1972 Old Town Chipewyan 18'

Benson Gray · Friday at 11:53 AM

The fragment of the hull identification number indicates that it was made by Old Town Canoe in the early 1970s. The picture below shows a similar complete tag from that era.

There should also be a six digit serial number stamped into the hull just below the rail near the end. The picture below shows another example.

I can probably get you a copy of the build record if you can provide the serial number.

Benson

Darrell · Friday at 1:48 PM

lowangle al said:
Sorry about your brother Darrell.

If your Grandson doesn't have any canoeing experience you should think about getting him some instructional books or videos at the least. That's a big boat to just go out there and wing it.

I used to carry it myself, grandson is 16, over 275, not fat just huge, not sure if he would want to, but hoping, if there is one person to give to him from me, its this to him, lot of pride between us, will see if not, will sell it, but son loves to fish,, but he has nice kayak for fishing, but she is long and big, but love it

Sedges · Friday at 10:57 PM

It is very likely royalex as it has no added flotation. Old Town called it Oltonar, but it was the same Uniroyal product as royalex.

lowangle al · Friday at 11:49 PM

Darrell said:
I used to carry it myself, grandson is 16, over 275, not fat just huge, not sure if he would want to, but hoping, if there is one person to give to him from me, its this to him, lot of pride between us, will see if not, will sell it, but son loves to fish,, but he has nice kayak for fishing, but she is long and big, but love it

It sounds like he won’t have a problem carrying it, I was thinking more about paddling it. It shouldn’t be a problem until there is wind and/or waves, for safety reasons.

Darrell · Saturday at 7:40 AM

lowangle al said:
It sounds like he won’t have a problem carrying it, I was thinking more about paddling it. It shouldn’t be a problem until there is wind and/or waves, for safety reasons.

yes the wind or waves can put you in a scary situation if not ready for it, and even that, I got two black cushions on it, but think my brother put them on, or clamped them on the cross bar, I think if it goes over, it would stay afloat so at least you could flip it up, any advantage you can have when your in the water it self, this is a picture of it with my Dad in 1974, when he first got it in the early spring when the water was high, since I was the little one I was in the middle, he took me all the time, never left me out of the loop, always treasured those times

Darrell · Saturday at 8:40 PM

Benson Gray said:
The fragment of the hull identification number indicates that it was made by Old Town Canoe in the early 1970s. The picture below shows a similar complete tag from that era.

View attachment 148898

There should also be a six digit serial number stamped into the hull just below the rail near the end. The picture below shows another example.

View attachment 148899

I can probably get you a copy of the build record if you can provide the serial number.

Benson

Darrell · Saturday at 8:43 PM

will double look for the extra serial number, did see a old town name stamped onto it under the rear seat on the inner side of the canoe, its under wrap, but will take it off and relook in that area

Pseudonym · Saturday at 10:50 PM

Sedges said:
Old Town called it Oltonar, but it was the same Uniroyal product as royalex.

I have an older RX Tripper that originally featured an Oltonar label

Darrell · 2025-09-09T09:47:26-0400

Sedges said:
It is very likely royalex as it has no added flotation. Old Town called it Oltonar, but it was the same Uniroyal product as royalex.

I do not believe its a Oltonar, or Rolalex, I believe from the Old Town shop, Rolalex came after this was manufactured, that came about 1974, We had our chipewyan in 1973, cannot seem to see any serial number, only the attached rivited rubber plate, but only half of it is still attached, and a Old Town print molden name tag in this photo, of my 18 ft

Benson Gray · 2025-09-09T10:47:17-0400

The Chipewyan model was introduced in the 1972 Old Town catalog and described as "vacuum-formed from a single sheet of amazing Royalex (R)" on page six. The reference to Uniroyal's trademarked Royalex was omitted in the 1973 and following catalogs. The 1976 catalog introduced the term OLTONAR on page ten since Old Town was custom ordering sheets from Uniroyal which were significantly different from the standard Royalex lamination configurations.

Benson

Darrell · 2025-09-09T11:08:06-0400

Benson Gray said:
The Chipewyan model was introduced in the 1972 Old Town catalog and described as "vacuum-formed from a single sheet of amazing Royalex (R)" on page six. The reference to Uniroyal's trademarked Royalex was omitted in the 1973 and following catalogs. The 1976 catalog introduced the term OLTONAR on page ten since Old Town was custom ordering sheets from Uniroyal which were significantly different from the standard Royalex lamination configurations.

now this gives me a nice answer, of years, my older brother got this I believe in late 1973 to early 1974, he got into a accident from a DRUNK DRIVER, he was in the air force in the 509th, no not know how long this was sitting before he bought it, will go to a few friends of his to see where if they can remember, been so long, but the time you put out there, especially the trade mark was omitted, it the top front on top of the white plate , part of the conoe construction, there is a insert, with not lable , like they were using up what they had for parts what they had in stock, I know they had a fire after my brother passed, but sounds like your interpertation, , but also looking inside of my canoe to see if I can from what the layers looked like, in the constrution, there seems to be more then one layer, of liners , you put your fingers if you can to see how thick the layers in whole, at least about 1 half inch or more at least it seems that, seems like a gap between the layers also, thankyou it gives me the time line I am in, and is there still availble catalogs I could get or order, thankyou very much

Benson Gray · 2025-09-09T11:40:40-0400

A full set of Old Town Canoe catalogs from 1901 to 2023 is available in the member's section of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association site at https://www.woodencanoe.org/member-home-page if you want more details. Various Old Town catalogs are available from other sources. The 1972 is at https://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/Library/3ED1B2AE-CD24-4C32-9AB0-374287098930 and the 1974 is at https://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/Library/C0ACFFDE-A79A-4E23-8183-728343528600 for example. Similar ones also show up on eBay regularly.

Benson

Robin · 2025-09-09T11:58:12-0400

Can you weigh the canoe, that would tell you if it’s Oltanar Royalex or not. An 18’ Oltanar Roylex Chipewyan should weigh about 70 lbs, an 17’ Old Town tripper weighs about 80lbs. To me, if the 18’ royalex canoe is 10lbs lighter than a 17’ Royalex canoe, it’s because the lighter one is made from Oltanar Royalex.
I would guess an 18’ Chipewyan built from the same material as the Tripper would be in the 85lb range
As I mentioned in the original post of this thread, my bare hull weighed 50lbs. I owned a 16’ Old Town camper that was Oltanar Royalex that actually weighed about 62 lbs, it came with wood trim.
Here’s my 18’ Chip with wood trim that I installed. I don’t remember the actual reason the po went to wood, but I’m pretty sure it was originally built with the same material as Darrel’s canoe.
I restored a lot of Royalex canoes, it was easy to tell the difference between a Royale and an Oltanar Royalex.
I also added a picture of an Allagash canoe that was Oltanar Royalex.

Allagash

1972 Old Town Chipewyan 18'

Benson Gray

Darrell

Sedges

lowangle al

Darrell

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Darrell

Darrell

Pseudonym

Darrell

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Darrell

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