Sorry it took so long (site problems- I couldn't log on for some time), but the new canoe is finally home. It was represented as the Willow model canoe from Island Falls Canoe in Maine, which it is, but it was built by a team of students at the Woodenboat School in Brooklin, ME and presumably mentored by Jerry Stelmok, the owner of Island Falls. The canoe was apparently built over an 8 day period, and then one student chosen by lottery got to take the class built canoe home.
I am quite pleased with the canoe. It is incredibly light (especially since it comes to me without canvas and paint!) and despite being delicately built to achieve that weight, I think it will be a treat to paddle once I've finished restoring her. It has some damaged planks- not fully broken, but rather with small broken spots as if it were placed on gravel and perhaps someone walked in her while on the ground. I have not yet decided whether to replace the planks, or infuse clear epoxy into the split and damaged spots and then clamp them to restore the surfaces to a fair condition. Once plank repairs are complete I will re-canvas, possibly using #12 lightweight canvas to preserve her light overall weight. The outwales will need restoration. They currently are rough as though not having received adequate varnish. They actually seem to have been shellacked, as the finish cleans up nicely with the application of alcohol and a bit of rubbing with a cloth.
Lastly, I'm not keen on the manner in which the inwales/outwales extend beyond the decks. The extended gunwales project about 1.5" beyond the stem which does two things: one, it makes that sharp pointed delicate overhang subject to lots of abuse- clearly evident in the condition of the current gunwales. Two, it stops the brass stem band from continuing up the stem and then bending down onto the deck which is the more customary detail. This will prevent the wood from contacting the ground any time the canoe is loaded/unloaded where the stem rests (even gently) on the ground. So, I think I'm going to cut this extension off. The stem band will completely cover the junction of the inwales at the turn onto the deck, and the outwales can then be tapered and rounded to meet the stem band on each side.
I'm planning on creating some sort of sling style seat, a la Azland Traditions saddle seat or Stewart River Boatworks sling seat, in order to determine the best location for a dedicated solo seat- this canoe will never be a tandem!
Here she is:
This picture shows the block to which a kneeling thwart was originally mounted- no seat. The other block is missing, as is the thwart itself.
Here are several shots of the damaged planking. The gray color of the exterior planking is from the original canvas filler pigment. Some areas show the weave of the canvas skin.
