Nice canoe. Those high ends, which add weight and catch wind are a small price to pay for the pleasing effect they will provide you and folks you meet along the trail. The canoe speaks of tradition and beauty, and since you have chosen to use a wood canvas canoe for the trip, this canoe speaks wood canvas loud and clear from any distance. I get it.
Why not call the builder and ask. Rollin has a great reputation as a builder and plain nice guy. Ask him his thoughts, was the canoe built as an eye piece or for use, will it hold up to the rigors of daily use on the NFCT.
Good luck and let us know the results.
BTW, I have a 1970 Chestnut Bob's Special, 15', it comes in around 58lbs. It is a great canoe, wide, but can be paddled leaned over and it moves out. Unfortunately, to get the weight down, Chestnut used thinner ribs and gunnels and the canoe probably won't make a great tripper, just wouldn't hold up without alot of damage imo.
I also have a Chestnut Chum, which is 15' and much more narrow, it weighs about 62-3 lbs. It makes a great solo tripper, tough and built for the trail. So there is a difference in the way some wood canvas canoes are built.