Canoes on the wall?

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Permalink Reply by Donald Parsons on November 7, 2008 at 9:44am

Have seen this done in several restaurants/bars but never took the opportunity to see how they were hung against the wall/ceiling. You may want to "strap" the canoe by the thwarts and hang on the wall. I've thought about doing the same thing with an old canoe but don't have the space in my house. Post a photo when you get it hung - would like to see the canoe as much as anything else - I love old wooden boats/canoes.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Bowles on November 10, 2008 at 10:58am

Donald;
Joe Volpe sent me a drawing that should meet my needs and I plan on using it soon. With the limited information I have on the canoe and it being in less than optimal condition, I contacted Old Towne and found that they keep records on the initial sale of of all the canoes they have made. I now know that mine was made in 1946 and that it was sold in Texas. It made it all the way to Michigan. They also offer a new skin to match exactly what was on the original as that information is also part of their outstanding record keeping. I think I may go that route and restore. Once done, do I keep it on display or do I actually put it in the water again? Somehow I think it may have a soul that yearns for the water again. It must be my hidden Zen surfacing.
Dan

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Permalink Reply by Joe on November 7, 2008 at 11:01am

Dan,

Instead of trying to just "hang it there" why not make it look like its sitting on 2 supports like a book shelf or mail box and ready to be taken off the wall at any time. You could make these out of wrought iron to be rustic. If you wanted to get tricky you could put them inside logs that would be about 5 inches in diameter and 18 inches long that would be perpendicular to the wall. You would run safety wires on the top part of the canoe to the wall made out of black piano wire so it would be almost invisible and that would keep the canoe from rotating downward. The wrought iron supports would extend a little beyond the gunwhale of the canoe and would curl up to provide a lip so the canoe would not slip off. The supports would be like a "T" lying on its side with some fancy scroll work to add strength. A wrought iron worker knowing the canoe weight could design the two brackets with some nice scroll work. If you would like a further sketch send me a fax number.

Joe

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Permalink Reply by Dan Bowles on November 9, 2008 at 11:07pm

If a canoe was truly expected to be used, you are right that it would be good to have it displayed in a manner for expected use. I guess my thinking was only decoration, but your idea is much better. Even though it will never be used again, it would befit the character of a canoe to at least look like it were going to hit the water again. If you have time to send me a sketch, I would definitely appreciate it. 419-822-2131. Thanks for your ideas.
Dan

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Permalink Reply by Dan Bowles on November 10, 2008 at 10:52am

Joe;
Recieved the fax. Excellent idea. I actually have a blacksmith friend who designs and exicutes a variety of wrought iron articles. I will consult with him after taking some important measurements. Looks like a very simple solution. I kept thinking about hanging it and every idea led me to the canoe not hanging straight not to mention the ropes/wires exposed. The piano wire will be hidden and the bracket will be an attractive addition to the room. Great. Thanks for the suggestion. I will send pictures to you and Donald when done.
Dan

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Permalink Reply by Joe on November 10, 2008 at 1:53pm

Dan,

Since antiques in theory are supposed to look "used", before going too far I would suggest the following. Using a very light amount of "Bar Keepers Friend cleanser", water and towels, try cleaning the bottom and see what happens to the look. Go very easy. Bar Keepers has Oxylic acid in it which if you notice is used on the outside of log homes, teak deck cleaner and in wood lined food lockers. It will remove all sorts of stains from many materials including burn marks on stove tops and counters. You can also use white vinegar to lighten up wood after but all in moderation. Perhaps a coat of satin, polyureathane after.

I'm not sure if furniture restorers just use denatured alchol and lots of clean rags but some of the other bloggers may know.

My businesses are still in Clawson, MI. but I now live full time in Sarasota.

Joe

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Permalink Reply by Glenn V on November 13, 2008 at 8:30pm

I like Joe's idea of wrought iron best . I have seen some hanging from ceilings with rope and old wooden pulleys and then the end of the rope tied off on a hook. That looked cool also.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Bowles on November 15, 2008 at 4:56pm

Glenn;
I thought about doing this with rope and pullies and suspending the canoe over the center of the great room but decided on a wall hanging with the bottom against the wall. Old Towne wooden canoes have a fantasic wooden skeleton and seats that I wanted all to see. I like the wrought iron idea as I think it goes with the image of a cabin. I plan to post a photo once completed. Only getting to the cabin every couple of weeks delays the projects but it shouldn't take too long once I get the brackets fabricated. Thanks for your interest.
Dan

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Permalink Reply by Whitney Richardson on December 1, 2008 at 4:57pm

Dan--

I noticed your initial inquiry on the forum during the planning for the Log Home Design Annual Buyer's Guide. Because our readers would likely be interested as well, given the popularity of such outdoorsy decor, we're actually featuring it in the issue, scheduled to hit newsstands Jan. 6. For an expert opinion, I chatted with Tim Cuthbertson at American Traders, a canoe and furnishing manufacturer in Vermont, and he recommended wall brackets underneath the canoe as the best option, with some of the other options noted in this discussion as good alternatives as well. Unfortunately, we ran out of room in the design process, so I thought I'd share the photos he was kind enough to pass on of the brackets here.

Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Whitney Richardson on December 2, 2008 at 11:25am

Whoops, looks like the photos never posted yesterday. You can view them here, or just go to my page and see my photos if you're interested.

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