New cruiser build

Time to pull a new one from the form, spruce rails and roasted birdseye maple decks, seats and thwarts.

Chestnut Bobs Special - Grey Owls canoe

Not the actual one, but the model he used in his later years. First built in the teens through to the last years of the late 70s, this model at 15' had a flat bottom and had a 37" beam making it very stable. Originally marketed as a 50 pound canoe, there were several versions and grades. 1/4" thick ribs helped keep the weight down, along with a single thwart and low sheer. 

For anyone unfamiliar, an internet search will generate an excess of information on Grey Owl, one of the most influential Canadian conservationists and author. In fact an Englishman named Archie Belaney, his story came out after his death. 

Couldnt pass this one up since we've not had one yet, and only needing some tip work and a smashed rib replaced from a whitewater foray it will be a relatively quick and easy restoration.

Distinctive low ends and flat sheer, with little rocker

Previous owner removed canvas and rails, and in an unusual twist the rails and keel are useable and will go back on

Nice day to retrieve a boat from Kitchener, Ontario

Necessary stop for pie.

Instantly recongizable as a Chestnut Bobs

Grey Owl in front of his cabin

Beamy, yet the thwart is 1-2" too short as there is a slightly flat run along the gunwale where the thwart pulls the sides in

Wide and stable enough for a beaver to board

Another shot showing the stability and width

Stable enough to stand in, should you need to , even to pole it.

Stembands intact and resusable

Side decals on the original canvas denotes a build from the mid 60s forward

Fredericton decal, putting the boat ahead of the last days when the factory was moved to Oromocto . Maple deck with plain cut out - to be replaced with the earlier style crowned deck with heart cut out

Hardwood keel, installed to add some strength and rigidity to the lightly built hull

In later years several wood species would be used in one boat, this one was built with maple decks, ash thwart and seats, spruce rails and oak outer rails.

History of the name to follow, just a quick post for now.

Chestnut Playmate14'

A sunny day in between all the rain, hard to believe its February since its 63 degrees. Perfect day for a road trip to pickup up a nice little 14 footer in original canvas and finish.

 A stop at the outlet mall keeps everyone happy

14 footer from the 50s-60s, with small ribs and oak rails, decks and thwart

 

Remnants of original decal and painter ring

Oak decks, inner and outer rails, and steel screws throughout

 

Spliced outer rails, typical of the period

 

14' overall, 32" wide and 12" deep

 

Corded seats need to be re caned

 

Overall untouched from factory finish. 

 

Canvas rotted, to be replaced.  Might be best to put a new canvas, seat cane, freshen up the varnish and go paddling rather than the whole strip and refinish. Time will tell....

Vintage Chestnut photograph

A great shot of a prefire Chestnut Cruiser, built with open gunwales - boat shows high bows and low midsection, and the early shape

Thanks to Dan Miller of Dragonfly Canoe for sharing.

Peterborough Minetta solo build

A 15' with great lines, these make terrific solo canoes, as they can be too small for two adults. Decal dates this boat from after 1954 as it has the anniversary decal, and would have been built by Chestnut in Fredericton for Peterborough.

 Anniversary decal remnants, and typical stem tip and gunwale end rot

 Intact decal

 Often these boats have far too short a centre thwart; whereas it should be 32" wide this one comes in at 29" and the flat run and pull in is evident in this shot. Shape is totally distorted

 This boat is built at 13.5 inches deep, where it should be between 11.5 and 12", far too deep and seats too high

 Boat shows 1815 stamp, denoting Minetta model, same as Chestnut Chum and Canadian Canoe Company Balmy models

 Standard maple seats, to be removed

 Ironically the rib tops are solid in this boat, but new rails will be installed below the existing, and the ribs cut below the old rails to lower the depth, returning the boat to the more correct depth, and providing for better handling as the paddling position is lowered

 The boat will also be turned into a solo canoe, like the above example. 

 Another example of a solo conversion, for an afternoon or extended trip

 A Chum modeled after Omer Stringers iconic Chestnut 15' in which he performed some of his great solo padding and demonstrations

 Gorgeous 15' solo boat built by Alex Comb at Stewart River

More updates to come as work progresses