere in snail mail.
Thanks for sending more than one.
I’ve had success with old water slide decals. Beth Rehbein has supplied some originals of her dad’s decals, they’re close to 70 years old. I’ve found that some varnishes melt the decals.
Decals are somewhere in snail mail.
Thanks for sending more than one.
I’ve had success with old water slide decals. Beth Rehbein has supplied some originals of her dad’s decals, they’re close to 70 years old. I’ve found that some varnishes melt the decals.
Dan Lindberg
Ex Wood Hoarder
Looking good Tom,
Coming along.
The Quetico decal - that would be a park sticker, not one Joe would have put on.
This canoe/boat would have come with a water slide decal with a White St address.
These are what I provided to Steve for this canoe/boat.
Note the cautions above.
Dan
ps - I hope not, that will likely break them, they are VERY brittle, that's why I wouldn't mail them to Steve.
"Decals are somewhere in snail mail."
Coming along.
The Quetico decal - that would be a park sticker, not one Joe would have put on.
This canoe/boat would have come with a water slide decal with a White St address.
These are what I provided to Steve for this canoe/boat.
Note the cautions above.
Dan
ps - I hope not, that will likely break them, they are VERY brittle, that's why I wouldn't mail them to Steve.
"Decals are somewhere in snail mail."
Dan Lindberg
Ex Wood Hoarder
Did you talk to Beth about your Rehbein questions?
OP
OP
Tom Little
Got canvas
Yes, she wasn’t aware of any difference in thickness. When I compare thickness with other canvas canoes, there is a notable difference.
Dan Lindberg
Ex Wood Hoarder
What do you mean "notable difference" with other canoes?
I know some brands use thinner stock when making light weight models,
and our '58 Seliga with the 6" planking, was a bit thicker then say OT planking, and maybe later Seligas.
For a while when Joe was using the 6" stuff, he got it from a MPLS supplier that milled it to thickness for him, which might explain why ours was thicker, not sure about other year Seligas.
I know some brands use thinner stock when making light weight models,
and our '58 Seliga with the 6" planking, was a bit thicker then say OT planking, and maybe later Seligas.
For a while when Joe was using the 6" stuff, he got it from a MPLS supplier that milled it to thickness for him, which might explain why ours was thicker, not sure about other year Seligas.
OP
OP
Tom Little
Got canvas
Dan, thank you for the decals. They arrived safe and sound, Steve’s daughter hand delivered them. They are in a delicate condition. How old do you figure they are?
If you come across anybody wanting to have their canoe cleaned up or restored, keep me in mind.
I’m not doing canoe work for a living, but have a desire to see these vessels preserved to the best of my abilities.
If you come across anybody wanting to have their canoe cleaned up or restored, keep me in mind.
I’m not doing canoe work for a living, but have a desire to see these vessels preserved to the best of my abilities.
Dan Lindberg
Ex Wood Hoarder
Excellent - and yes they are - Joe only used those decals in '46, '47 and part of '48, mid '48 he started using the 2ed decal, "Sel-Craft".
Looking forward to seeing it finished.
Looking forward to seeing it finished.
OP
OP
Tom Little
Got canvas
Dan,
Skin is on and filled.
Skin is on and filled.
