OK.......I've started looking at my Boundary Waters canoe, and I think there are some areas that definitely need some work.

Some of the "rental" scratches are pretty deep.......and I think I need to do some work before I take the canoe in June to the BWCA.

Here are some questions:

* I've read the stuff on red rock's site about repairing Wenonah canoes......I'm going to use his recommendations.......but I'm concerned about over removing the old epoxy, if that is even possible.

* In most cases the damage is only scratches, but a couple of places I can see where a deep scratch has exposed the kevlar fibers........AND I can feel the fibers...........should these be simply patched over with resin, or patched with a kevlar patch........THESE are not holes, just deep scratches.

* Do I have to sand the canoe at all......CAN I simply clean it up a little, do a little sanding and epoxy over what is left.............or do I have to REALLY SAND the bottom, etc, etc.....I'm trying to get some kind of gauge here as to how much is enough, and how much it TOO MUCH.

* I'm assuming West Marine epoxy is what I should use..........I'm planning on using the same system that red rock suggests.....

* Finally........I'm pretty good at this stuff, but have never done this before. I'm a little worried about damaging the canoe more. I'm SKARED........

Thanks,

Geo

I'm all in favor of doing it yourself, but we had our wenonah spirit 2 reconditioned at Spring creek for something like 60 bucks...and ours had a ton of scratches and was worn to the kevlar material. It would have been nice to learn the skill, but the price was right and it turned out great.

Here is a youtube video of the damage: canoe damage

VERY LIGHTLY sand it down. it will not take much to fuzz the kevlar fibers. you really only need to make 1 pass with a very fine grit sandpaper in order to create a good holding surface for a spar varnish. I redid my MN2 and it turned out great. for the deep scratches, I used a 5 minute epoxy kit from ACE, but would recommend the 30 minute to have more time to work it. after you apply it to the scratch area, cover with wax paper and feather it out for a nice even patch. Here is the MNII Photo Journal

I will echo Bumabu, you are just needing to break the gloss on the hull so as to get good bite from the new finish, I have even heard some guys using fine-grade steel wool.

I would be interested in hearing what others think about the spar varnish finish versus a "skim coat" of epoxy. I have done some work with epoxy like this, but have never been real satisified with:

1. what it looks like afterwards, a high gloss that looks unlike a new boat's finish;

2. how simple new scratches show up worse after the new coating then they did before.

Does anyone have experience with the spar finsih and how does it compare in real life, the Red Rock photos are good, but still leave me wondering.

oops, is this a hi-jack or a continuation of a thought?

hummm...

I've spar'd a Quetico 17 and a Mn2. Looks good for about a year and then it tends to flake off around the scratch areas. I used a cheaper brand...hmmmm. This time I'm using Minwax Helsman.
The jury is still out on my epoxy skimcoat and I appreciate Winemakers concerns with it. If it gets scratched quickly I'll just rough it up with some sandpaper and spar it. For your Wenonah redo, I'd lightly sand and get some minwax spar urethane and coat her up. For deeper scratches, follow bumabu's advice and epoxy them before you start the whole hull project.

Thanks guys........

I've started the process....................Did a quick.....light sanding tonight.

Took all the shine off.........there were some places the epoxy was really, REALLY thin..........I have about 5 places where I have kevlar that fuzzed up a little with the deep scratches.

I'm getting the West Marine 105/205 system and pump tomorrow......

Per Old Scout and a couple from here, I taped an "artificial" waterline using some painters tape......I'm hoping to eliminate runs with it. I know I might have to do some very light sanding to blend it in, but that is OK.

One other question..........

Do you suppose I need more than one coat of epoxy resin? I am only planning on doing one coat, but I'm REALLY hard on gear, and a second coat will not bother me too much............

Also, I might finish it up by using the spar varnish.........a guy I trip with just did that.......Re epoxied, and then spar varnish for some UV protection........

What do you guys think.

Thanks,

Geo

Without the uv protection of the varnish you'll be wasting your time. Its a must with west systems. If one coat sealed it good(it should) then a light sand then varnash.

I use my canoe all summer, not just in the bw. Its exposed to uv often. I made the mastake the first time I Finished it without the varnish. Had to refinish it a few years later. Its lasted longer now.

Patching the rough spots now............

I taped them off, and slopped some west epoxy down........

I will shave off the standers tomorrow, and look to see where I'm at.

I think this is going to look really good.

Later,

Geo

For anyone interested...........here are some links:

Here are some pictures of the AFTER repair...........I'm not completely happy with my results.......but I think it will do.........

http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__0_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__1_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__2_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__3_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__4_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__5_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__6_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__7_.JPG
http://www.geofisher.com/Misc/Canoe/Canoe_Repair__8_.JPG

And another Youtube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3jHsboMO3I

THANKS to all that gave me advice.

Later,

Geo

Good job! I also do my own canoe repair when I need to do so. I get it to look decent and call it good, because I expect it to get beat up over the next solo trips I take.

While I don't baby my canoe, I don't purposely abuse it either. I sometime go where maybe most wouldn't with their kevlar canoe.

I also use the West System.

Here is what my Prism looked like at the end of my 11 day, 161 miles solo trip in Quetico and a couple after the repair.

Trip Report



Chuck

CIIcanoe.com

Wow..........Looks good.

I was able to resand along the water line in places where the epoxy pulled, and it looks much better now........

Thanks,

Geo

Inspired by some posts I have seen on this forum, just finished re-coat of 23 year old Wenonah Sundowner. Learned a lot and fairly pleased with result. Used West System epoxy and put coat of marine varnish over top of epoxy for UV protection.

Also made YouTube video of step by step of process. Video is long (20 min) but shows every step including some of my mistakes/mishaps.

Link to video:
May 2016 canoe repair video

Very nice and well done video. Hopefully you'll get another quarter century out of the canoe. I have a couple of canoes that I'd like to refinish but, I thought I'd wait until after this years trip to do them. BTW, I'm just south of you, outside of Solon.

great vid, i have 2 old sundowners as well, bought used and cheap, refinished and patched them both, darn rocks. i've been wanting to order the west systems for the easy measuring. and they make different hardeners for longer drying times. the stuff i used from the auto store sets fast, no time to mend mistakes. i also used a foam roller. my results were good, your boat looks great, now go scratch it up,,, im south of you too, davenport