Noobie Canoe Repair

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by bdmathis, Aug 12, 2014.

  1. bdmathis
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    bdmathis New Member

    Hey Gang -

    I've got a crack on the hull of my Old Town canoe. Is this a simple repair? I'm thinking I can DIY, but could be wrong. Would this just require some "gelcote"?

    Thanks!
    Brady

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    gonzo Senior Member

    I suggest you contact the company. They were made of a plastic they called Royalex, which has a high oil content.
     
  3. bdmathis
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    bdmathis New Member

    OK, cool. I did some research, and Old Town claims all the Stillwater canoes are fiberglass (mine is a Stillwater model). Is there a way for me to examine the hull and determine what it is made of?
    Thanks for the super-quick reply!
     
  4. alan white
    Joined: Mar 2007
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    alan white Senior Member

    It's fiberglass, which appears white where scratched. The keel cracked, I think, because it got jumped on. The crack should be repaired correctly. Otherwise it will be far less tolerant of strain than the condition that cracked it in the first place.
    The repair needs to be tapered fore and aft with a few layers of fiberglass laid in epoxy. Not an expensive repair at all, but it needs to be done by someone who can return the bottom to its original strength.
     
  5. bdmathis
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    bdmathis New Member

    Thanks Alan - I may have to hunt around for someone in Colorado who can handle this... Cheers!
     
  6. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Welcome to the forum.

    This is a job you can do yourself, which is a whole bunch cheaper. Grind the area back, removing the gel coat and cleaning up the broken laminate. Lay in replacement fabric (cloth, combi fabric, etc.) with polyester or epoxy (epoxy is preferred and stronger) so it's "bulked" back up to almost flush with the surrounding surface. Lastly finish it off with a gel coat repair (hard for a novice to do) or prep for paint.

    These types of simple repairs are covered in many places on line. I'd suggest you download the free "User's Guide" from westsystem.com and the "Epoxy Book" from systemthree.com to get a grip on the techniques for this type of thing. It's not hard and you'll be proud of the work after you splash her again.
     
  7. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    Following on from Pars comprehensive advice, I would recommend Epoxy.

    As mentioned, its stronger and more waterproof, and a bit easier for a novice to mix,

    If you have ever used Araldite, it is a bit thinner version,

    If you go to your local fibreglass supplier, they will recommend a suitable glass cloth to fill the gap.

    If you took it along to a boat repairer, or even a local experienced enthusiast, they would probably have some remnants of epoxy and cloth, and would charge you about the same as it would cost you to buy retail quantities.
     

  8. bdmathis
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    bdmathis New Member

    PAR & rwatson -
    Fantastic! This discussion is quite helpful. Thanks to you both. :)
     
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