So, Skipper....What a boat ! WOW. A restorer's dream in that condition. I have a 16 foota Ideal No. 8992 shipped 7/28/08 and it restored beautifully. All it lacks is the original Old Town decal apparently used for only the 08 built boats. The 08 decal used a very nice red where you have the blue. Much of the gold border and scroll design was done in gold leaf with added black lines for additional detail within. I suspect your version used gold leaf as well. I could not preserve mine and have lamented its loss ever since. And so , I advise, if you are of the same mind as regards originality you should take every precaution to safeguard your fine example...a treasure, I think. My boat has the spiral drops as well and they are a very pretty add . The boat was ordered with open gunnels , a departure from the usual closed
design, the norm at the time. We will wait with baited breath for the restoration pics. HAVE FUN, you are one lucky fella. Dave