58681 13

[UALskygirl]

I am in the process of acquiring 58681 - 13 and would appreciate any build sheet or other information that could be obtained on this very well cared for item. Thank you.

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome, the Old Town canoe with serial number 58681 shows a 17 foot long canoe so my guess is that you actually are looking at the one with serial number 158681. This is a 13 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, fifty pound model with a keel. It was built between October, 1952 and February, 1953. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on April 13th, 1953 to Lake George, New York. The scans of both build records can be found by following the links at the attached thumbnail images below.



These scans and several hundred thousand more were 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/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/store/membership to join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the acquisition,

Benson

 

[UALskygirl]

Thank you Benson, that is very helpful and I appreciate your efforts. I have attached a photos of the serial number and canoe, can you tell if it is indeed an Old Town, and possibly if you see a 1 at the start of the numbers? Debbie

 

[Benson Gray]

It certainly looks like a 13 foot long Old Town fifty pound model from the 1950s with a six digit serial number. The serial number should be stamped in both ends so the other one may be more clear. The information at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/791/ might help. A similar Old Town serial number is shown below. Good luck,

Benson

 

[UALskygirl]

Thank you again Benson, I appreciate your input I am not familiar with canoes, other than I love the look of the vintage canoe. Do you happen to know how or where I might find an approximate fair market value for this one?

 

[Benson Gray]

The information at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/57/ has a good summary of how to value a canoe like this. A few similar ones are listed at http://www.wcha.org/classifieds for comparison. The range of reasonable fair market values is very wide.

Benson

 

[MGC]

The information at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/57/ has a good summary of how to value a canoe like this. A few similar ones are listed at http://www.wcha.org/classifieds for comparison. The range of reasonable fair market values is fairly broad.

Benson

The pictures suggest that the canoe is in fairly good condition...unless the shiny object that appears on the inside rail is a splint or repair. A broken rail is not a good thing.
Replacing an inside rail is considered to be a fairly major repair. Properly done that repair would require that the outside rails and the canvas would need to be removed before the broken inside rail is separated from the boat.
It is also possible (depending on the break) to splice the rail.....
Either way, the value of the boat is significantly affected....if the rail is damaged.

 

[UALskygirl]

Excellent information, thank you kindly for your help! Deb

 

[UALskygirl]

I did see that in the photos, was not sure what it was. Taking a look at it tomorrow. Seller says no splint or repair.

 

[UALskygirl]

Thank you Benson and MCG, the shiny object on the rail was a tape measure that the owner used to measure fish, it removed easily with no ill effects. We purchased the canoe and were very happy with condition and price. Thank you for your help!