Peterborough Minetta

[Crawforde]

I recently acquired a Peterborough Minetta.
Some scraps of cloth and contact cement.
A bit of paint and some screws and she is floating.
I’m preparing to order some canvas and some wood to replace a few ribs and a little planking, but for the most part it’s in really nice shape so should not take to long to get ready for the new canvas. It’s a pretty hull and is a dream to paddle.
There were cracks drips and runs throughout both layers of paint. The green and the red.
The canvas was completely rotten under the gunnel, some gorilla tape along with the glued on patches seems to be holding for now.
I am older than I used to be, and will likely treat this more like my Blackhawk than my Dagger, so am considering using a #12 canvas and possibly a water based filler to save some weight. Odds are I’ll use traditional filler since that is all I have experience with, but I am curious about newer/ faster/ lighter methods.

 

[Crawforde]

The Bow seat is split so that came out.
The center thwart didn’t seem to be original so that is out, and I carved a carrying yoke to replace it. A new thwart was hung at both seat locations to help it maintain its shape and stiffness.
I paddle kneeling for the most part and can sit on a bag to give my knees and ankles a break when necessary so no seats will be put back in, although a kneeling thwart is a possibility.
I may make a folding wood seat to put in the front for times when my wife or daughter might join me. It should be stable enough with a passenger on the floor for a short lake / calm river tour.
If not, maybe I’ll need another canoe.

 

[Gamma1214]

Nice find. An interesting hull for sure and it looks like it's in nice shape.

 

[Robin]

I have #12 canvas on a 14’ Chestnut Fox, I’m careful and it’s holding up well. I make/use traditional filler from the recipe in the excellent book “This Old Canoe” by Mike Elliot. (lots of Chestnut/Peterborough information in it)
I have read mixed reviews on alternate fillers but I spent time in a shop where Gluvit was used regularly, it cures fast, they painted over it within a week, but I didn’t see any weight savings and very expensive.
For years I paddled/tripped out of a Chestnut Chum which is the same as a Minetta, it was a great solo canoe. While I had a bow seat, I don’t think I ever had anyone in it except my small grandson.
Good luck with the restoration, you have a fine canoe.

 

[Crawforde]

Thank you!
Yours looks beautiful.
I thought this was a Chestnut Chum when I bought it. After cleaning it up a bit I saw the shadow of the Peterborough 75th anniversary decal, and the 1815 stamped into the stem.
Curing speed is nice, but durability and weight (and cost) are worth more to me, so I’m still leaning towards a more traditional filler.

 

[Benson Gray]

I’m still leaning towards a more traditional filler.

The various historical canvas filler formulas listed at the link below may interest you. Nice canoe and good luck with the project,

Benson

Canvas Fillers

Canvas Fillers Canvas filler formulas have been guarded for decades by wood canvas canoe builders all over the world. The formulas below have been published or made available in a legal manner and not “stolen” or otherwise “borrowed” without permission. If you have another proven formula that...

forums.wcha.org

 

[Pook]

Thanks for sharing, Crawforde- and I agree with Benson and Robin: great looking canoe!
I trip almost exclusively with one of my Chestnut cedar canvas fleet- actually heading to Quetico with my Chestnut Pal tomorrow. Can't give you any tips on cutting weight with canvas or filler. Even my Bob's remained in #10 when re-canvassed a couple of years ago. Though weight saving is nice, I'm more interested in durability!
That's the Bobs when completed in 2023.

BTW I work on the site of the original Peterborough factory and get to walk into work under a cedar strip canoe each morning...though for some obscure reason its a Lakefield, not a Peterborough!

Get out there and paddle!
Bruce

 

[Crawforde]

Thanks.
What a great commute to work Pook!
Enjoy your trip in that Pal.
When I do the recanvas and repairs I would like to replace the 75th Anniversary decal.
Does anyone know of a source?

 

[Benson Gray]

When I do the recanvas and repairs I would like to replace the 75th Anniversary decal.
Does anyone know of a source?

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

Peterborough Canoe Company Deck Decal | WoodenCanoeHeritage

These "peel and stick" decals measure 2.25" L x 1.5" H. Application instructions are included with the decal.

www.woodencanoe.org

 

[Crawforde]

I finally had the last paddle before repairs.
There is a bit of work to do.

 

[Crawforde]

Ok. It was in worse shape than I expected. But I should not be surprised.
I put in a temporary wider center thwart to allow the hull to relax to its design shape, 29” was a bit short and tender for standing up and poling (it’s ok. I like swimming) but at 33” it should feel better. A lot of this isn’t original, or is rotten and it’s a common hull so I feel ok modifying things.
So no I’m left with choices. After the stems are spliced and the decks replaced I need to make decisions so I’m throwing out my uses and desires to solicit comments and ideas.
I’ll be solo 99% of the time.
I will mostly paddle lakes and easy rivers. I pack light for camping, and trips will mostly be short, a week or less. I fish a little. I enjoy standing up. I don’t expect this to be as stable as my old dagger reflection but will be more than my Blackhawk shadow 13 when standing to pole paddle or cast ( yep, went swimming occasionally! lol).
I also used to row a little Adirondack Guide Boat a lot. And still have my Shaw and Tenney oars so the idea of a removable drop-in seat and clamp-on thwart with oar locks is interesting, but low priority.
So now I’m sketching up layout ideas.
I mostly kneel and paddle on one side, like to sit when fishing, I like to pole upstream and paddle down when on rivers. I think the original layout will work, but am considering different options.

 

[Robin]

As stated, your Peterborough Minetta is the same hull as a Chestnut Chum. I had two Chums that I restored and tripped with. My first was set up as a dedicated solo with one seat set back from dead center (I forget how much), it had two permanent thwarts and I used a temporary thwart for portages.


It paddled nicely set up as a solo, but I never liked that portable thwart, so much that the next Chum I acquired and restored stayed with stock tandem seats. I used the bow seat with the canoe reversed and it worked well, especially with my two Duluth Packs loaded. They come with only one thwart from the factory and I was very happy with that set up and the way it looked


Good canoe for fishing too, but I never stood up.

 

[Crawforde]

Thanks! Good to hear from someone who has used the hull in both configurations.
I’ve used removable carrying thwarts before. I’m not a fan. Forgetting, misplacing, and tripping on them are some of my more dependable skills. Using one on a solo seems so logical, but I think they are for more organized people.
I’m not sure I’ll stand as much as I did when I was younger but I still enjoy poling and having a stretch/ look around.

 

[Gamma1214]

I’ve used removable carrying thwarts before. I’m not a fan. Forgetting, misplacing, and tripping on them are some of my more dependable skills.

There are alternatives to removable yokes... On my strippers, I place the thwart 28 inches from the front of the seat. While the seat location has changed in different boats, this has not because I tie the paddles to the seat & thwart for portaging and 28 inches works well for me.

I need an extra paddle anyway and there is far less clutter / fewer things to misplace.

 

[Crawforde]

Nice way to personalize it, put the seat where it balances for your use, then the thwart where it plays well with your body, seat and paddles. I often get tied up with measurements as percentages of the boat length.

 

[Crawforde]

While I am most likely to try and have a permanent carry thwart, @Glenn MacGrady has an elegant solution in this E. M. White repro. Simple, elegant and looks effective.

 

[Pook]

Like Robin I'd like to suggest you don't NEED to personalize the seating location in your canoe- Chestnut and Peterborough had this figured out a long time ago! I have a Chestnut Bob's Special that i paddle almost exclusively from the bow seat facing rearward. With a pack in front of the centre thwart/custom yoke, it is perfectly balanced and a joy to paddle.

Bruce