Vintage Aerocraft 17' Aluminum Canoe, With Sailing Rig;  Original Owner, c.1964

Vintage canoe in very good condition, no dings or holes; canoe is straight and true. A tree branch once fell on the canoe while stored inverted, and there may be a very slight leak through one spot in the keel seam over a period of hours, resulting .in some wetness on the floor of the canoe. Made by an airplane company in St. Charles, Michigan, bought by my father in Michigan about 1964, the canoe was used by me in rivers and lakes in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ontario, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland. Has small full-length keel to track straight, original non-slip paint interior.. Styrofoam sealed into both ends is intended to keep canoe afloat when overturned, but weight of sailing rig may overcome this feature.

Seats are original nylon webbing; paddler may want to provide pads. Rare, simple, Lateen (dhow) style sailing rig was made for this canoe and bought from Aerocraft as an add-on in mid -1960's. Rig parts are aluminum, with larger ones filled with foam to float. Includes rudder and handle, rudder bracket, two leeboards and thwart bracket, mast seat bracket and mast, nylon sail. Sail and all parts are in good shape.

Owner added extension to rudder handle and added blue wooden splash guards beside leeboards. Sail, mast, leeboards, bracket, splashguards, and rudder are easily removed for canoe use on rivers. At about 92 pounds and 17', this canoe is too heavy for an older person to mount on a car.. The canoe does well on lakes and rivers, holding two or (max) three adults, or two adults and one or two small children, when paddled on quiet water. When sailed, it holds two persons only. It is a bit cumbersome to maneuver in either use, and is not intended for whitewater.

As any canoe is designed for quiet water and not wind/chop, the sailing rig is strictly for use in fair weather and calm water. This is basically a canoe and not a sailboat. There would be danger for poor swimmers or children when used with sailing rig! This bundle includes an aluminum paddle and a wooden paddle, and a rooftop canoe rack designed for smaller cars with drip rails (common prior to 1980 but not now).