Blue Hole Canoe MSB Royalex Canoe

[Mike K]

OK....I have concluded that have a canoe problem, similar by problem with Cross Country skis, and maybe fishing gear, and maybe camping gear.

I purchased a 1981 Blue Hole Canoe which I think is an MSB model. It measures 17 ft 6 inches with a 36-inch beam and weighs around 90 lbs. The outer gunwales are rotted, but the inners are fine. The thwart, handles, and yoke just need sanding and staining/oiled/varnish. The Royalex is sun faded, but it looks like a little elbow grease and rubbing compound should take care of that (see pic below). Some of the foam core is showing on the bow stem, nothing that GFlex and a Kevlar skid plate can't fix. Overall, this is one solid canoe.

It will be interesting to see how this canoe paddles.

 

[MrPoling]

Nice find, it looks like it is good shape.

I had an OCA. I don't know if it was factory, but it had oak trim. It might have had oak gunwales. It was a fun and seaworthy, but heavy.

 

[Robin]

If you can find some decent spruce to scarf for the gunnels you might shave off some weight. Nice find.

 

[Mike K]

I am sure I can find some spruce at my local specialty lumber supply store. I was thinking ash or maybe cherry, and spruce will be considered. Depends which wood is more workable for the upward bend at the bow. I also have 16 ft Old Town Canadienne that I picked up for $60 that will need the new gunwales as well. I would like to use the same wood if possible. The MSB will be first since this canoe is in such good shape, the Canadienne is ROUGH!

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I think is an MSB model.

Not MSB. MGB.

In the early 1980s, Blue Hole hired then-famous Tampa canoe designer Mike Galt to design a tandem hull for them. They sold the aluminum trim version as the MGA and the wood trim version as the MGB. The wood trim was frequently ash inwales and mahogany outwales (or vice versa, I forget).

Except: Your hull does not look like a Blue Hole MGB as I recall it. The MGB was a flared hull with forward prow stems. Your stems look more vertical than forward. Does the hull have a serial number?

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Except: Your hull does not look like a Blue Hole MGB as I recall it. The MGB was a flared hull with forward prow stems. Your stems look more vertical than forward. Does the hull have a serial number?

Here is a Blue Hole MGA. You can see the forward prow stem.

 

[Mike K]

Yes, TBH09302M81. I think the MGA and MGB are different models from the one that I have. I came across the MSB model designation in my research yesterday, now I cannot find it. I will post the reference if I come across it again.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Yes, TBH09302M81. I think the MGA and MGB are different models from the one that I have. I came across the MSB model designation in my research yesterday, now I cannot find it. I will post the reference if I come across it again.

That HIN won't decode because it's 11 not 12 characters long. (Did you leave out a character?) However, the "TBH" MIC is Blue Hole and the 81 at the end would mean a 1981 model. The only question is what 17+ foot model it is.

I have the 1986 Canoe Magazine buyers guide issue. It lists only two Blue Hole canoes that year over 17 feet with wood trim. The MGB (aka Galt Cruiser) model is 17-6 long, 36 gunwale/32 waterline wide, 23-13-20 deep, with asymmetrical rocker and a shallow V bottom. The Wood Duck 17A model is 17-3 long, 36/34 wide, 23-13-23 deep, with symmetrical rocker and a flat bottom. Both are listed at 78 lbs. I also think I recall at least some MGBs having a sliding bow seat.

Maybe Blue Hole had another 17+ foot model in 1981, but I don't recall an MSB. For tandem canoes, I recall the 15-9 OCA and OCB, which differed only in aluminum vs. wood trim; the 17-6 MGA and MGB, same thing; and the 17-3 Whitewater 17A and Wood Duck 17B, which differed not only in trim but also in depth, the 17A being 25-15-25.

A book on the "whole history" of Blue Hole Canoe was written by the original owner, Bob Lantz, and is available on Amazon:

LEAN DOWNSTREAM !!: THE WHOLE HISTORY From Beginning To End of The Blue Hole Canoe Company ​

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Maybe Blue Hole had another 17+ foot model in 1981

Aha, attached is a PDF file of the entire 1982 Blue Hole catalog. It lists only five models, three being over 17': the MGA, MGB and 17A. No 17B Wood Duck, with shallower depth than the 17A, listed in 1982.

The catalog also clarifies that the MGA had the sliding bow seat, but not the MGB. Also, that the MGB had mahogany outwales, slotted mahogany inwales, and ash thwarts and seat frames.

 

[Mike K]

I did not include the A at the end of the serial number. TBH09302M81A. The canoe is exactly 17 ft 6 inches, weights 90 lbs, beam is 36 inches. Bow height is 20 inches and stern is 19 inches. Maybe 3 inches of rocker in the bow and 2 inches in the stern.

The canoe does appear to be an MGB, but the measurements are slightly off. The catalog states that the MGB weighed 78 lbs, the 12 lbs delta and the bow and stern heights are lower than what is in the catalog, All of this makes me question whether this is an MGB. I believe the outer gunwales were replaced but the screw holes line up with the original holes in the canoe. The inner gunwales and deck plates appear to be original, but the inners are not slotted. Brass screws were used on the gunwales and deck plates.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I did not include the A at the end of the serial number. TBH09302M81A. The canoe is exactly 17 ft 6 inches, weights 90 lbs, beam is 36 inches. Bow height is 20 inches and stern is 19 inches. Maybe 3 inches of rocker in the bow and 2 inches in the stern.

The canoe does appear to be an MGB, but the measurements are slightly off. The catalog states that the MGB weighed 78 lbs, the 12 lbs delta and the bow and stern heights are lower than what is in the catalog, All of this makes me question whether this is an MGB. I believe the outer gunwales were replaced but the screw holes line up with the original holes in the canoe. The inner gunwales and deck plates appear to be original, but the inners are not slotted. Brass screws were used on the gunwales and deck plates.

It's a bit of an interesting mystery, but I'm not sure what it could be other than an MGB, given the small number of Blue Hole tandem canoes. Also the measurements do indicate an asymmetry in the depth and rocker, whereas the Blue Hole tandems other than the MGs were symmetrical in those specs. And do I see a hit of a shallow V along the keel line?

Maybe all the gunwales were replaced and the seats probably were. The catalog says something about the decks being two pieces with a hand grip hidden underneath. Your decks seem to be sort of like that. Finally, it's not impossible that Blue Hole understated the weight of its canoes. A 17-6 Royalex canoe would be quite heavy, and Royalex sheets were not always of uniform thickness.

 

[Mike K]

Everything appears to original except for the seats. The decks I believe are two pieces and there are two broken screws under the bow deck plate where a hidden handle was located at one time. The outer gunwales appear to be original as well and I believe the inners and deck plates are mahogany, tough to tell with the old varnish that somebody sloppily applied.

I probably should just stick with replacing the outer gunwales with mahogany, but I can only find it in 8 ft lengths, which will require three scarf joints per side. I can get sassafras in 10 ft lengths.