I did something today with the aid of my friend Butthead (Ken). I drilled two holes into a brand new Bell RockStar Kevlar Canoe.
I did this so I could add Painter Holes for my Painter Line.
Here is how I did it:
Used 1/2" Inside Diameter PVC Pipe (Menards) (7/8" Outside Dia,)
purchased new 1/4 inch drill bit and 7/8" drill bit, as I did not want a sloppy hole cut.
Put Masking tape on canoe where I wanted hole drilled. Marked where I wanted the hole drilled. Drilled a Starter hole with the 1/4" drill bit. Then drilled the Big hole with the 7/8" drill bit.
Pulled off Masking Tape. (Surprise there is floatation material inside the holes I just drilled)
Stuck 1/2 inch pipe in whole and marked pipe with black sharpie.
Also stuck pipe in hole and trimmed off rough edges of KEVLAR that kind of stick out around hole. Used sharp new razor blade to trim this crap away.
Cut off pipe at correct angle as per marks (this is an angle cut)
Took belt sander and custom ground the pipe to exact flushness with canoe hull.
Used Clear Silicone and filled hole in hull of canoe with silicone.
Shoved in the small piece of pipe and wiped off excess.
Did front of canoe first and back second...That's it.
Wish I could go canoeing...
PS Made me nervous as hell for a second drilling holes into a perfect canoe!!! Oh well that's how we learn.
SunCatcher

nice job

Looks similar!

butthead

Awesome! Thanks for the pictures. I was thinking of adding painters to my canoe as well. This will come in handy if I do.

Could I ask a favor? Do you know how I would repost your message in the Canoe Forum? I don't want to take credit from you for this and it is a job (because you have pics and a good description) that I think you should get full credit for.

Thanks again.

quote Could I ask a favor? Do you know how I would repost your message in the Canoe Forum? I don't want to take credit from you for this and it is a job (because you have pics and a good description) that I think you should get full credit for.

Thanks again."

RT. Fine by me. You can do it or I will do it, not sure what the canoe forum is?????
SunCatcher

SunCatcher,

I'm probably proving up my ignorance here. But, what is the purpose of a painter hole and a painter line.

Some thoughts on adding a painter hole to add end loops also called grab loops, and painter lines. (A Painter Line is no more than end lines tied on the end of the canoe)
Adding painter lines, end loops or grab loops, make your canoe easier to retrieve in the event of a capsize or spill. A Loop tied through the painter hole at or closer to water level gives you something to grab onto at each end of the canoe. If you ever have capsized a canoe...there is not much to grab onto, so the grab loops can help you out there.
The painter line itself or endline can be used to line the canoe down a creek or stream, or chute. This is where you are on the shore, the canoe is loaded and you walk or "line" the canoe down the stream loaded. using the attached painter line. Having the Painter hole closer to the water level adds stability. Also, some folks have canoe covers. Having a cover, there is no way to tie a rope onto the handle under the cover and still be easily able to grab a rope that is under the cover. So folks add painter lines (end lines) to the canoe.
Another idea is that you can use the painter hole to car top your canoe and as a tie down point on the front (bow) and rear (stearn) of the canoe.
Hope that helps,
SunCatcher

Great explanation, thanks. Yes, I have capsized once with my son and there was not much to grab on to. I can appreciate the safety aspect of this. We were just fishing a 100 yards off shore near camp.So we just got wet and didn't loose anything. We talk about that experience often when debating if conditions of too hazardous to continue. A great lesson.

I don't own a canoe yet. I'd be nervous drilling into a brand new canoe. Looks like you do great work.

Well done!

My SR already have them I think... but much higher up. How did you decide where to place them?

quote SunCatcher: "RT. Fine by me. You can do it or I will do it, not sure what the canoe forum is?????
SunCatcher"

It's one of those forums you have to ADD here (like the wilderness challenge one). There is one for building or refinishing canoes. I would add a post there and place a link to this thread RT with the "add a link" function.

Sun:
Like BWP said, the Canoe Forum is one of the "add" on forums. The Canoe Forum is for all things relating to modifying, building, or buying of canoes. I will link to this journal. Thanks. ^_^

quote BWPaddler: "Well done!

My SR already have them I think... but much higher up. How did you decide where to place them?"

BWP,
How did I determine where to place them? Well It's called Wild Ass Guess. I looked at others pictures around the "NET" and then Looked at about where I thought the waterline would be, and kinda put it where I guessed I would be a smidgen above the waterline. But since it is a solid piece of pipe, siliconed in, not really worried if it gets wet.
SunCatcher

Wow! The thought of drilling holes in my brand new canoe....YIKES!! You are brave!
WC

I call mine a tug line. You can attach a painter to it.

I did mine well above the water line and above the foam chamber as mine is a three-piece affair requiring hands on the inside to hold the short piece of tubing. Yes, it was nerve racking to drill.

ill be doing that to mine this spring.

Why doesn't Bell put them in at the factory?

I didn't see the real reason for painter lines - it's for lining the canoe up or down rapids. That's why they are installed fore and aft - and also the reason they are supposed to be installed low - just above the waterline. If the point of the line being attached to the canoe is too high - when lining a loaded canoe you will wind up pulling on the painter and tipping the canoe.

From a pratical standpoint we don't have a lot of linable rapids in the BWCA or Q - but I do them anyhow.



Before anyone points out the obvious - I probably installed my Tugeyes a few inches too high, but they worked.

Lining is the term for going downstream using the painter lines as said.

Tracking is the term for pulling a canoe upstream using the painter lines.

I install painters on all my strip boats and use them all the time.

CB

quote Beemer01: "I didn't see the real reason for painter lines - it's for lining the canoe up or down rapids. That's why they are installed fore and aft - and also the reason they are supposed to be installed low - just above the waterline. If the point of the line being attached to the canoe is too high - when lining a loaded canoe you will wind up pulling on the painter and tipping the canoe."

I've heard that before, but since my full load is still often below the gunwales, I think that's a long shot to tip the canoe over. Could be famous last words I know...

The stronger the current.... the bigger the problem. And a loaded canoe.... capsizing in a strong current = a disaster.

Honestly since we portage most falls and rapids and need to line or track (thanks Cedarboy) only rarely in the BWCA or Q it's probably moot point.

Some of the rapids West of the Q, in Woodlands Caribou and points North it is a real possibility so if you're going to install them install them at or just above the waterline.

agreed that current makes a huge difference... good point beemer. I line/track portages often for the fun of it, but that doesn't include furious/dangerous water. (Only once that I can recall.)

Is there a ballpark number for how high to be above the waterline, or does that vary according to your load? I do understand that you want to be above the waterline to be safe and that you don't want to get too high. Thanks.

rlhedlund (Ron) - what are the outside pieces from and how did you attach them to the pvc Thanks.

quote rlhedlund: "








I call mine a tug line. You can attach a painter to it.


I did mine well above the water line and above the foam chamber as mine is a three-piece affair requiring hands on the inside to hold the short piece of tubing. Yes, it was nerve racking to drill."

Looks like one of these

quote AmarilloJim: "Looks like one of these "

Yes, thanks.

Another option, and the direction I plan to go before this year's first trip...
TUGEYEs

quote ParkerMag: "Another option, and the direction I plan to go before this year's first trip...
TUGEYEs "

Thanks, ParkerMag - I was looking for that link!

quote BWPaddler: "Why doesn't Bell put them in at the factory?"

Bell Or should I say Northstar has them for the wood trim because you don't have the grab handles like the anodized aluminum trim do. You can use the grab handles for lining although being a little higher than the drilled hole option. I personally see the painter loops coming from the holes being more of an aesthetic thing for some. But I do get that the concept of attaching you painter loops closer to the water line as an advantage to those who are serious liners

Even Northstar puts them a tad high... Especially a solo boat which will roll so easy if not loaded properly. I'd have never used them for lining on the one I had for that reason. My first attempt was... well... my only attempt, because chuck at spring creek wouldn't even let me attempt it on my new boat. Haha. Let's just say one of my holes got rather large. You could not tell after they were done with it.

quote johnMN: "

quote ParkerMag: "Another option, and the direction I plan to go before this year's first trip...
TUGEYEs "

Thanks, ParkerMag - I was looking for that link!
"

I tried to purchase tug eyes for years without success. Either he doesn't make them anymore or they are in incredibly short supply. He always told me he'd have them later in the year but never did. After 3 or 4 years I gave up on them.

I put tug eyes on my canoe several years ago I love them