Old OTC

[Rick Gifford]

I have acquired a very old canoe believed to be an OTCA 17 foot AA model. The front stem is partially obscured but the rear is labeled 0035 17. It has a front seat with a mast hole and foot in the bottom indicating it was equipped for sailing. None of that rigging is available and neither of the last two owners, going back over 30 years, were aware of its existence. The seat and thwart bolt heads are round rather than diamond indicates a build date prior to the early 1920s. This canoe spent most of its life in the Adirondack mountains.

Can a serial number background check be made. Because of its expected age records may not be in the computer of its build record so is there another path to understanding how it was originally configured?
Thank you,
Rick

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome, Old Town serial numbers typically didn't being with leading zeros so I would normally guess that you have the canoe with serial number 10035. However, that went on a 16 foot Charles River model which doesn't seem like a good match. Can you provide pictures of the serial numbers from both ends and surrounding area along with some showing the decks and interior details? The information at https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/791/ may also help you find the correct serial number. Thanks,

Benson