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If I were not to put sponsons back on....

Discussion in 'Open Forum' started by Norm Hein, Jun 4, 2019.

  1. Norm Hein

    Norm Hein Canoe Codger

    I know this can be a topic with different opinions but...
    If I were to restore this 1916ish E.M. White with out the sponsons what would the gunwales and decks looked like? Does anyone know if there was a name for this model?
    It is 16' long and 34"+- to the inner gunwale.


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    Norm Hein, Jun 4, 2019
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  2. Benson Gray

    Benson Gray Canoe History Enthusiast Staff Member

    I would encourage you to get the collection from http://www.wcha.org/store/historic-wood-canoe-and-boat-company-catalog-collection which includes several White catalogs from the era of your canoe. Most of these catalogs and their canoes are not dated so matching them up can be difficult. I believe that your canoe has a square stern seat which may indicate a build date that is later than 1916. White didn't offer many models during this period, other than their Feather Weight. Your canoe is not and will never be one of those. However, they did offer closed, open, or double gunwales on canoes without sponsons. These are shown with different shaped decks in their 1919 catalog. It is not clear they were recycling some old catalog pictures or if they were actually shipping canoes with a variety of deck shapes at that time. The catalog pages from their 1919 catalog below may give you a few ideas. See http://forums.wcha.org/index.php?threads/10879/ and http://forums.wcha.org/index.php?threads/6114/ for some similar White canoes. Let us know what you decide to do.

    Benson



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    Benson Gray, Jun 4, 2019
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  3. OP
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    Norm Hein

    Norm Hein Canoe Codger

    Thanks Benson.
    Mine does have the bent stern seat. It is so small though I will have to change that. Rest assured I am saving, marking and cataloging everything that comes off of it.
     
    Norm Hein, Jun 4, 2019
    #3
  4. MGC

    MGC Paddlephile

    Norm,
    As much as I loathe sponsons, this is a boat that should be restored with them. There are not too many decent White sponson canoes around....If the idea is to get this boat to massaged into a sponson-less White I'd suggest that you start with one.
    My rule of thumb for sponsons is unless the boat is one that has unique interest or value with them, pull them off and either put them in the loft in the barn or burn them.... but not on this one.
    Of course it's yours to do with as you please, but there are folks that would love to have this as is.
    Mike
     
    MGC, Jun 4, 2019
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  5. OP
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    Norm Hein

    Norm Hein Canoe Codger

    Mike,
    The lines of the canoe without the sponsons are just so nice. That got me thinking if I build it back with out them it would be so much lighter I would probably use it a lot more. 95% of my paddling I do by myself ( I guess I need to think about that a little) so loading and off loading would be much better. I don’t have a lot of space to store a lot of canoes s I need to make everyone count. Having said all of that, you maybe right.
     
    Norm Hein, Jun 4, 2019
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    Norm Hein

    Norm Hein Canoe Codger

    I am in Tennessee and not a lot of them come up for sale at a reasonable price here. So I may have jumped the gun on this one.
     
    Norm Hein, Jun 4, 2019
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  7. Benson Gray

    Benson Gray Canoe History Enthusiast Staff Member

    The usual solution to the weight issue is a good trailer.

    Benson
     
    Benson Gray, Jun 4, 2019
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    Erik Rolle likes this.

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