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Author Topic: Identifying an Old Canoe  (Read 2301 times)

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Online Dee

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Identifying an Old Canoe
« on: April 19, 2010, 04:36:57 PM »
Gentlemen, I have a canoe I bought about 22 years ago. It was layin in an old woman's yard in the Texas Panhandle with both gunnels wore out from runnin it up on gravel bars. I bought the thing for $20.00, took it home and fiber glassed the holes in each end, and have used it ever since.
In my old age, I am about to restore it ONE MORE TIME, and would like to know it's origin of manufacture. I think I used to know but, 60 years is 60 years, and I just don't remember.
I think it was manufactured in Wyoming but, I don't remember why, and it seems I used to know the name of the manufacturers but, once again I digress to my age, and the years.
It is a fiberglass canoe, with aluminum bench seats at each end, that were padded with a black foam coating, has an aluminum support tube across the middle mounted on the aluminum edges, and it has the same aluminum tubing at each end for carry handles, along with white in color heavy plastic covers over each end. It has flotation in each end (enclosed), and is painted in a white and brown birch bark pattern.
Anyone know who made this canoe? I am guessing it's about 30 years old. Maybe a little more, or a very little less, as I Have had it about 22 years, and it had some wear when I got it as described. It has a serial number on the left front side, but that really is of no consequence I suppose.
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Offline bearmgc

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2010, 06:20:10 PM »
Dee, I looked high and low for history on any canoes made in Wyoming. Can't find a thing.
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Online Dee

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2010, 01:38:57 AM »
Me either. I don't remember why I thought that. Maybe I come across something while I'm sanding.
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Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2010, 05:29:23 PM »
Dee,

Check the HIN (hull identification number) on the Coast Guard website.  First Google HIN, it is like a car VIN with information on year of manufacture and the code for the manufacturer.  The coasty site will let you decipher the code to who made the boat, and where...

Okay, I did the hard part.  follow this link http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm and it will tell you everything you need to know, plus a link to the Coast Guard data base.

-Kees-
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Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2011, 06:03:33 PM »
Hey Dee,  did you ever figure out what the canoe is?

-WH-
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Offline sidewinder319

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2011, 08:43:43 PM »
There was a company in Casper, Wyoming that made fiber glass water craft. They went under around 1976. Sorry I don't recall the name of the company. It was located in Mills Wyoming a suburb of Casper.
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Online Dee

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2011, 02:31:10 AM »
sidewinder, I think you may be close, I am gonna go back out to the shop and look some more.
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Offline sidewinder319

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2011, 06:31:42 PM »
I was working with a fellow who worked part time at the plant.  We were outfitting Elk camps in the Big Horn Mtns at the time.  I recall a number of small water craft around the yard. The firm failed and closed around 1976.  They were selling the inventory off real cheap. I left that country when our hunting lodge burned down shortly after that.  I have tried to contact some one in Casper that recalled the firm no luck. :)
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Online Dee

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2011, 10:44:01 AM »
This one here is fiberglass, but was colored to look like birch bark. Really a nice looking canoe. I guess it doesn't matter, but I have never seen another like it in all these years.
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Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2011, 04:31:54 PM »
Did you try to look up the HIN on the Coast Guard site?  I bought a sailboat (used) and the only thing to ID it with was the serial number.  What the registration said was way goofy.  I found it alright on the CG site, the company had been out of business since 1979.

-WH-
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Online Dee

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Re: Identifying an Old Canoe
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2011, 02:24:43 AM »
First thing I need to do is get off my lazy butt, and go our there and get the vin. It's so hot, and I just got home, I keep puttin it off.
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