Looking For Info On Carleton Canoe #19164-17.

Dave Krebs

New Member
I have a Carleton Canoe serial number 19164-17. Looking for manufactured date, original color and original owner. Thank you.
 
Welcome and congratulations, the Carleton canoe with number 19164 is a 17 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, Carleton model with red western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, oak decks, oak thwarts, oak seats, a keel, a floor rack, a number one quality spruce paddle with an eight inch blade and a copper tip that was five feet six inches long, a number one quality spruce paddle with an eight inch blade and a copper tip that was five feet nine inches long, and a spruce slat back that was double width. It was built between January and May, 1926. The original exterior paint design was blue with a half inch yellow stripe. This was probably similar to the one shown at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/designs/design20.gif which was known as the Old Town design number 20 with different colors. It shipped on May 14th, 1926 to Branchville, New Jersey. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link under the thumbnail image attached below.

c-19164.jpg

This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/store/membership to join.

It is possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson
 
Excellent info. Thanks so much. found the same serial number at both ends of the canoe. I have a few additional questions. Regarding the floor rack - I do not have the original rack. Is the rack needed for hull strength when stepping into or around the canoe ? My canoe is now fiberglass covered, no longer canvas. Second question - I need to replace the outer gunwale strips, and was thinking of using ash for strength and support. I see the original gunwales were made from spruce. Your opinion on the use of ash gunwales ? Will I be able to steam and bend them adequately (both up and inwards) to get them fastened onto the canoe ? Is there a posting or tip sheet on making/installing new gunwales ? Thank you.
 
Is the rack needed for hull strength when stepping into or around the canoe ? ... Your opinion on the use of ash gunwales ? Will I be able to steam and bend them adequately (both up and inwards) to get them fastened onto the canoe ? Is there a posting or tip sheet on making/installing new gunwales ?

The primary use for a floor rack is to keep you gear up out of the water that occasionally collects in the bilge. Most canoes don't have them and it is not necessary to use your canoe. Ash is commonly used for gunwales and the information at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/12999/ may give you some ideas about how to bend them. Good luck with the restoration,

Benson
 
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