Kennebec Boat & Canoe Co.

Years in Business
1909-1941

The Kennebec Boat and Canoe Company built its first canoes in December of 1909. The company was founded by George F. Terry, who was formerly a railroad station agent, ice cutter, publisher and merchandiser. Terry’s son, George F. Terry, Jr. later joined the company and ran it until 1939. In 1939, the company was sold to Frank Terry and James Dean. A small number of canoes were built until the factory was closed for good in 1941.

Walter D. Grant was Supervisor of the Kennebec Boat and Canoe Company from its inception in 1909. Prior to that, Grant lived with his parents and was listed in the 1900 US Census as being a painter. Grant, described on his WWI draft card as of stocky build with blue eyes, brown hair and missing parts of some fingers, was married to wife Mary, and had two children, Clifford (b. 1906) and Marguerite (b. 1909). Walter had a twin brother, Wendell B. Grant, who worked for E.M. White’s canoe business most of his life. Walter’s sister Delia l. Grant was married to E.M. White.

In 1930, Grant left Kennebec to found the Skowhegan Boat and Canoe Company.

Identifying Features
  • Heart-shaped decks.
  • Short rail caps on open gunwale canoes are usual.
  • Serial Number: 4 to 6 digit number + length stamped on stem or on brass builder’s plate. Format typically the same as Old Town Canoe Company. Records may be accessed through the WCHA Serial Number Search.

 

Serial Numbering

Serial Number - digits stamped on stem and/or on metal deck plate. Original serial number records are preserved at the Maine State Museum; these have been duplicated by the WCHA. Requests for serial number record information should be posted to the WCHA Serial Number Search Forum at http://forums.wcha.org/

Models Offered
Model Dimensions (LxWxD) Years Produced Notes
Aristocrat 16x35½x12¼
17x36x12¼
18x36½x12¼
1918 3-ply construction
Camp Chief 17x35x12¾
18x35x12¾
1932-1941
1940-1941
 
Camp Special 16x35½x12¼
17x36x12¼
18x36½x12¼
1918  
Charles River 1915 15x31x12
16x31½x12
17x32x12
18x32½x12
1910-1916  
Invisible Sponson 16x39x12¾
17x40x12¾
18x41x12¾
1929-1941  
Junior
(One-Man)
12x32x12 1922-1928  
Katahdin 17x34½x12¼ 1922-1928, 1940-1941  
K Special 16x32x12
17x33x12
18x34x12
1915-1917 Modified Kennebec model
Kennebec 15x33x12½
16x33½x12½
17x34¼xx12½
18x35½x12½
1910-1941  
Kineo 15x36x13
16x36x13
17x37x13
18x37x13
1910-1941  
Maine Guides Model 18½x37½x13
20x39x13
1910-1941  
Open Gunwale Canoe 16x33x12
17x33½x12
18x34x12
1911-1918  
Sponson Canoe 16x42x12¼
17x43x12¼
18x44½x12¼
1911-1928  
Torpedo 16x32x11½
17x33x11½
18x34x11½
1917-1927  
War Canoe 25x44x16
30x46x16
35x48x16
1915-1933 25' offered 1940-1941
White Water Canoe 15½x37½x12½ 1940-1941 Original form by Dan Neal
References
  • Miller, Daniel J. 2011. The Kennebec Boat & Canoe Company of Waterville, Maine. Wooden Canoe 166:11-15.
  • Millis, Willard E., Jr. 1984. The Kennebec Canoe Company. Wooden Canoe 19:3-6.