Shell Lake

Shell Lake canoes look very much like Thompson canoes, enough to suggest that Shell Lake "borrowed" the design from Thompson. The similarity is continued through the unique way the canoes are planked (so the planks appear to run parallel to the keel when viewed from the side). This peculiar feature is common to both Thompsons and Shell Lakes. Also, some Shell Lake Deluxe models will have stringers covering the ends of the half ribs, again similar to Thompson.

Serial Numbers: The Shell Lake serial number is a pair of numbers each 3 or 4 digits long. The first number is the model number, the second apparently some sort of sequence. For example, 116 123 would be model 116 - the 16' Deluxe. The number will be found stamped in the wood or on a brass tag.

The Canoes: Shell Lake built one model of canoe in three lengths, as well as a square ended canoe. The Deluxe and Guide canoes were the same model, but the Deluxe added half-ribs. By 1940, they had added the small Hunter and Trapper canoe to the line.

Capsule History by Andreas Rhude: According to "The Story of Shell Lake" by A.L. Stouffer, copywrite 1961, Shell Lake Boat Company was incorporated in December 1904 by P.N. Burg, W.R. Bourne, and J.W. Smith with $25,000 capital. On 10 December 1910 they sold the company to National Boat and Engine Company. The plant was idle for some years but was sold to F.W. Conselman in 1912. On 11 January 1929 it was once again sold (for $20,000). and reorganized with L.W. Allen president, R.L. Tarbox Vice-president, S.G. Swanson treasurer, and R.D. Stouffer secretary with W.G. Hoar as manager.

Sold again in 1933, again in 1944, and once again in 1959 to the Brandt brothers of St. Paul. Shell Lake Boats was purchased by Lund Boats of Minnesota in the 1960s and Lund shut them down permanently circa 1980.

Peterson Brothers Boat Company of Shell Lake was a spin-off of Shell Lake Boats and they started in 1930. The same book says "The Peterson brothers were expert boat builders, having been employed by F.W. Conselman, until he quit the business." Peterson stopped making boats circa 1959. The company still exists, now making fiberglass storage tanks. (Thanks to Andreas Rhude for providing this history).

Further Information:

Shell Lake has entries in Bob Speltz's "Real Runabouts IV: Outboard Edition" and "A Real Runabouts Review of Canoes".

Four Shell Lake catalogs are found on our Historic Wood Canoe and Boat Company Catalog Collection