I have a 1986 Wenonah advantage in glass with about a million miles on it. I use it more than my tandem but it is not in great shape. At some point during its life it was sunk in some rapids which folded up the hind quarters. It is almost wore through the fiberglass skid plates someone put on it . The last thing wrong with it is the color, brown, the slowest color canoe there is. Cost wise is it worth me putting on new skid plates and sanding off the gel-coat getting a new faster gel-coat put on. What does it cost for a gel-coat? I think I could handle the skid plates. Do you put on skid plates before or after the gel-coat? I guess third option is drive it until it dies and save my money for the new one.

You could use it for a plug and build a new one

A plug? Hum, thinking of this concept with my Summersong. Not to hack the OP, but can you point to a resource on how to do that?

On the OP, I would check with NW Canoe in St Paul. They can do all you ask then you can determine if you want to pay them, diy or change. I like hanging on and improving something if it fits your needs. Gear can carry an energy and the history you have had.

Thanks,
John

Don't bother trying to put on a new gel coat. Do new s-glass or dynel skid plates, patch anything that needs patching, give it a coat of fresh epoxy (or not if the existing exterior is in good shape), wait a couple weeks for it to fully cure, scuff sand it, and then paint it any color you want with Rustoleum from the hardware store. Or pay more money for a nicer marine paint like Interlux. Anything you put on is going to scratch but it's a canoe. Repaint as desired.

As for using an existing hull as a plug check out canoetripping.net. There are a lot of builders over there and quite a few are starting to build their own composite canoes.

As far as I know it's legally ok but there is an ethical dilemma that goes with using an existing hull as a plug. Just like a songwriter or author someone designed that canoe and licensed it to be used by the builder. I'd feel better if I had their permission to copy their hull.

Alan

pictures would help.