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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Wooden canoe experts? Worthy restore?
 
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voyager
12/06/2019 10:25AM
 
I'm no expert. We've only restored 2 Old Towns and 1 Penn Yann, but that looks like a basket case. I wouldn't tackle that 1 if they paid me. There's lots of canoes available for restoration in the $200. -$300. range that would be more satisfying and less work. Lots of free info on the WCHA site.
 
Duckman
12/06/2019 03:43PM
 
Depends on why you want to do it. If you like to restore old broken things as a hobby and like a challenge, this may be the perfect boat.
 
unshavenman
12/06/2019 05:12PM
 
Are they offering $100.00 to have it carted away?
 
Grizzlyman
12/06/2019 05:18PM
 
sedges: "This is a woodstrip/fiberglass canoe. Probably homemade. It looks like it had ribs on the inside instead of fiberglass, so it is not typical of current woodstrip composite construction. Or ribs were added to still the bottom in its old age. The way the exterior fiberglass aged I would guess they used polyester resin which would make it 1970s or 1960s. I don't think the hull is particularly good from a speed/seaworthiness standpoint. Given all of this I would recommend its next use as an outdoor planter. Some flowers would make it look good."


Lol. It’s funy we’re even having this discussion. But sedges- you think this is a cedarstrip lol? I thought that too. But why the Ribs? How about the torn cloth? Isn’t that canvas?


Isn’t it funny that this is in such bad shape that it’s hard to tell?





 
yellowhorse
12/06/2019 12:33PM
 
voyager: "I'm no expert. We've only restored 2 Old Towns and 1 Penn Yann, but that looks like a basket case. I wouldn't tackle that 1 if they paid me. There's lots of canoes available for restoration in the $200. -$300. range that would be more satisfying and less work. Lots of free info on the WCHA site."


Thanks! I appreciate the WCHA suggestion as it's a nice rabbit hole of information that I haven't browsed. But really, if someone paid you $300 you wouldn't make it float? It's THAT much of a basket case? Good to know from someone who's done it before. Cheers!

 
sedges
12/06/2019 02:19PM
 
This is a woodstrip/fiberglass canoe. Probably homemade. It looks like it had ribs on the inside instead of fiberglass, so it is not typical of current woodstrip composite construction. Or ribs were added to still the bottom in its old age. The way the exterior fiberglass aged I would guess they used polyester resin which would make it 1970s or 1960s. I don't think the hull is particularly good from a speed/seaworthiness standpoint. Given all of this I would recommend its next use as an outdoor planter. Some flowers would make it look good.
 
nofish
12/06/2019 03:42PM
 
I'm not sure what takes more guts, the willingness to take on a project like this or putting a $100 price tag on a canoe in that condition in the first place.



 
sedges
12/06/2019 05:40PM
 
Fiberglass is a cloth, too. This is a real course fiberglass cloth, probably 10 ounce by the looks of it. Canvas has a much denser weave. You can sort of see the wood grain through the cloudy glass/resin. Polyester resin, especially back then, was real porous compared to modern epoxies. Even regular maintenance fails to keep these hulls healthy.


The interior glass on a typical modern woodstrip serves the same function as ribs. Occasionally, a builder will put ribs in instead of glassing the inside. Usually there are more ribs than in this example so I think this was an experiment on the part of the builder.


The yellow lawn chair webbing seats have a 60s look to me. The canoe was in use as recently as 2010 according to the tag. Some family got a lot of use out of this boat. I'll bet it was resident at a lake cottage. Although I don't think it is worth restoring, I would like to know its story.



 
cedarpoint
12/06/2019 06:36PM
 
I have a few canoes in MUCH better shape available for FREE. Don't waste time on this disaster. Located on Sawbill & 61.
 
yellowhorse
12/10/2019 12:41PM
 
cedarpoint: "I have a few canoes in MUCH better shape available for FREE. Don't waste time on this disaster. Located on Sawbill & 61."


Wooden canoes?
 
yellowhorse
12/10/2019 01:06PM
 
Duckman: "Depends on why you want to do it. If you like to restore old broken things as a hobby and like a challenge, this may be the perfect boat."


Part of me has me wanting to double down and restore it just because everyone says it's not worth it. Most of me realizes the crowd wins in wisdom and I won't bother.
 
yellowhorse
12/06/2019 05:38AM
 


Any canoe experts recognize this canoe? Any guess on the brand or time frame? Or suggestions where to look if I physically see the canoe? It's priced at $100 x 30 days on craigslist. If it feels sturdy might it be worth an offer? Too big of a project? The out of date/old? or just getting broken in has me tempted to add "restore a canoe" to the 18 other projects on the back burner...
 
Arcola
12/06/2019 07:43AM
 
Time to send that one to Valhalla. Toast!!
 
tumblehome
12/17/2019 01:34PM
 
Yes hull design is sometimes more important than the condition of the canoe.


I once was asked to look at an old wood/canvas canoe that the owner wanted removed from their garage. I was told it was old and needed a little work and any price offered would have sealed the deal.


It turns out it was an old homemade canoe and the design was so awful that no matter what I did to it, it would still be a terrible and embarrassing canoe. I passed on it.


Another time I was offered an old wood/canvas canoe that literally had plants growing in it whilst sitting in a large garden. It was almost a gonner but it was also a Peterbourough. I took it and restored it back to a beautiful canoe that enjoyed many trip in the Wilderness.


Tom



 
yellowhorse
12/06/2019 07:50AM
 
Grizzlyman: "Maybe it’s just the pics but it looks like it’s in such bad condition that I had to stare at it to determine it was even a wood/canvas boat. I thought it was fiberglass or Kevlar at first!



I’m not sure all the sanding in the world would help- let along if/ how rotten any wood might be and how it affects the boat structurally. The yoke is busted It appears, who know about the webbing on the seats, It looks like there’s more than one gash in the canvas as well.



If it were me considering this I wouldn’t pay anywhere near 100 for it.



Just my 2 cents.



"

Yeah, I'm not convinced it's even wood lol. Yoke and seats can be replaced pretty easily, no? I've built a couple of boats from Chesapeake and have extra fiberglass/epoxy so not TOO worried about repairs although it does seem like a person could sand thru the sides!
 
Grizzlyman
12/06/2019 07:24AM
 
Maybe it’s just the pics but it looks like it’s in such bad condition that I had to stare at it to determine it was even a wood/canvas boat. I thought it was fiberglass or Kevlar at first!


I’m not sure all the sanding in the world would help- let along if/ how rotten any wood might be and how it affects the boat structurally. The yoke is busted It appears, who know about the webbing on the seats, It looks like there’s more than one gash in the canvas as well.


If it were me considering this I wouldn’t pay anywhere near 100 for it.


Just my 2 cents.



 
jwartman59
12/08/2019 05:06PM
 
This boat was garbage when it was new. Not worthy of repair
 
sedges
12/08/2019 09:56PM
 
Garbage when new is a little extreme. I'm sure the builder had a wonderful time constructing and paddling this boat. It may not have the most sophisticated lines, but it was a stable fishing platform for sure. First launching of a canoe built by your hand is magical event.


Here is probably the source of the plans. The shape looks right and even the yellow lawn chair webbing in the illustration! This Popular Science article was from the May 1967 issue. If they built it that summer it was being used for 43 years or more until it started rotting in the barn.


Popular Science canoe
 
jwartman59
12/17/2019 12:14PM
 




I found this canoe on eBay, paid $140.00, it turns out that it is a Peterborough, a very highly regarded canoe. I put about $300 in materials for the restore.







I have used it on about a dozen bwca trips.




I paid $200 for this 18’ chestnut prospector. It was collecting dust so seller wanted it gone.








Too heavy for bwca, I’ve used it mostly on Wisconsin rivers. I’ve used it in class 3 rapids, busted ribs and planks, I don’t care.









Be patient. Wood canoes are listing for stupid expensive right now on eBay and Craigslist.
 
sedges
12/10/2019 01:43PM
 
These magazine article plans are all terrible boats. The writers were interested more in the composite construction than the shape of the hull. many were not even experienced paddlers. Until canoe magazine came out with plans and articles with a real nice hull in the early 1980s(maybe late 70s), they were all awful. By that time Minnesota Canoeing Association was selling plans for real nice boats, still do I think.


Basically this canoe is a bath tub with pointy ends. I think someone mentioned a pond boat and I think that is all it would be good for. If you want a cheap restoration boat, wait for one to come along that is worth the effort.


If you want some experience with a wooden or wood composite boat build one from scratch. Lots of people do and there are so many more resources online to answer your questions and help you along the way.
 
Grizzlyman
12/10/2019 08:17PM
 
yellowhorse: "Duckman: "Depends on why you want to do it. If you like to restore old broken things as a hobby and like a challenge, this may be the perfect boat."



Part of me has me wanting to double down and restore it just because everyone says it's not worth it. Most of me realizes the crowd wins in wisdom and I won't bother."



I hear you. I like a challenge as well. But you’re restoring something that probably wasn’t worth it even when it was brand new.


Restoring this boat would be like doubling down and trying to “restore” an ikea end table :)
 
riverrunner
12/11/2019 07:49AM
 
yellowhorse: "Duckman: "Depends on why you want to do it. If you like to restore old broken things as a hobby and like a challenge, this may be the perfect boat."



Part of me has me wanting to double down and restore it just because everyone says it's not worth it. Most of me realizes the crowd wins in wisdom and I won't bother.
"



Unless you just have lots of free time that you have nothing else to do with.


It is junk there is a time in every canoes life that it isn't worth it.


I passed on a very famous tripping canoe the brand sell new for thousands.
it was in better shape then the one your looking at.


I figured for 50.00 I would play with it. The seller wanted 150.00 I made my offer he said hell they sell for 4000.00 new I said so what.


As far as I know it is still sitting there getting in worse shape.


Do not waste your time on a no name piece of junk
 
Cedarboy
12/16/2019 05:11PM
 
unshavenman: "Are they offering $100.00 to have it carted away?"


My thoughts also.


Uhmmmm........pass!

 
keth0601
12/10/2019 08:46AM
 
If the hull design was any good I'd say wrap it in plastic wrap and use it as a form to make a new composite canoe and then rip it apart from inside, but even for that it's not worth $100.
 
yellowhorse
12/10/2019 09:46AM
 
sedges: "Garbage when new is a little extreme. I'm sure the builder had a wonderful time constructing and paddling this boat. It may not have the most sophisticated lines, but it was a stable fishing platform for sure. First launching of a canoe built by your hand is magical event.



Here is probably the source of the plans. The shape looks right and even the yellow lawn chair webbing in the illustration! This Popular Science article was from the May 1967 issue. If they built it that summer it was being used for 43 years or more until it started rotting in the barn.



Popular Science canoe "



Great info! It's that sort of history I was hoping to learn and have it coupled with "yeah, it's one of the the best models from the 60s and it's not in THAT bad of shape. Offer $25 and 3 weekends you'll have a steal"


Good to know the consensus is that it's not worth the drive by.
 
TomT
12/10/2019 10:25AM
 
I bet they would take $15. You might get a lot of good experience messing around with it and who knows, it could be a good pond boat someday. Nothing to trip with though.
 
nctry
12/11/2019 09:58AM
 
That would be the best $100 you never spent!