Original 1941 Old Town Canoe Aa Grade 18-foot Mahogany Trim, Sails 'heavy Water"

This well-preserved Old Town canoe is 80 years old and spent the last 37 years in a bait & tackle shop that closed recently here in Georgia. Now it needs a new home. According to a copy of its original build sheet, this 18-foot "heavy water" model was ordered and built in 1940 and shipped July 11, 1941, to a client in upstate New York It is the company's "AA" grade (highest quality) boat, trimmed in mahogany and optioned with sails, a rudder, removable floor and other upgrades. Its canvas shell still has its original "bright red" finish and the sails and mast assemblies appear original and complete. All I have done is to clean off three decades of dust - and I have not floated it.

As far as condition, the mahogany rudder has a vertical crack that was repaired with a metal bracket an d small screws long ago, but I do not see any other flaws. The build-sheet description (a copy provided by the canoe collectors' archivist, not the 'original') also mentions a keel assembly, which is no longer present. The decal is legible but has some damage. Please NOTE that there is an unmarked, generic paddle in some of the images, which is not included. It would make a fine centerpiece to any lodge or man-cave large enough to accommodate its size; or could be an attractive amenity for a sporting museum, antique store or any fishing-related business.

Someone might even want to fish from it someday! This item is for sale but PLEASE NOTE buyer must either pick it up in Augusta, Ga., or arrange suitable shipping. I can suggest some shipping options and will help any way I can, but a canoe of this length and condition will require some special handling, which is the buyer's responsibility. I can help with packing materials etc., though, and will work with buyer to make sure it travels safely. Thanks for looking, and please let me know if I can answer any questions or provide additional photos.