We have what we think is a Kennebec wood canvas and thanks to your site we finally discovered the location of the serial number and wondered if you could help us identify the canoe. The number looks to be 2008 then a space and then 17. We were just giving it a fresh coat of paint before we head out onto the West Branch of the Penobscot with it but this again piqued our interest into its age and origin! Thanks. It is in fine shape and has been on many adventures with us over the years.
Help! What kind of canoe is this?...we have a serial number
- Thread starter Zoe
- Start date
Welcome, the Kennebec records shown that they issued serial number 2008 to a 16 foot long Kineo model in 1909 and to a 16 foot long Maine Coast Rowboat in 1921. Neither of these are a good match for your canoe. The font and end of the stem look more like a Robertson or Kingsbury style. Does it have a wavy stamp on the top of the thwarts along the gunwales? Why do you think that it is a Kennebec? Can you provide some pictures of the bow deck and interior details? Thanks,
Benson
Benson
Thank you so much for your help. We are not certain it is a Kennebec but seemed closest from what we could tell. The last time I took a stab at ID was close to 20 years ago and much more to find on the web now! Will attach more photos and am happy for any thoughts you have. We are in the process of repainting it so it is covered in primer right now. No sign of anything on thwarts. Not sure if the thwarts are original
Attachments
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JClearwater
Wooden Canoes are in the Blood
The tops of the rib corners where they meet the gunwales are clipped. I can't remember which manufacturer did it that way and with the torpedo stems I'm not thinking it's a Kennebec. Nice canoe though.
Jim
Jim
Dave Osborn
LIFE MEMBER
Skowhegan also used short cap rails like Kennebec.
I’m fairly certain that Skowhegan trimmed the rib tips, too.
I’m fairly certain that Skowhegan trimmed the rib tips, too.
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1905Gerrish
Loves Old Maine canoes
I'm with Benson on it being a Charles River canoe. Seats and thwarts are to beefy to be a Kennebec or Skowhegan. No spacers for the seats as well. Just looks like a Mass canoe. The trim caps are done well. Not sure if the are original as the canoe has had some work. Robertson stamps on the thwarts?
Dave Osborn
LIFE MEMBER
The short tail caps are the trip pieces on the gunwales along the sides of the decks.
Dave Osborn
LIFE MEMBER
What ever it is, it looks like a cool canoe.
Was not aware that ChasRiver builders used short cap rails.
Was not aware that ChasRiver builders used short cap rails.
JClearwater
Wooden Canoes are in the Blood
My money is on Skowhegan based on the clipped rib tip corners, stem profile etc. See link attached where another Skowhegan is discussed.
http://wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/canoe-identification-help.16624/#post-84725
http://wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/canoe-identification-help.16624/#post-84725
Dave Osborn
LIFE MEMBER
I don't recall a Skowhegan with side bevels on the ends of the stems like this. The serial number font is not like any Skowhegan I've ever seen.
Are there signs of any nail holes or a tag shadow on the bow deck and can you provide the dimensions? Charles River builders commonly used metal tags there while Skowhegan typically used decals. It looks like a nice canoe regardless of who built it.
Benson
Are there signs of any nail holes or a tag shadow on the bow deck and can you provide the dimensions? Charles River builders commonly used metal tags there while Skowhegan typically used decals. It looks like a nice canoe regardless of who built it.
Benson
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Hi All, Thanks so much. Here are a few more pictures that might help. Not sure exactly which dimensions are most diagnostic but I can provide others if that would help. I really can't see any nail marks or bits of decal on the bow. I looked carefully at the Skowhegan thread about how they found the decal and can't see that. There are some divets on the bow, but doesn't look like any symmetrical nail marks.
Boat was restored (though was in good shape) and recanvassed by Jay Trainor (sp?) in New Hampshire in the early 1990's. We did find initials etched under the thwarts (pictures are pretty rotten of the initials ) but they are AR. Could be a previous owner? Also, is the floor rack in anway diagnostic? I see the Skowhegan type 2 comes with a floor rack. All the metal fitings look to be brass not copper. It is a fabulous boat to paddle (not diagonostic I know!!) much preferable to our kevlar, and the plastic tanks we take when river running with any white water.. It weighs in the low 80's. A few gratitous photos of it in the Wildness are also attached... though we don't tend to bring it out now when we do a lot of portaging hence the kevlar boat (and we make the kids carry it now that they are big!).
Boat was restored (though was in good shape) and recanvassed by Jay Trainor (sp?) in New Hampshire in the early 1990's. We did find initials etched under the thwarts (pictures are pretty rotten of the initials ) but they are AR. Could be a previous owner? Also, is the floor rack in anway diagnostic? I see the Skowhegan type 2 comes with a floor rack. All the metal fitings look to be brass not copper. It is a fabulous boat to paddle (not diagonostic I know!!) much preferable to our kevlar, and the plastic tanks we take when river running with any white water.. It weighs in the low 80's. A few gratitous photos of it in the Wildness are also attached... though we don't tend to bring it out now when we do a lot of portaging hence the kevlar boat (and we make the kids carry it now that they are big!).
This is starting to seem more like a Skowhegan since your picture of the screw holes in the ribs indicates that it once had sponsons. These are not commonly found on canoes from the Charles River area.
Benson
Benson
The Skowhegan Invisible Sponson model is described at https://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/library/A7F2C271-835F-44C4-AD3A-187779589550 on page five of their catalog. See https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/40720/ for a picture of them on a Kennebec canoe. These are very different from outriggers. The ones shown on my canoe are not the invisible style. Let me know if this doesn't answer your question,
Benson
Benson
Apart from the stem profile, a lot of features point to Racine Boat Company, including the deck profile and trim pieces, seat and thwart shapes, and chamfered rib tips.
