Recent content by Benson Gray

The home page includes the erjones@paddlestats.net email address who might be willing to provide a copy. Good luck, Benson

I made the list although it confused me with a Ben Gray who was racing after I had stopped in the late 1990s. It does confirm that I was the Maine state kayak champion for two years in the mid-1970s. Ancient history, Benson

The official Coast Guard site at https://uscgboating.org/content/manufacturers-identification-detail.php?id=11548 shows that Scott's Custom Boats in Arizona is currently using that prefix but Stowe Canoe, Stowe Canoe and Snowshoe, along with South Coast Seacraft have all built boats with that...

The hull identification number (HIN) just below the rail on the starboard stern can probably answer most of your questions. Can you post a picture of that? There are at least four Adirondack boat builders as shown below. Benson

The link below has more about the canoe from 2010 if you haven't found this already. Benson https://forums.wcha.org/threads/kennebec-build-information-request.6450/

Nice paddle, Shaw & Tenney has a long history. They advertised 1858 as their founding date and as being the "Successor to T. J. Shaw & Company of Boston" since at least 1919. The exact source of this founding date isn't clear. An old sign shown on their website lists an 1856 date. They were...

It has been said that one feature of very long decks on a canoe was that they forced your date to be closer to you. Dan Miller's Wooden Canoe Museum site at https://woodencanoemuseum.org/ includes the example shown below. Good luck, Benson

A well equipped courting canoe in the 1920s would include a parasol, a flag, a Victrola, many pillows, a Carbide light, a back rest, a few trophies on the bow, a name on the end, and a colorful paint job as shown below. Benson

The basic oval Peterborough decal is available at the link below but it is not a 'water slide' style like the original. The 75th year part could probably be reproduced from the images below by a local graphic designer or sign shop. Let us know what you end up doing. Good luck, Benson...

The various historical canvas filler formulas listed at the link below may interest you. Nice canoe and good luck with the project, Benson https://forums.wcha.org/threads/canvas-fillers.10044/

The U.S. Coast Guard mandated that all canoes in the U.S.A. have hull identification numbers in 1972, and Canada implemented a similar system in 1981. This canoe may be older than that. Please let us know if you figure it out. Good luck, Benson

This was also true in the Belle Isle area near Detroit as shown below. Benson

There was no shortage of postcards on that topic as well. The link at the end has more details. Benson https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/love-boats-the-delightfully-sinful-history-of-canoes/

This was the standard attire for casual paddling on the Charles during that era. Paddling solo heeled to the gunwale was popular long before Omer Stringer started doing it. Benson

There is a colorized version available as well at the link below. Benson