After 88 years, this burn-pile old canoe is getting a makeover!

[Patrick Corry]

Reading Glenn's post re: site member activity, his comments reminded me that users need to post new threads to keep the site alive. In that vein, here's a current project.

This poor old canoe, a 1938 Old Town 50 pounder- that's the model name; the weight is greater but that's how OT marketed them- was originally shipped to Hunter College in the state of New York in early1939.



I obtained it along with a 1927 Old Town 50#er, originally shipped to Saranac Lake, NY. Following repairs (read: complete rebuild!), the 1938 canoe is now ready for canvas. Here are a couple of pictures along the way...

Repair in progress over Fall and Winter,

Repair complete, interior varnish begun. 4 coats of gloss Man O War to build coverage, with at least 1 coat of semi-gloss to knock down the sheen once the outwales are on.

New Ash seats & thwart were made and installed. Ready for canvas:

Canvas rolled out, and pre-stretched with a come-along overnight prior to stretching over the hull:

Ready to go tomorrow....

 

[CaptainOllieWest]

Reading Glenn's post re: site member activity, his comments reminded me that users need to post new threads to keep the site alive. In that vein, here's a current project.

This poor old canoe, a 1938 Old Town 50 pounder- that's the model name; the weight is greater but that's how OT marketed them- was originally shipped to Hunter College in the state of New York in early1939.

View attachment 154173

I obtained it along with a 1927 Old Town 50#er, originally shipped to Saranac Lake, NY. Following repairs (read: complete rebuild!), the 1938 canoe is now ready for canvas. Here are a couple of pictures along the way...

Repair in progress over Fall and Winter,
View attachment 154276
Repair complete, interior varnish begun. 4 coats of gloss Man O War to build coverage, with at least 1 coat of semi-gloss to knock down the sheen once the outwales are on.
View attachment 154277
New Ash seats & thwart were made and installed. Ready for canvas:
View attachment 154278
Canvas rolled out, and pre-stretched with a come-along overnight prior to stretching over the hull:
View attachment 154279View attachment 154280View attachment 154281
Ready to go tomorrow....View attachment 154282

Nice work!

 

[Boatman53]

Nice job Pat.
I’ve got one for the burn pile I tried to save but it has too much active galvanic corrosion going on that I just couldn’t stop. It’s free if anyone wants it.
Jim

 

[Gamma1214]

That looks awesome and it's really great that you can bring it back from the burn pile.

 

[Patrick Corry]

Nice job Pat.
I’ve got one for the burn pile I tried to save but it has too much active galvanic corrosion going on that I just couldn’t stop. It’s free if anyone wants it.
Jim

Thanks Jim! Is yours an Old Town with diamond head bolts? I used 10 of them from my horde on this canoe, and I have 3 more Old Town canoes to restore. Please save them if you do have any! Seat frames too, regardless of cane condition.

 

[Robin]

Looks like it’s going to be a great restoration, new inwales really make an old canoe look sharp. Good luck with the canvassing process, you have a nice set up there.

 

[Boatman53]

Sadly Pat when I took the bow set out (it’s a sailing canoe with the whole rig and the bow seat is the mast partner) I think I broke three of the bolts. New diamond bolts can be had from Rollin Thurlow at North Woods Canoe Shop.
Jim

 

[Patrick Corry]

you have a nice set up there.

Thank you Robin. I bought this property, farmhouse and barn, 47 years ago. My first house! As a builder/contractor it always served as storage for materials and tools, and only in the last 5 years or so has it become a shop. Previously I did nearly all my work on client's sites. Fortunately my interest in these old canoes has given me a new purpose and a reason to enjoy time in the old barn.

 

[Patrick Corry]

New diamond bolts can be had from Rollin Thurlow at North Woods Canoe Shop.

Yep, I have bought some from him, although my preference is for old bolts with patina for restoration. I'll have to look into a chemical process to mimic the old patina when I use the new ones!

 

[Robin]

Fortunately my interest in these old canoes has given me a new purpose and a reason to enjoy time in the old barn

My barn in Connecticut was new, I built it shortly after retirement in 2010 but found spending time in there with old canoes to be about as good as life could get.
Here in Maine I’m lucky to have a heated one car garage added to the side of a full garage, I spend a lot of time in there during the winter.