by BlackDogCamp » Mon May 06, 2019 8:18 pm
Update #2: I had convinced myself that this was at least a post 1954 boat because it was fiberglassed (the 1954 Shell Lake catalog still listed the Mallard Queen as canvas covered). I assumed that Shell Lake had switched from canvas to fiberglass on post 1954 models because histories suggested that they switched to "fiberglass boats" in '56 or '57. After examining a damaged keel area I discovered another dead grass colored layer (Shell Lake sold Mallard Queen with a dead grass color) under the current green fiberglass covering. I thought maybe a recovered canvas boat from earlier? Then I saw the fabric under the dead grass color was fiberglass matt, not canvas. The green fiberglass was definitely done by a previous owner as I discovered the oarlocks had been moved inward (old holes under the gunwhales but not on top). So now I'm back to thinking my boat is still post 1954. Sure it could still be a pre 1955 canvas boat that had been fiberglassed twice but unlikely. I know the boat has been in a barn for at least 30-40 years. IF originally canvas (and it does not match the canvas Mallard Queens from the 1940's) that would mean it was used as canvas boat, fiberglassed and used again until it needed a 2nd fiberglass job, used again and is now in the rough shape it is. Just seems unlikely someone would be THAT rough on it. So if anyone knows if the Mallard Queen was produced with dead grass colored fiberglass after 1954 please let me know! Thanks!