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1910 Kennebec joins the fleet...

Brightraven

Brightraven

Joined
Sep 25, 2021
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Location
Newtown, Connecticut
Today I picked up a 115 year old wood and canvas Kennebec that measures 15' long (I have yet to measure the beam or weight). I saw the ad on FB last night and deliberated only a little bit before deciding to pick it up 5 hours away in New Hampshire for an incredibly low price this morning. The gentleman who owned it had it for 50 years and took fantastic care of it, with a full restoration and recanvassing when he got it, and then regular varnish and paint as time unfolded... It's amazing that the canvas is still strong after 50 years! I still would like to bring it somewhere this winter perhaps and have a professional restoration and painting done, as there are some obvious aspects that are aging. But this boat far exceeded all my expectations. It is so much lighter than I thought it would be, and I have no problem getting it on and off the top of the car and into the water without any yoke system. On the water, it is nimble, quick, graceful, and joyful to paddle. It actually feels like it's floating above the water, and I was worried it would be swept away by the incoming wind gusts but it actually held strong and stayed course, but also turned beautifully when needed without effort. When I saw that it came with a keel my first thought was that it needed to go, but actually I enjoyed having it on there...I originally thought that by removing it, I might get some better rocker and maneuverability, but now I think it might be perfect just as it is! Closed gunwale is a nice look for a change as well... I would love to eventually get this boat strengthened up to do some light solo wilderness canoe camping. It paddles so well as I kneel at the beam, and think some extra weight might solidify it even more...I think my 65 lb shepherd mix Loba will enjoy it as well...
I am enjoying learning about the early days of Kennebec and its history with BN Morris...it's fascinating! It's truly remarkable to have such an incredible paddling experience with a canoe this old...More to come as I learn and experience more about this special boat! Some of the photos below were originally posted by the seller, and some are of my first paddle with it this evening...

Image 2.jpgImage.jpgImage 5.jpgtempImagejtIDK3.pngtempImageXJrtMn.pngtempImageVISYbV.pngIMG_2249 2.JPG
 
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Very nice boat. Here's a couple thoughts I have. Take it on a trip before you have it restored. The inevitable scratches you will get won't hurt as much. The other is about the keel. If you like the way the boat paddles with it, you may want to keep it on when you restore it. I just had my 18' OT Guide redone and left the keel off. It basically paddles and feels the same but it lost strength. I've already broken one rib somehow and I've been babying it. This probably isn't the case with every boat, but why chance it to save a couple pounds.
 
lowangle al said:
Very nice boat. Here's a couple thoughts I have. Take it on a trip before you have it restored. The inevitable scratches you will get won't hurt as much. The other is about the keel. If you like the way the boat paddles with it, you may want to keep it on when you restore it. I just had my 18' OT Guide redone and left the keel off. It basically paddles and feels the same but it lost strength. I've already broken one rib somehow and I've been babying it. This probably isn't the case with every boat, but why chance it to save a couple pounds.
Click to expand...
Great point about adding a few more scratches from a trip (or two) before getting it restored… and interesting point about leaving on the keel (I’ve never had a WC with a keel and thought they were an unnecessary nuisance, until I experienced it last night in what I think was a very positive way). Sorry to hear about your experience when taking yours off your Guide…will you consider adding it back on eventually?
 
Brightraven said:
Great point about adding a few more scratches from a trip (or two) before getting it restored… and interesting point about leaving on the keel (I’ve never had a WC with a keel and thought they were an unnecessary nuisance, until I experienced it last night in what I think was a very positive way). Sorry to hear about your experience when taking yours off your Guide…will you consider adding it back on eventually?
Click to expand...

Why the hurry to restore? If the boat is pretty much watertight and there is no rotting wood anywhere you can enjoy more carefree paddling before you do get it restored.

I always thought the keel was an unnecessary nuisance too, and maybe it is. I would not add the keel back on this boat in the future. The floor of this boat seems very flexible. I thought it's because of the wide flatish bottom. Ironically though, the rib that cracked is forward of the bow seat where the boat is narrow and rounded, so this is not conclusive. Other factors might be the canvas used is thinner than what was on there originally and that rib may have been compromised before the restoration.

While I didn't notice much difference in the way the boat handled with or without the keel, I do think the keel helps protect the bottom. I am now hesitant to drag this boat over beaver dams or sliding it into the water with some weight in it, where I wouldn't think twice doing the same with my EM White. The White is much stiffer because of the half ribs. This boat won't be going on any trips where it might encounter rough treatment but I'm OK with that. My only regret is that I didn't get the bottom shellacked.
 
lowangle al said:
Why the hurry to restore? If the boat is pretty much watertight and there is no rotting wood anywhere you can enjoy more carefree paddling before you do get it restored.

I always thought the keel was an unnecessary nuisance too, and maybe it is. I would not add the keel back on this boat in the future. The floor of this boat seems very flexible. I thought it's because of the wide flatish bottom. Ironically though, the rib that cracked is forward of the bow seat where the boat is narrow and rounded, so this is not conclusive. Other factors might be the canvas used is thinner than what was on there originally and that rib may have been compromised before the restoration.

While I didn't notice much difference in the way the boat handled with or without the keel, I do think the keel helps protect the bottom. I am now hesitant to drag this boat over beaver dams or sliding it into the water with some weight in it, where I wouldn't think twice doing the same with my EM White. The White is much stiffer because of the half ribs. This boat won't be going on any trips where it might encounter rough treatment but I'm OK with that. My only regret is that I didn't get the bottom shellacked.
Click to expand...
Can you shellac over the paint, like in your Island Falls, for added durability? I was pondering that possibility for any future restoration of the Kennebec…
 
That's a good question that I've been wondering myself. Typically the shellack is applied to the filled canvas. The paint on the OT was mixed by eye and I'll probably have a hard time matching it. When I have to repaint it I may paint the bottom brown and when it gets scratched up shellack over that.
 
Great find, Brightraven. Quite a turnaround from the Maryland and Maine canoes we were discussing the other day.

The virtues of keels on a W/C canoe are that they protect the bottom from scratches, gouges and breaks; they add strength to the bottom; and they help going straight in or across winds, by preventing wind or lee cocking.

The vices are added weight and a resistance to turning if the canoe is kept flat on the turn. So, learn to heel when turning. That will pull the keel out of the water and float the canoe on the chine.

This should be a link to the 1910 Kennebec catalogue. There are more than one 15' models.

 
The link below has more about the canoe from 2010 if you haven't found this already.

Benson


forums.wcha.org

KENNEBEC build information request

Kennebec #3139 measures over 15 ft and under 16 ft approximately 15'6". Closed gunwale and splayed stem. Don't know what you would call it for length. I have had it for about 40 years and use it regularly. Build information would be very interesting to me. Please help. Thank you, Robert
forums.wcha.org forums.wcha.org
 
Benson Gray said:
The link below has more about the canoe from 2010 if you haven't found this already.

Benson


forums.wcha.org

KENNEBEC build information request

Kennebec #3139 measures over 15 ft and under 16 ft approximately 15'6". Closed gunwale and splayed stem. Don't know what you would call it for length. I have had it for about 40 years and use it regularly. Build information would be very interesting to me. Please help. Thank you, Robert
forums.wcha.org forums.wcha.org
Click to expand...
Thank you Benson! I followed all the threads and exchanges regarding this canoe on WCHA before picking it up…very helpful!
 
Glenn MacGrady said:
Great find, Brightraven. Quite a turnaround from the Maryland and Maine canoes we were discussing the other day.

The virtues of keels on a W/C canoe are that they protect the bottom from scratches, gouges and breaks; they add strength to the bottom; and they help going straight in or across winds, by preventing wind or lee cocking.

The vices are added weight and a resistance to turning if the canoe is kept flat on the turn. So, learn to heel when turning. That will pull the keel out of the water and float the canoe on the chine.

This should be a link to the 1910 Kennebec catalogue. There are more than one 15' models.

Click to expand...
Thanks Glenn,
Yes, the Morris down in MD planted the seed for another WC (which I still am intrigued by), but I couldn’t pass up this Kennebec for the price that was being asked…
I appreciate what you write about the keel on a WC…for some reason I had the idea that they got in the way and would be vulnerable to getting scratched and easily beat up due to the deeper (though narrower) defined exposure to branches and rocks, etc in that area… But I was pleasantly surprised how this boat was seemingly unaffected by the very shallow, rocky, branch-laden passage I have to navigate through in order to get out to the greater lake area I love to paddle on…
And I will take your advice about practicing heeled turns (which is a good skill to know for any of my boats), but the Kennebec turned so easily anyway…even in strong gusts of wind, I was not fighting where I wanted to go at all…

I look forward to studying the catalogue you sent, but on first cursory glance I am scratching my head, because the hull seems wider than any of these 15’ boats listed…It seems there is a bit of mystery and intrigue with some of the Kennebec models that almost share a hybridization with some Morris influence and some crossover from that company during the early years…

Thanks, and to be continued…
 
A keel can be a bit of a lateral move hindrance when river canoeing in technical waters, as when requiring quick draws, cross-draws, pries and side slips. But those issues don't really arise on lakes.
 
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