1970's Great Canadian Canoe Repair

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by J.B., Jun 23, 2019.

  1. J.B.
    Joined: Jun 2019
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    Location: Canada

    J.B. New Member

    I have inherited my family's canoe and figure it is time to try to refinish it. It has been sitting in the backyard for a number of years, but began to see some use in the last few years. I figure it is time to try to bring it back to how I remember it as a child. I have been looking at YouTube videos and many different forums for advice on how to proceed. I have begun sanding it in preparation for painting, but discovered some repairs my father did, who knows how long ago. One thwart needs to be repaired/replaced, and so I found a nice ash yoke for easier one-person portaging. Any comments would be appreciated.
    IMG_20190530_155911_034.jpg IMG_20190530_1532440.jpg IMG_20190530_1533120.jpg IMG_20190609_194201_766.jpg IMG_20190609_1558226.jpg IMG_20190609_1600073.jpg IMG_20190622_1701346.jpg IMG_20190622_1701438.jpg IMG_20190622_1701559.jpg IMG_20190622_1703143.jpg IMG_20190622_1703201.jpg IMG_20190622_1703306.jpg
     
  2. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Call Jason at Noah's Marine in Toronto.

    Get a small kit of epoxy and cabosil and milled fiber and glass bubbles. Fix the holes and fair.

    Paint with epifanes 2'part epoxy primer and 2'part polyurethane paint. Great stuff.

    Get rid of that rusty hardware.

    Good work on the yoke. You won't regret it.
     
  3. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    You can polish old aluminum, up to you. Start in a grit progression. Try 320 and work down to start and then back up to higher numbers to polish.. Just don't cut it too hard; 180 would be pretty gritty; can't tell by the pics where to start...
     
  4. Beamreach
    Joined: Oct 2016
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    Location: Ontario Canada

    Beamreach Junior Member

    JB , We also inherited a 1960's made in Quebec Canoe needing a paint job and a bit of this and that.

    Ours was structurally OK, Fiberglass was good , We sanded lightly and painted with one part marine paint Candy Apple Red .Turned out great , someone then stole it .man we should have left it that dingy faded Orange ....Laugh to self.

    If the Fiberglass is not soft in spots I would just sand a bit and paint and replace the things rusted or rotted....done.
    Edit:....Used same primer as paint....
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
  5. J.B.
    Joined: Jun 2019
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    Location: Canada

    J.B. New Member

    Thanks for the detailed advice. Started by cleaning the gunwales and getting the old thwarts off. Have to figure out how to attach the one end of the yoke, since the one bracket broke off sometime in the late 70's early 80's. In one spot the sanding went too deep and the sanding overall is patchy. Once I have the gunwales cleaned up and the ash thwart and yoke attached, how involved is cleaning up those cracks, dings, and the deep dip into the fiberglass?
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  6. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Cut the yoke thwart to fit. Screw it in place predrilling. Then use thickened epoxy once you like the location.

    For glass repairs, give us a picture of the area one at a time.
     
  7. Beamreach
    Joined: Oct 2016
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    Location: Ontario Canada

    Beamreach Junior Member

    JB , Our new Canoe by Swift has through bolts on top of the aluminum gunwale attaching all cross members ,stainless bolts and locking nuts ,no need for brackets etc, works well !
     
  8. J.B.
    Joined: Jun 2019
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    J.B. New Member

    Here's an update on the refinishing. I'll add a picture of the yoke repair later. I can see all the imperfections but I'm happy with the result. Thanks for the responses, they were a great help. IMG_20190731_1053504.jpg IMG_20190731_1054160.jpg
     
  9. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
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    Location: Victoria BC Canada

    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Nice work JB!
    Finish won't matter a dam once you're paddling!
    Especially in Canadian white water!
    Are you in Toronto or on a coast?
     
  10. J.B.
    Joined: Jun 2019
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    J.B. New Member


    On the West Coast, but the canoe has followed my family from coast to coast, from paddling through Kejimkujik, Algonquin, Georgian Bay, North Saskatchewan River to Nitinat Lake.
     
  11. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    It may not be perfect, but it ain't half bad! Looks great.
     
  12. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
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    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Ah, Georgian Bay, my old stomping grounds.
    Honey Harbour to be exact.
    Nitinat's nice too!
    Cheers
     
  13. J Smythe
    Joined: Jul 2019
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    Location: USA

    J Smythe Junior Member

    Nice job. Would definitely fish and eat poutine in.
     
    DogCavalry likes this.

  14. djamson
    Joined: Jun 2019
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    Location: Fl

    djamson Junior Member

    It looks a lot better than before. Good job!
     
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