Canal Barge restoration

[joemott]

I recently picked this old Barge up at a auction in Champlain NY. there was a couple different ship yards in Champlain NY on the great Chazy Rive near Lake Champlain. they put out dozens of full size crafts in the 1800s to the 1920s, I have the new hull bottom in and have a lot to do yet but this is a labor of love for me! If anyone has any tips. tricks or info on the project id love to hear it.

 

[Roger Pellett]

It’s possible that this might be a case where “less is better.” Before trying to restore this, try determining its provenance. I would take it to the people at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to see what they think. If it’s really old, restoration could destroy its value.

Off hand, I believe that It’s a piece of Folk Art rather than an accurate representation of a canal boat. The proportions appear to be wrong. Canals by their nature were shallow and narrow. Boats, therefore were shallow draft and narrow. On the other hand since they traveled is still waters they could be long in proportion to depth and width. Your model is wide and deep relative to its length. That’s not bad folk art can be desirable.

Instead of a restoration, how about a display that protects what you’ve already got. Then using drawings available from the museum build a accurate canal boat model that could be displayed next to this relic.

An opportunity for a creative project.

Roger

 

[joemott]

Thank you I have already been talking with the Executive Director Of the museum he wants to check it out and compare it with a similar model they have in their collection. He thinks it could very well be a sales sample as well as i do. thanks for your input.

 

[Roger Pellett]

It looks like you’re on the right track.

 

[joemott]

I actually got two at the auction one is sporting a Stave Type bow that is quite rare.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Two nice finds!

 

[Bob Cleek]

It's probably anybody's guess, but since you have found a pair (and perhaps a third at the museum,) my gut is telling me they were originally made by the same craftsman as toys and are contemporary to the operation of the prototypes on local canals.

Definitely don't do anything to them without professional guidance, as is apparent you are already well aware. (But repeated here for the benefit of others who may encounter similar "finds.") While these models are not rigged or otherwise highly detailed, you may enjoy reading Rob Napier's book, Caring for Ship Models: A Narrative of Thought and Application, from Seawatch Books. It provides an excellent treatment of both the philosophy and practice of model ship restoration.