Description
Old Town began offering sailing rigs for their canoes in 1907, with production continuing through 1978. Canoe sailing was popular and has seen a resurgence in recent years due to its unique blend of paddling and sailing capabilities. Typically featured lateen sails, with sizes ranging from 44 to 125 square feet. The standard was a 55-square-foot lateen sail, though a 44-square-foot sail was required for American Canoe Association (ACA) races. Larger sails, like the 75-square-foot Wahoo or 100-square-foot twin lateen setups, were also offered. Masts were typically spruce, 2 inches in diameter at the base, tapering to 1¾ inches at the head, with a square tenon base fitting into a mast step. Spars included booms with brass gooseneck fittings for flexibility. Leeboards are used for lateral resistance to prevent sideslipping, evolving from teardrop shapes (1907) to square (1913) and deeper rectangular designs (1932). Adjustable brackets clamped to gunwales allowed precise positioning.
The 18-foot Otca model (e.g., 1941 model with serial number 130365) was a prominent sailing canoe, often equipped with a 55-square-foot lateen sail. These canoes were versatile, designed for both sailing and paddling, and featured high-quality restorations with original or period-correct rigging.
