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Winemaker
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marsonite: "Someone will be along who knows more than me, but my understanding is that the Wenonah's are a gel coat and can't be refinished. Souris Rivers use epoxy resin and an outer layer of fiberglass which can be sanded so are refinishable. "
To be clear, gelcoat is an outer coat typically with a color, it ha little structural strength, but allows sharper entry and an attractive look. Most outfitters use Ultra Lite (UL) layups which do not have gelcoat. For a number of years, certain retailers have recited the mantra "Wenonahs are not repairable". This is a lie. But it has been said so many times it has become almost accepted as fact.
I bought a three year old outfitter boat last year, a Wenonah Spirit 2 UL, and it had a few minor bumps, a lot of scratches, but it's a great boat for half what a new one cost.
The question of buying an outfitter boat is a matter of mental comfort. That's what's in your head, so it's all on you....
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firemedic5586
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OST
I'm redoing my "New to Me" Souris River. This is what Souris has to SAY about refinishing there canoe's.
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Driftless
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Wow Bill! You did a great job on the hull of your Q17!
Winemaker, I'm going to go for it. Soon I will have a Spirit II. I'm looking forward to that first portage, for the 1st time ever with UL kevlar instead of royalex!
Firemedic, it is interesting that SR encourages the use of vanish and epoxy, whereas Wenonah says only to use polyester or vinyl ester and then only if absolutely necessary. It must be due to the different outside coatings. Seems as those you can use any product on any canoe as long as you do the prep sanding.
Thanks again, guys!
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Driftless
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Also Xand, I would love to see some before and after photos, when you do decide to refinish.
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Driftless
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Firemedic,
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing! You deserved your can of Hamm's! Looks good as new!
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Driftless
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Firemedic,
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing! You deserved your can of Hamm's! Looks good as new!
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GearJunkie
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Driftless: "I was thinking of picking up a Wenonah UL kevlar canoe from an outfitter. It is a 2008 and looks like it has been through hell (I'm sure it has). No holes, but the entire bottom surface has been scratched - every square inch. Should I stay away? It seems like quite a few outfitters, put a layer of varnish on the hull, but Wenonah does not recommend that. Are the outfitters just trying to "pretty it up" for a sale with varnish? Are all those scratches just superficial? I mean the whole bottom is white - with scratches. Then you have Souris River with instructions on how to varnish or epoxy the bottom, they seem to encourage the practice. Sorry I am rambling. Never had a kevlar canoe, don't have a lot of money to spend, and I am confused. Any advice appreciated."
Stay away. If the whole bottom is white its likely tears into the fiber. If not its eleventeen billion scratches. So much work.
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marsonite
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Someone will be along who knows more than me, but my understanding is that the Wenonah's are a gel coat and can't be refinished. Souris Rivers use epoxy resin and an outer layer of fiberglass which can be sanded so are refinishable.
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Driftless
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I appreciate the advice!
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billconner
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I sanded my Q17 last fall and ran out of time to finish. Just did it last week in anticipation of a trip to 1000 Islands this weekend but decided not to car top. In any case, some photos. Very basic orbital sander (not RO) and one coat of Epifanes - disposable foam roller and foam brush. Very easy.
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mjmkjun
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another decent varnish with UV protection is '96 Schooner Hi-Gloss Varnish'. Made by Interlux. (yachtpaint dot com)
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RMinMN
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I've refinished the bottom of my Kevlar with vinyl ester just as Wenonah made it with but epoxy would be a good alternative. I was told that Wenonah used the vinyl ester instead of epoxy because it was better for the workers, not because of strength or weight.
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Driftless
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Thanks for the advice everyone, I appreciate it.
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firemedic5586
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Before
After
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Xand
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I have a pretty scuffed up Spirit 2 I got some Deb at Seagull Outfitters. It's not pretty but is still seaworthy and has weathered 6 or 7 trips now so all in all a pretty good deal at 40% of what a new one would cost. I do plan on sanding/refinishing it with epoxy at some point to see if it's worth the effort.
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Driftless
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Thanks for the encouragement Xand! I'm picking mine up this weekend!
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Driftless
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I was thinking of picking up a Wenonah UL kevlar canoe from an outfitter. It is a 2008 and looks like it has been through hell (I'm sure it has). No holes, but the entire bottom surface has been scratched - every square inch. Should I stay away? It seems like quite a few outfitters, put a layer of varnish on the hull, but Wenonah does not recommend that. Are the outfitters just trying to "pretty it up" for a sale with varnish? Are all those scratches just superficial? I mean the whole bottom is white - with scratches. Then you have Souris River with instructions on how to varnish or epoxy the bottom, they seem to encourage the practice. Sorry I am rambling. Never had a kevlar canoe, don't have a lot of money to spend, and I am confused. Any advice appreciated.
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HayRiverDrifter
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Short answer, keep looking and find a boat in better shape.
Long answer, I all depends on the price and how much work you want to do.
It can be recoated. Wenonah uses Vinyl Ester resin, or you can use epoxy. Both will add weight. You can sand kevlar, but use 150 grit or finer or the kevlar will fuzz up.
Make sure the whole bottom is solid. Literally tap every square inch. It should sound solid.
Varnish will seal the bottom and make it shiny but will not add any structural integrity.
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bwcasolo
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as said, as long as there aren't any gouges or tears, which too can be repaired, sand it and re-coat it. could last for your lifetime.
i used west system epoxy on my outfitter prism, looks great and was very easy. 
the black is powdered graphite the outfitter applied, i just re-applied it, got it from west as well.
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GearJunkie
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bwcasolo: "as said, as long as there aren't any gouges or tears, which too can be repaired, sand it and re-coat it. could last for your lifetime.
i used west system epoxy on my outfitter prism, looks great and was very easy.
the black is powdered graphite the outfitter applied, i just re-applied it, got it from west as well. "
The epoxy graphite mix is super popular with wood skiff builders here in FL. Don’t know why that’s not used more often out of the factory
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Dilligaf0220
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I've been varnishing the bottom of my Canak every season for six years running.
The trick is not all varnishes are equal, I'd stay away from your average Lowe's/Home Depot/Walmart stuff and stick to what the wooden boat sailor crowd gravitates too.
I'm a big fan of Epifanes, and it has kept the UL Kevlar layup looking still as bright as new. It's not just to cover up scratches, proper marine spar varnish will have a bucketload of UV inhibitors.
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Driftless
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Thanks again, everyone!
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billconner
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+1 on Epifanes. I just put a coat on my Q17. Throwaway roller and foam brush. Easy and looks great.
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