Who made my boat?

[Ward]

Hi--

I've just finished repairing and refinishing an old wooden boat and can't figure out what make/model it is. It's 13' 4" long, with cove-and-bead strip-plank construction. I believe it's oak ribs, narrow white cedar planks (mostly 1" to 1.25" wide), mohagany transom and a small front deck. Due to rot much of the transom and the entire front deck has been replaced, so I'm not sure what the original wood was. The only identifying feature is a serial number stamped into the transom, on the mohagany crosspiece next to the right-hand vertical piece. The number is either 574431 or 574437... both the first "7" and the final figure are clear but the final figure is a different style "7" than the first, so it might be a "1".

I got this boat on Vancouver Island (BC), from a friend who bought a house, found the hull rotting in the back yard, and gave it to me. I have no knowledge of its history. I have photos of both the boat and the serial number if you care to email me... ward.strong@gems7.gov.bc.ca

Thanks for your help!

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Ward welcome to the forum. Post a photo if you don't know how email me the photo and I can post it for you. Then you should get far more responses from knowledgeable formites

My e-mail is reachbutter@aol.com

[ 04-29-2005, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson ) ]

[Bob Cleek]

Odds are good a small coved strip planked dink was home built.

[Ward]

Joe Cold Spring On Hudson has offered to put a photo on the forum for me for all to see... Bob Cleek, I was also told by a boat builder in Vancouver that this might be a homebuilt. The discovery of the serial number (if it is one)made me question that, so I decided to go to the Forum. Thanks for your help!

--Ward.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

As request Wards beautiful wooden boat smile.gif

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid166/p27a4f133998bc37ebffec011db1246bc/f44a4ef4.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid166/pc795c3d8e0f8fd9ac2b59eafa56fad23/f44a4ee8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid166/pc12b3d25d663b9660c42b4cad830a12b/f44a4ee0.jpg

[Meerkat]

That last "7" looks more like an inverted "L"

[westinghouse]

Where on Vancouver Island? The history of builders around here is pretty thick, and a connection to a lot of them through decendants and lore exists. I spend my weekends in a chandlery. I can post your pic on the bulletin board this week and we'll see what happens.

[ion barnes]

Grenell or Peterbourgh(sp)

[Ward]

Yes, that last character in the serial number looks like either an inverted "L" or an uppercase Greek "gamma". Neither seems likely in a serial number so I think it might be a funny looking "1".

Westinghouse, that would be great if you would post the photos. This was from a home in Cumberland, BC. The boat wasn't given directly to me... it was given to my dad, who did much of the woodwork before he passed away, taking with him even the knowledge of whose house it came from! I'm really in the dark on this one.

[Fitz]

You might try posting your photos over at the Wooden Canoe Heritage Assoc. website. Some of the Canadian members might be able to pinpoint the maker for you.

http://forums.wcha.org/

Like Ion says, I suspect maybe a Peterborough.

[ 05-01-2005, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: Fitz ]