Looking for more information. Old town I believe - S/N 168119

[Trav]

Hello all,

New to the forum.

I've recently purchased an old canoe that was going to waste and decided to put some energy back into it.

Any help identifying which model, details about grade of materials, etc would be wonderful. I've included some pictures and done a bit of browsing on the forums thus far.

Also once the model is identified I'm going to need parts so any recommendations on sources for some materials would be appreciated but perhaps that's for another forum.

Thank you.


S/N is 168119 17

 

[Trav]

Attached pictures.

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome, the Old Town canoe with serial number 168119 is a 17 foot long Otca model with a keel. It was built between October and December, 1958. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on July 2nd, 1959 to Lakeville, Conn. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.



This scan 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 your canoe. The information at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/specifications.jpg may help you identify the materials. The list at http://www.wcha.org/builders-and-suppliers-directory should help you find sources for your replacement parts. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[Trav]

Great, thanks a lot for your help Benson.

 

[mccloud]

Looking at the first photo you posted, I see white around where the tacks have penetrated. This may be 'dezincification', or the leaching of zinc out of the brass tacks due to use of the canoe in salt water. The wood itself looks good, but the tacks may be weakened. After you take the old canvas off, and before putting new canvas on, add a couple hundred new brass canoe tacks to restore strength to the hull. Just my opinion. Good luck with your restoration. It will make a nice canoe. Tom McCloud

 

[Trav]

That sounds like a great idea.

I'm sure it was used in salt water or at least pond/brackish due to the fact I purchased it on Martha's Vineyard and I believe it's been on the island awhile.

Thank you Tom.