Here\'s a rare opportunity to own a scarce antique \'courting\' canoe - a valid and established museum quality piece. Display it in your home, or take your sweetie for a Sunday afternoon paddle in style, just like they did a hundred years ago. Offered is a century-old \'lovers\' canoe\', made by the noted Charles River builder, J R Robertson, circa 1910-18. It is 16\' in length, with 4\' mahogany decks, whose extreme length typify the latter years of courting canoe construction. Often called the \'torpedo nose\' style because of the long, recurved stem profile, giving it a racy look, these canoes were all the rage for young couples seeking a romantic date in the late 1800\'s - early 1900\'s. Automobiles were not yet plentiful; recreational canoeing was a popular pastime. Getting out in a canoe alone together allowed young people to escape their over-attentive chaperones or parents. This particular canoe has recently undergone an extensive two and a half year restoration by Dick Persson, of Buckhorn Canoes, an acknowledged expert in canoe/boat repair. It has been used sparingly since, and recently was featured in the story of paddling and romance \"Can I Canoe You Up the River?\", put on by the Canadian Canoe Museum, where this canoe was on loan, 2014-15. It was also used by the Museum as a display piece at the Muskoka Antique & Classic Boat Society\'s \'Annual Show\', in Gravenhurst, ON, July 2014. For sale now only because I am downsizing, getting older, and would like someone else to have the chance to enjoy it. A wonderfully smooth and easily paddled canoe, it\'s great fun for one, even more for a couple, as well as being a great piece of history with a solid provenance. Replacement cost, new, today would run close to $12,000. It is offered here for only what it cost to buy and repair some years ago. Serious inquiries and reasonable offers are welcome. A copy of the Museum display catalog and other documentation will accompany sale. Pleased to answer any questions. Canoe is currently stored in Peterborough, Ontario. Further info on canoe collection from which this comes may be found at: antiquemodelcanoes.com.

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