Penn Yan Cartop

seaward

Curious about Wooden Canoes
I have had this boat for awhile. Finally getting around to restoring it. Google searching turned up this site. I have already found a lot of useful information here. Before I get started, I plan to purchase at least one of the recommended books: The Wood and Canvas Canoe: A Complete Guide, Building the Maine Guide Canoe, This Old Canoe. Then go from there.
 

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Attached are catalog pages from 1955 showing your model KXH. It was offered 1955-1960.
 

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Thanks, Dan. I was just posting the model info when I saw your post come thru. Must be the WX model that the young lady is holding above her head in the catalog shot. I can tell you, I would not be able to lift my boat like that! At least not for very long.
 
Ok. I purchased This Old Canoe. Should get here in a couple days. While I wait for the amazon elves to deliver, here are a few more pictures with more detail. The boat appears to have been modified over it's lifetime. The transom re-enforced with metal, presumably to handle a higher horsepower motor. Also, the flat triangle of wood in the bow (not sure what that is called) looks different than what I see on other Penn Yan Car Top boats. The addition of the roller wheel on the bow also looks custom to me.
 

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Here's a Trail boat we did a few years ago. similar to your Cartopper. Penn Yan is a nice boat but all the screws, nuts and bolts they use drive me crazy. spent half the time getting fasteners out and back in. 100_3047.jpg 100_3056.jpg
 
David, that Trail Boat is a beaut! I hope mine turns out half as good. Excellent inspiration, thank you.

Amazon elves should deliver This Old Canoe today.

Last night I started knocking together a couple of stands out of scrap I had laying around. Based off these from the Canoeguy's Blog.

That is all for now!
 

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Cheers from soggy Seattle! Got her up on the stands last night and started the tear down process. This morning we got our first rain in 50+days so had to throw up a makeshift rain fly.

I was happy to see the original transom bracing when I pulled the metal plate off. Has a number of bolt holes through it but at least I can use it as a pattern.

If anyone has the dimensions for the bow deck I would be grateful for them.

Well, back to it!
 

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That looks nice. When you take that old deck out you may see where the old deck was located, probably much smaller. Don't make yourself crazy over getting everything authentic. that doesn't make it float any better. ( unless that's what you into) that can drag a project on a long time. Just replace what needs replacing. It's ok to piece some things together. Once you paint and varnish it will look great.
 
Ok. Now that I have uncovered some of the horrors (see attached pics), I have a question about the order of things. I want to replace the transom with something approximating the original. At what point in the process should I do this? Below is my guess at where replacing the transom fits in the proper order of things.
  • Step one - remove: outwales, seats, stem band and misc hardware
  • Step two - strip the interior, remove the keel and canvas
  • Step three - replace the transom
  • Step four - replace the inwales
  • Stabalize rib ends/replace ribs
  • and so on..
 

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I'm far from expert on this subject. My cartopper (a Thompson) was in extraordinary condition when I restored it so I simply cleaned up and varnished and painted....
As a drive by comment, I wonder if you should be installing the replacement transom and then installing the inside rails? It seems like you might remove the transom, address the problems with the rails and then replace the transom...
 
The order you have described should work . I usually would remove the exterior covering before stripping the interior. The covering looks like possibly fiberglass. The original covering was grade "A" aircraft cotton. You might install the new deck/ breasthook after replacing inwales and before replacing ribs. It is quite small and, the size may be discernible after removing the larger one.

The transom appears to be the original 1/4" doug fir plywood. The transom interior trim appears to be original, but the exterior trim is not. The exterior trim was an outwale shaped top piece, a badge shaped piece of wood(usually oak) below the transom to support the motor and a small tail from the badge to the keel. That appears to be original.

Be careful with the machine screws that secure the seat braces. The heads are extremely easy to round out. They should be cleaned with an awl or ice pick. Before replacing them, I renew the threads on both the screws and the braces with a tap and die. If I remember correctly, they are 10/32, but check to make sure.

If you have a specific question, email me at woodencanoeshop@yahoo.com
 
Thanks all!

@Gil Cramer appreciate the info about construction materials. I will take you up on your offer to to send questions your way.

I went ahead and peeled away the bits covering the transom. I think the covering is fiberglass. It is woven and tears apart like brittle plastic. The transom wood is 1/4 ply. The top is pretty chewed up. I'll replace with 1/4 doug fir ply. The little tail peice looks original .. and looking at the paint embedded in the screw head, my boat used to be blue!
 

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Removed the outwales and the breasthook. It is getting real now. I found more of the black adhesive/filler stuff in the bow. Looks similar to what was used along the top of the transom. It appears to me this boat was "restored" at least once before and the restorer used this black stuff to basically fill in and shore up where bits were damaged or missing.

Next, remove the keel and start peeling off the cover!
 

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Keel and cover are off. Missed a couple screws from the topside. Oops!

Found one hole, some gouges, a couple breaks, and the planks are pretty chewed up around the top edge. I'll need to source some wood for plank replacement. Or mill my own.

For now, I'll flip it back over and strip the interior.

Chris
 

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If you need a small amount of red cedar to mill for planking repairs, go to a place that sells lumber.
Before I got into restoring full time, I used beveled cedar siding or cedar 4x4's purchased form a big box store.
You may need to sort a little to find some clear ones, but they worked just fine.

Otherwise, you can look in the Builders and Suppliers area on this site for someone to sell you milled stock.
 
Thank you for the advice, Dave. I bought a table saw this summer that I have been looking for an excuse to use. I think I'll try milling some planks first from cedar 4x4's as you suggested. I can always go the supplier route if need be.
 
Sadly, priorities and space requirements force me to move this boat along to a new owner. Ideally I would like it to go to someone who will finish the restoration.

With that I offer the boat free to anyone willing to adopt her. I'll throw in the sheet of Marine ply I purchased to replace the transom.

If your in the PNW (I am located in North Seattle) and want an interesting change of pace from saving canoes :) come by and pick up this boat.

I've taken as much care as I know how in the tear down. All brass fittings tagged and bagged.

Contact me here or call/text 206-755-4155 to arrange pickup.

Chris
 
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