Rare Old Town Canoe ?

[JCM 11,130]

Looking for any info on a 1979 Old Town Canoe Fiberglass . I bought this back in 1993 from a good friend because of the unique hull pattern and flooring on this model. I have used it twice  because in 1994 I bought a brand new Old Town Katahdln and couldn't pass on the 1979. This has always been garaged since purchase. I spoke with the original selling dealer before he passed and this is what he told me. It was built for The Boy Scouts but after or during production OT found out another Company had the rights to the Birch Bark design and was forced to stop production. Anyone associated with the Boy Scouts maybe could shed light on this  @Ed Kennell  OTHERS. I believe the floor is made from Balsa wood and has a unique pattern like a parkay type floor. Have decided to put this up for sale and other '' toys '' that I don;t really need anymore. I have also contacted Old Town 3 times since purchase and no one could give me ANY info other than the year built which I knew from the ID tag.  It is not even in their 1979 brochures on Canoes.Enjoy the pictures Guy's. 

[8ntruck 8,783]

I'm impressed with the Old Town products.  We got an Old Town Huron kayck as one of my service awards from the company.  We bought a cheapo from Wal Mart so my wife and I could paddle around the lake together.   My wife has claimed the Old Town.

 

The hull form on the Old Town so much more efficient than on the cheapo.  I have to work pretty hard to keep up with her.

[ri702bill 11,872]

Nice! BTW - the Parker River, being in Mass. is pronounced "Pah-ka" Like a Kennedy... 

[wh500special 2,394]

3 hours ago, JCM said:

..I believe the floor is made from Balsa wood and has a unique pattern like a parkay type floor…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely end grain balsa.  There is nothing -  synthetic or natural - that matches the compressive strength per density of end grain balsa.  And as core materials go, it’s incredibly cheap.  completely impervious to water flow across the grain.   Basically a miracle material. 
 

Nice canoe.   I’m keeping my eyes open for a Kevlar 16-footer in a reasonable price range.   Paddling is such a pleasant activity. 
 

Steve

[JCM 11,130]

Most likely I will sell the Aluminum stabilizer kit for it that allows stand up in the canoe and fish. only used twice. Also an electric trolling motor with bracket and 2 padded seats . Complete package.

[mrc 1,070]

complete package?  does that mean a minty K20 to haul it to the lake?

[JCM 11,130]

In due time. Everything is for sale eventually Mike  @mrc

[Ed Kennell 45,772]

9 hours ago, JCM said:

Anyone associated with the Boy Scouts maybe could shed light

Sorry, no help on the OT.   We had a rig similar to this with all Coleman 17' Ram-Xs.

[wh500special 2,394]

11 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

…Coleman 17' Ram-Xs.

 

Those things are tough!

 

Grew up using one almost every weekend to fish.  Almost impossible to flip over…almost. 
 

i think ours might have been a 15-footer.  Red.   The carpenter bees loved building their nests in the styrofoam under the ends.  Sounded like a motorboat coming down the lake that never got closer or further away matter how hard we paddled. 
 

My cousins decided to paint that red plastic canoe camouflage.  Of course nothing sticks to polyethylene so the paint didn’t stay on there very well.   Somebody stole it maybe fifteen/twenty years ago.  
 

other than being heavy, those Ram-X canoes are great.  
 

steve

Edited 6 hours ago by wh500special

[Ed Kennell 45,772]

1 hour ago, wh500special said:

13 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

 

Those things are tough!

We did bend the aluminum keel pipe on a few, but they were easy to straighten.   We roughed them up pretty good when they were loaded with camping gear for four day float trips on the rocky Susquehanna river.    Never had one leak.    

Edited 4 hours ago by Ed Kennell