Doing my part to stimulate the economy, I picked up this w/c canoe last week. It had been hanging in the rafters so I didn't get a real good look before hauling it home. 15' long, 12" deep Has ribs 1.5" wide spaced 1.5" apart. Thwarts held by steel bolts with square nuts. Was built with brass canoe tacks, but also has a lot of copper tacks where repairs were made. It was built with a shoe keel, as is shown by staggered holes in ribs. The inwales, outwales and thwarts are all oak and all appear to be too bright to be originals. The edges of two thwarts toward the bow are tapered, causing me to think the canoe was rebuilt at some time to be a "boy scout" canoe. I doubt the decks are original. Looking at the planking, I see similarities to a Chestnut I worked on. The measurements seem to match most closely with a Chum.
And now for the bad news. There are cracks in 14 ribs, and poorly done rib tip splices made with oak strips have been made to 10 ribs. On the bow stem is stamped two sets of numbers: 652?? 1815 So a whole lot of bad repair should be un-done. Now I can see how much work is ahead, if I decide to bring it back.
I know that Chestnut records have not survived, but what is this canoe? Am I on the right track with Chestnut Chum? Are there any clues to suggest an age?
And now for the bad news. There are cracks in 14 ribs, and poorly done rib tip splices made with oak strips have been made to 10 ribs. On the bow stem is stamped two sets of numbers: 652?? 1815 So a whole lot of bad repair should be un-done. Now I can see how much work is ahead, if I decide to bring it back.
I know that Chestnut records have not survived, but what is this canoe? Am I on the right track with Chestnut Chum? Are there any clues to suggest an age?
