Canoe Identification - '30s vintage

Canadian Canoe

New Member
I would like some help in identifying my Canoe. It is a wood on canvas. It is 14' 6" long, 36" wide and 12" Deep. I have owned it for two years. The gentlemen I bought it from says that it was originally at a rental company in Hamilton Ontario in the '30s. When the rental company went out of business in the '30s it was sold to the family that I bought it from. It was refurbished in the '70s at which time three ribs were repaired and it was Fiberglassed instead of re-canvased, which was not uncommon at the time.
There are several markings on it to help identify the manufacturer. It has a wave cut in the decks at both ends which make it look like a Peterborough. It has an R.M. stamped in one of the stems. The most distinguishing item I see is that it has small half ribs between the standard ribs on the floor. I have never seen this before in person. It have heard of Guide boats being ordered this way for extra strength but never seen it in an old catalogue.

Please see the pictures attached and let me know if you can point my in the direction of the manufacturer. I would love to know both the manufacturer and the model and possibly the build date.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 

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The "RM" is likely to be the initials of the owner. It looks done by hand and a bit crude to have been a maker's mark. Half ribs are not at all uncommon on production canoes for work and pleasure. A variety of manufacturers offered them, so they're presence alone isn't sufficient to identify the builder. Someone with more knowledge than me of Canadian w/c canoes may be able to narrow down your builder using other features like decks gunwales, etc. to ID your canoe. Best of luck, and enjoy.
 
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