So I took a road trip to Woodstock, New Brunswick this week and picked up this old wood canvas canoe. Seller says it was built in the Chestnut factory in 1923 by the previous owner, story goes that he (the first owner) had a friend who was a canoe builder for Chestnut and they built it on a never before used form after hours. This could be true as Chestnut Canoe Company was introducing a new line of canoes after its devastating factory fire. The guy I bought it from has a written history of the canoe buried in some papers somewhere and promised to send it to me when he finds it. I hope he does.
The canoe has many “old” Chestnut features, scupper seat frame, tapered ribs, seats attached directly to the inwales, no spacers. The thwarts are of better quailty and finish than newer Chestnuts, and the decks are heart shaped, but not under cut like they should be, even slotted screws in the gunnels vs. Robertson drive screws. All this could be wishful thinking, but it will be good campfire banter this summer.
I needed another tandem for a planned Maine canoe trip with my daughter/SIL and their two boys this summer, this canoe is still seaworthy but in need of a restoration this winter. It should be a perfect for what I need now.
It has some poor repairs on the ends, and even some fiberglass patches on the old canvas.
16’ x 32 1/2” plank to plank under center thwart & 12 1/2” deep.






The canoe has many “old” Chestnut features, scupper seat frame, tapered ribs, seats attached directly to the inwales, no spacers. The thwarts are of better quailty and finish than newer Chestnuts, and the decks are heart shaped, but not under cut like they should be, even slotted screws in the gunnels vs. Robertson drive screws. All this could be wishful thinking, but it will be good campfire banter this summer.
I needed another tandem for a planned Maine canoe trip with my daughter/SIL and their two boys this summer, this canoe is still seaworthy but in need of a restoration this winter. It should be a perfect for what I need now.
It has some poor repairs on the ends, and even some fiberglass patches on the old canvas.
16’ x 32 1/2” plank to plank under center thwart & 12 1/2” deep.





