Canoe Stuff

Just a Craigslist canoe story (PT2 - help ID the boat)

We drove all.day.long. today. Left right after breakfast, and drove to Owen sound - about a 4 hour jaunt. Once we got there I called the old fella selling the canoe to get an address for his house.

He refused to give a street name or address. Instead he told me to go one concession to the east from any side-road south of where I was, then go north until there was a bush on both sides of the road, and he had a blue mailbox. If we could find his place, the boat was ours.

Momma and I shrugged, turned off the GPS, and followed his instructions. Sure enough, one concession east of where we were, the road narrowed down as the bush closed in on both sides of it, and a blue maibox stood out on the west side of the road. We nosed our van into the trees and a driveway materialized out of the dense cedars. We followed along it winding over hills and across ponds for about a kilometre into the woods before coming into a clearing with a house and drive shed. Both very nice and homey.

The old boy came out to meet us. A shuffle in his step and a smile - "See, I knew you'd find us!" He had family over for a holiday celebration. We were waved over to the drive shed by a son in his 50's. I wondered if the family was getting ready to move the parents off their land and into care. It made me a little sad.

In the shed, the canoe was sitting upside down on some old wooden soda crates. It was in quite good shape, but had been recently painted where someone had scratched the canvas. The gunwhales looked brand new - I'd guess White Ash. The boys tumbled out of the van and bounced around, admiring the canoe and tractor, and looking for trouble. The old fella smiled. The son started talking about when he was a boy and how his kids had learned to paddle in this canoe. The old fella shared stories about their cottage on Georgian bay. He looked like he might cry.

The canoe is not a Peterborough, nor a Chestnut. And its not a Prospector either, despite what the ad said. Its a Canadian Canoe Company boat, but the model is a bit of a mystery. A serial number stamped in the keel suggests a 17 foot freight canoe, but this is neither a high volume design, nor 17 feet long. I think its a recreational/cottage boat, intended for afternoons playing on a local lake. Of course we'll still use it for longer trips and load it full of gear. It looks pretty but has some issues.

While I was loading the boat, the old fella kept insisting that he would only take cash, and I assured him that wasn't a problem. I didn't try to negotiate his price downwards at all. He was already undervaluing the boat. I called Momma over and told her to give him the money. She handed him a bank envelope with the money in it, and he immediately pulled it out, and counted a hundred. Then awkwardly looked around and handed it to Momma.

Momma suggested that she could count the money into HIS hand, and this would be easier. Momma used to work in banks, and is good with handling transactions and counting out cash and things like this. The old boy shook his head no and told her to keep that $100. It was a Christmas present. He didn't need to count our money - we were good people, and we would care for his boat.

He handed each of the boys a paddle, and then stood back and smiled/held back tears as we finished tying her down. He walked around the trailer and checked my knots. "You're a boy scout, aren't you!" He was grinning now and pointing - "Thats a proper bowline, and that's a figure-8!" I told him I was something like a boyscout. Scout, sailor, close enough for me. Once he was satisfied that the boat was secure, he stood back and let us go. "Make sure you stop in 10 minutes, and check the knots, sometimes they loosen. And you should be careful in crosswinds, if it moves, pull off and fix it right away." We nosed out of the driveway, headed home.

Looking back, his son was hugging the old guy as we drove away with his family's memories tied to our trailer. Funny how boats find a way into your soul, no matter how big, no matter how small.

Keel number

Not sure if its a Canadian Canoe Company number, or a Chestnut number

Stern Deck

This is a Chestnut Canoe profile for a bow deck.

Gnuwhales

These appear to have been replaced in a recent restoration

Bow deck

Canadian Canoe Company decal, Chestnut profile

Cane Seats

That's road salt you're seeing - the varnish is in good shape. Anyways, the seat looks like a pretty typical seat for both Peterborough, Chestnut, and Canadian.

Ugly bump

THis bump in the hull profile causes me some concern. hopefully it turns out ot be a non-issue. I wonder if it hides a screwup in the restoration.