What Is Otca Old Town Canoe?

Wood and canvas canoes first appeared in the late 1800s as a more durable, lower maintenance alternative to Native American birch bark designs. The Old Town Canoe Company (OTCA) is one of these classic designs that have remained virtually unchanged since the turn of the century. The Otca Model (1908-present) is a 17 foot long, CS grade, HW (Heavy Water) model with western red cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, birch decks, birch trim, and a telegraph code.

The Otca was introduced in 1908 and began with a narrow hull with a 34.5 beam in the 16 length. In 1957, the 16′ Yankee model was substituted for the 16′ Otca, and the standard deck became the norm. The OTCA is one of Old Town’s quintessential wooden canoe designs that have remained virtually unchanged since the turn of the century.

The original exterior paint color was dark green, and it has many properties that make it ideal for canoe planking. It is light, intrinsically rot resistant, naturally resistant to bugs, flexible, and has a distinctive 20″ long deck with a coaming. In 1967, an 18 Old Town Otca Guide was brought home and serial number 174644-18.

This 1937 Old Town Otca canoe has been professionally restored and has the serial number 123012, originally delivered to E.I. Petersen of Pinehurst Lakes. All canoes and boats are stocked with the latest type of open gunwales, and buying a 16 foot or longer canoe without No. 8 canvas is recommended.

In summary, the OTCA is a quintessential wooden canoe design that has remained virtually unchanged since its introduction in the late 1800s. Its distinctive 20″ long deck with a coaming and the use of Greek ends make it a popular choice among Old Town canoe enthusiasts.