This canoe is my current project. It is a 1914 Old Town Ideal Canoe. It is fancy AA Grade. It has mahogany trim including open gunwales, decks, and thwarts. The canoe also has half-ribs, as shown below.
The canoe was originally sold to a woman in western Massachusetts. I bought it from a fella, who bought it in the 1960's with the intent to restore it. He claimed it had sat in a barn for 40 years before he bought it. Then it sat in his barn. It does appear that the canoe has seen little use.
This canoe is basically a Charles River courting canoe. The fine young lady could sit with a back rest between the thwarts, parasol in hand! The original owner's initials were originally placed on the bow by Old Town.
I hope to return it to its former glory. There is no rot on the boat. Some gunwale repairs are required where a former owner tried to remove the seats, splitting the rail around the seat bolt in the process. A total of 5 ribs need replacing. Seats need new cane. Hull needs new varnish and canvas. |
