So, never found an original thread on this boat so it will all be new here.

Circa 1930's Canadian Canoe Company (Habitant model maybe).

It was a rescue, meaning the first time we looked at it we walked away, then the original seller contacted us and said if we didn't buy it he was sending it to the landfill. It had been fiberglassed at some point in it's life and showed it. The interior had all been painted with Rez deck stain one colour.

Started by stripping the interior in August 2012. The Chestnut, Winter, moving and life got in the way but 21 months after starting she is done.

Half the stems replaced, new inwale tips, decks, 5 ribs, assorted planking, new seats, outer gunwales, canvas, varnish... It is white cedar ribs with red cedar planking, red oak trim, the thwarts are original.

It had come with a sailing rig but we traded that for the white cedar to do the ribs.

Beautiful! Very nicely done.

Rescued in deed.

Nice colour, it really works well with the wood.

_________________
Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

It is a thing of beauty.

wow! I'm not into re-building but that looks beautiful!!

_________________

Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.

Absolutely gorgeous!!
I like your choice of "Huron", i.e. Bastien Bros. style of heart-shaped decks. Perfect colour, too!
Martin

Martin;
That is an almost exact copy of the original deck. I used red oak and shaped in a crown and the curve. The original had been steam bent to the curve of the sheer.

Hi,
Thanks for that info re:the decks. I knew that Bastien Bros__i.e. your first restoration a couple of years ago, the 15' "Huron"__wasn't the first or only maker to use heart-shaped decks. I'm just more familiar with Bastien Bros. than others. Are those heart-shaped decks identifiers of Chestnut models of a certain vintage, do you know? Incidentally, I still have a soft spot for my 15' Huron, but there's no way around the fact that it's a heavy carry, 74+ pounds dry. But I really like paddling that boat.
Martin

Chestnut used the heart shaped deck only until the fire in 1920/21. After that they used a curved edge. Canadian used the heart shape as have other makers including... US makers, Carleton, EH Gerrish, Kennebec, Racine, Robertson and Rushton.

As you know, a number of Canadian companies used that style as well, but even some of the Huron manufacturers did not use the heart shape. Bastien and one American company, St Louis Meramec used the "arrowhead" style with the inwales being ended before the stem.

Nicely done.

_________________
No, your other left!
Loon Island Outdoors
"Like" my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LoonIslandOutdoors

This was a rather long term project but well worth the effort. The pictures dont do it justice. It is beautiful. The paint is a custom colour she mixed herself and all of the wood was redone as original as we could.

We are hoping to get it out for a paddle this week.

Christy