What Color Should I Do, Chestnut

[jlarrabee]

Hey Guys, I have a Chestnut 15ft Bob's Special? It is a barnfind, in beautiful condition. I am going to re-canvas it because it is the original canvas, but I'm not sure if I want it red again. Any color I should consider, or avoid?

 

[davelanthier]

Chestnut factory colors were red or dark green. They also had Chestnut gray [ a light green ] which was used on other models. Paint it the color you want as it can always be easily changed at a later date. Nice find!

 

[Fitz]

I don't think it is a Bob's. More likely a Chum. Paint it your favorite color.

 

[davelanthier]

Have too agree with you Fitz. If it was a Bob's it should have the wide 1/4" x 2 3/8 " ribs and a 37" beam. The Chum/Doe have the narrow 3/8" x 1 1/2 ribs with a 34" beam as this one appears to be.

 

[jlarrabee]

You guys are right then, I went and measured that the beam is just short of 34" and the ribs are 1 1/2" wide, did the chum also come with a keel and the shallowness of the Bob's? Also is there a popularity difference for a chum rather a Bob's?

 

[Fitz]

Chums typically had a wider shoe keel, which yours seems to have. Bob's were meant to be lightweight, so had thinner ribs and a thinner keel. The folks I know with Chums really like them for solo tripping and sailing. Bob's being a wider canoe might be preferred for fishing but also performs well and is lighter.

 

[JClearwater]

Just judging from the photos, but it doesn't look like it needs new canvas yet. Give it a coat of paint and get it on the water. It will go a couple years that way and then re-canvas it. It's patch and paddle season!!

Nice find, have fun.

Jim

 

[SWEETWATER]

check the kirby's website, they have lots of colors and ship to your door. i just used a color called seaweed and really like it

 

[SWEETWATER]

here is another photo, thanks fitz

 

[Whidbeycanoe]

Sweetwater, of the two canoes in your picture, what kind is the smaller one? I have one similar to yours but never was able to identify it. My Northwest WCHA Chapter believes it is a Chestnut. My canoe was on the cover of the Wooden Canoe August 2012 issue. I removed the seats and replaced them with wicker seats. I also added the brass you see on the front. The members believe it might be a Bob's Special Chestnut.It is a great canoe.

 

[SWEETWATER]

my smaller canoe is a old town 50# at 11' it is all original except canvas from 1933, i love it

 

[Greg Nolan]

And at 11 foot long, it is probably the only 50 pounder that actually tips the scales at about 50 pounds.
Greg

 

[SWEETWATER]

actually greg i think it is lighter than that it is super lightweight, probably from the wood drying out over the 80 years or so

 

[Benson Gray]

I had a 15 foot long one from 1914 as shown at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=3968 but the restored weight was actually 63 pounds according to my bathroom scale. The 1933 catalog page attached below listed the weights as 45, 50 and 55 pounds for the 11, 13, and 15 foot versions respectively. Your mileage may vary...

Benson

 

[Giiwedin]

Chestnut color - again

Check out this thread several years ago. My chestnuts were always grey. I posted three pictures of them at various locations up North.

http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?5303-Chestnut-Prospector-paint-colors&highlight=chestnut+color

 

[yankee2]

Jackson,
I liked the blue. It made a nice contrast with the warm wood tones. I never would have thought I'd have liked it, but there it is. It's a beautiful boat. I LOVE it. (I came to look at it today...) perhaps she will be mine some day?
Best,
Rick
PS: You noted that the wood was extra dry. If you do replace the canvas you would probably want to soak the planking with BOILED linseed oil (from both sides would be best, but if the interior is good, and it IS...), which will restore some flexibility and water resistance. You want to make sure it's of the "boiled" variety, which cures hard over a couple of weeks (other kinds don't cure). Also, if you can save that cracked deck, you should. It would match the other deck and gunwales much better than the new one. Mask off the crack closely with painter's tape, tack tapered clamping cauls to the sides (to avoid marring the edges of the deck), fill the crack with epoxy, and clamp the crack closed (wipe off excess epoxy). Unless it has warped as well as cracked, it could be as good as new (60 years on). And oh, where the gunnels are loose, because the screw holes are stripped, you can tape off and fill the holes with epoxy (or a wood plug and epoxy) and then re-drill for the screws. Those original gunwales (and deck) can be saved!

 

[yankee2]

check the kirby's website, they have lots of colors and ship to your door. i just used a color called seaweed and really like itView attachment 26232

I just have to say, a beautiful pair of canoes, and likely the beautiful colors play a big part. I've always liked the smaller OT 50-pounders (they are among the few OTs I'm really wild about), and hope to have one some day! Yours might be the prettiest one I've seen (again, your colors are perfect).