16' c. 1910 Morris-Veazie Canoe
photo by Don Albrecht
Built by one of the true Masters and handled well enough through the years to maintain structure and grace at a ripe old age. 160 hour restoration by Garry Couch, who above all things attempted to do no harm or 'improve' upon anything. Original solid gunnels and deckplates, original seats recaned.
Restored in 2004 with some signs of limited use since.
Available at $4000.00.
The history of the Morris and me;
I took possession of this canoe in 2002 or 03 as part of a barter arrangement with a still good friend. It was painted blue with the numbers IL8821E on it. I have the last known registration card. 1975 which says it's a 1935 Old Town.
In my 35+ years of boat building I've probably only averaged a canoe every year or two (I'm primarily a plank on frame boat builder but folks bring me a wood/canvas canoe now and then and I find them agreeable) - but as nice as they are, I knew this was no Old Town. It also had inlaid strips of aluminum placed on the gunnels where it would rest on a car top and an aluminum framed outboard motor bracket. These I carefully replaced with ironbark.
It has three pair of cant ribs per end, and the number 1050 appears on the plate, I believe the seats are maple with the thwarts and decks mahogany.
A short while after beginning to dismantle the Morris I was in complete awe of the craftsmanship and stepped back, realizing I had something pretty special on my hands. Before I messed anything up I hoisted it up to the shop overhead and waited for somebody to come in and enlighten me about it.
The following winter, out of the blue, Pam Webb walked into the shop. She had come from her Ontario shop and down the south shore of Lake Superior to deliver one of her fine canoes westward of here. She looked around and said "where did you get that Morris?". Our lively conversation could have lasted much longer but her partner was restless as they had many miles to travel that day.
However, she shared with me what she new of the Morris canoes, suggested the plate# 1050 may represent the 50th canoe built in 1910. After her most pleasant visit I was prepared for the restoration. I took my time and felt like an archaeologist. Do no harm.
Last summer ('09) Kathryn Klos visited, was complimentary about the Morris and identified it as a Veazie, though the date may not be definitive.
The interior had the classic thick crud of years of varnish and oil which was painstakingly removed. A number of bottom planks were replaced and a handful of ribs. The rest of the wood was in remarkably good shape. I only replaced what I had to. The new wood was generously rubbed with pine tar and stains from bending straps were allowed to blend in with the old ribs. I 'bake it' a little in the sun every summer and all the wood has blended together quite nicely.
How the under parts of the breast hooks (deck plates) and keel were shaped particularity impressed me.
The floor was in good shape, though I did clinch over some copper fasteners here and there.
The filled canvas was painted with Malacy green because I liked it, they quit making it, and I had some. The floor Pesian Red. I now use Kirbys for everything.
It's a wonderful watercraft and being exposed to its manor of construction raised the standards of both me and the workings of the shop. The expression 'they don't build them like they used to' most certainly applies.
Garry Couch
