Need help trying to find out what my canoe is worth?

[juanitodelgrande]

I have a wood-and-canvas canoe that was built by a guy named Joe Seliga, out of Ely, Minnesota. It's rather a special canoe, and here's why: It was originally built by Joe Seliga in about 1981. I used it on three, month-long trips to Canada, and frankly, it got a little beat up. A few cracked ribs, a few cracked planks, lots of scratched paint, you get the picture. In 1988, I moved to Florida and had to store the canoe outside, which was bad because some kind of worm pretty much ate most of the gunwales. Now for the good news: about 1998, the badly beat-up canoe was taken back to Ely, taken back to Joe Seliga's shop, and had her completely and totally rebuilt by Joe himself, a complete restoration. Since the restoration, the canoe has never been used, just sitting in storage, virgin and pristine. So here's what I got: I have a museum-quality, near mint-condition wood-and-canvas Seliga canoe. It looks as though it just rolled out of Joe's workshop. Gorgeous!!! She always takes my breath away every time I see her. Anyway, I'm looking for input as to what she's worth, both for insurance reasons, and also because I might be looking to sell her as I obviously have little use for her. The only basis of comparison I have is a wood and fiberglass canoe I saw in an outdoor store with a $5000 price tag on it. I assume my Seliga is worth more, but I have no idea. Any input anyone has would be appreciated.

[Ian McColgin]

Google Joe Seliga canoes. He’s quite famous, has enthusiastic owners and all that. You get lovely sites like
forums.wcha.org/archive/index.php/t-549.html

You can likely find some comparable canoes for sale and gain an idea of current value.

[StevenBauer]

Is Joe still around? If so call him and ask him. He might even know some potential buyers.


Steven

[juanitodelgrande]

Sorry Steven, Joe passed from this Earth on Dec. 18, 2005. He has left quite a legacy though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Seliga

[juanitodelgrande]

Thanks for the tip Ian. I was already hooked up with that WCHA site. It's seems a little more specific to my needs, which is good. Also posting on the BWCA site. You had mentioned 'comparables', and I'm wondering if there really are any. When I had the canoe restored by Joe, I had fully intended on using her again, but never got around to it unfortunately. Now, I literally have a "brand new" Seliga, and I'm thinking that, well, there might be a few "brand new" Seligas, but there can't be too many of 'em.

[Mrleft8]

Like with just about anything, it is worth what someone will give you for it.

[Canoez]

I agree with Ian's suggestion to look over at the WCHA.

While it may well be a canoe built and restored by Joe Seglia, provenance is a difficult issue. Any one of a number of skilled builders could repair or restore such a boat in a similar way and you probably couldn't tell the difference.

It is also interesting to note that while you may have seen a new boat being advertised for $5K, used canoes, like used cars can have a difficult market and as Lefty says, it's only worth what someone will pay. I'm sure that over his lifetime, he built many hundreds of canoes, so they aren't necessarily that rare at this point in time. There was a website around with a memorial to him and it mentioned the large number of boats that he built.

Other older and more rare canoes types/brands would probably garner more money.

[Tom Robb]

You won't be able to retire on what she brings in, so sell her to someone who is motivated to take good care of her.
Value is in the eye of the beholder with the cash. In this life there's no such thing as intrinsic or absolute value.

[Pernicious Atavist]

If you decide to sell, I'd be happy to have you post it for free so my readers can see what you're offering.

Go here when you're ready: http://canoesailingmagazine.com/index.php/For-Sale/

[Raka025]

I had fully intended on using her again, but never got around to it unfortunately. .

Unfortunately?? I would say FORTUNATELY for you and the boat you didn't use it again after reading what you did to her in your previous outings.

I hope she finds a better home. :D

[C. Ross]

Seliga sold a bunch of canoes to Camp Widjiwagan outside Ely MN where they are still in regular use. (My 12 year old is headed there in two weeks for a school wilderness retreat.) There must be many dozens of Seliga canoes all over northern MN, a lot of them in hard use at summer camps like Widji.

So I'd doubt that you have an heirloom worth many thousands Once the existing fleet of Seliga canoes wears out, maybe yours gets more valuable.

(But what treasures are you missing out on in the meantime if you keep that lovely canoe under wraps rather than using it?)

[juanitodelgrande]

OK, she's tentatively on the market. More info and pics can be found at http://www.juanitodelgrande.com/ .

http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=4143
http://www.bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=119315&forumID=133&confID=1

[juanitodelgrande]

Raca025: I used her for the purpose God intended her to be used for, a life of adventure and exploration. She's even had Hudson Bay water under her keel twice, via the Seal River and the Albany River. Can you say the same?

[S B]

Your canoe is worth what you will part with it for. That is a decision you have to make. Market value is what someone else will pay.

[Yeadon]

Thanks for the wiki link about Joe Seliga. I'd never heard of him, but what he did over the course of his life was pretty impressive.

PS - There's no advertising on this forum ... not that you're actually doing that or anything, of course. Ahem.

[Canoez]

Yeadon, Jerry Stelmok wrote a good book on Joe Seglia and his canoes. One of the more interesting things is the photo essay of joe building a canoe from start to finish. Good stuff if you're into wooden canoes and an excellent legacy for Joe.

[Raka025]

Raca025: I used her for the purpose God intended her to be used for, a life of adventure and exploration. She's even had Hudson Bay water under her keel twice, via the Seal River and the Albany River. Can you say the same?

No - can't say the same. She's ready for you to have some more fun with than. Spring is right around the corner.

[Yeadon]

Yeadon, Jerry Stelmok wrote a good book on Joe Seglia and his canoes. One of the more interesting things is the photo essay of joe building a canoe from start to finish. Good stuff if you're into wooden canoes and an excellent legacy for Joe.

Thanks, I'll look it up.