Around 5 or so years ago i picked up a used Wenonah BW canoe from a local Ely Outfitter. After years of being a rental and the time I have had it the boat was due to be refinished.

Since i have had this canoe I have made some minor fiberglass repairs to the outside and inside of the boat.

This year I wanted to do it right. I have lots of experience working with Epoxy and fiberglass after building my CLC kayak, so doing this restore so far has been easy.

The bow and stern were in need of repair so I called up Wenonah and ordered their skid plate kit. I also ordered two new web seats as I wanted to replace the tractor seats. I also ordered a new yoke and rivet kit as I had removed the gunnels because i wanted to sand and repaint them.

I started the project by drilling out the 54 rivets that were attaching the gunnels to the boat. The seats came out at this time as did the end caps. Next I removed the yoke. This is where I noticed that it was cracked, hence the replacement.

I started the sanding process with 80 grit and my random orbital sander. Then I switched to 120 grit. This left the boat relatively smooth.

I cleaned the dust off with a rag and acetone.

Next came the skid plates. Fairly easy install. I was not really worried about being too neat as I was planning on hitting that area with the sander after things hardened up.

There were also a few small areas that needed to be patched so I cut up some fiberglass and mixed up some epoxy. The epoxy I was using was the West system 105/207. Very easy to work with.

After the epoxy had flashed over I hit those areas with the sander again. Cleaned the boat again with acetone.

I was on the fence on whether to epoxy the whole hull or just varnish. Yes I know, once a material has been coated with epoxy it cannot absorb any further epoxy and any further applications will only add weight. However the kevlar was looking rather dry so I went ahead and coated the hull with a fresh coat of epoxy. I am glad i did as it really stiffened up the boat. I used a foam roller for this process.

After the epoxy dried I sanded it with 220 grit and cleaned it again with acetone before applying my first coat of Varnish. I decided to use Helmsman Spar Varnish as I have used it before. I used a foam roller for this process as well.

Sanded the boat again with 220 and cleaned it off then put my second coat of varnish on.

That is where I am at so far. Next I will reinstall the gunnels and end caps. Then fit the seats and yoke.

Here are the pictures so far.









The last picture is after the first coat of varnish.

Nice Job! Looking good.

Mike

Update. I have found that after expoxing and varnishing the hull I needed to drill out the holes in the hull that the gunnels fasten to.

Also, if you don't have any clecos for holding the gunnels in place while you rivet them to the hull you can use zip ties.

I suppose that makes sense... you're not replacing the gunnels, you're just putting them back in the same holes.
If you could start the epoxying over would you use something to plug the rivet holes so they don't get closed by the epoxy?

Back on the water soon?

mirth: "I suppose that makes sense... you're not replacing the gunnels, you're just putting them back in the same holes.
If you could start the epoxying over would you use something to plug the rivet holes so they don't get closed by the epoxy?


Back on the water soon?"

Drilling out the holes will be easy, just not expected.

With everything going on in my little kingdom i am only working on it an hour or two a night. So i should be done by next weekend.

We enter ep16 on June the 9th headed to Iron.

Then a solo in August.

Great project! Looking forward to seeing some final pics.

Thanks for sharing.

Got home yesterday from a business trip and after mowing the forest, (otherwise known as grass) i was able to continue working on the boat. Stayed up late past 1200am working on it.

I was able to reattach the gunnels, seat hangers, yoke hangers, and end caps. I measured and cut to fit the new yoke. Measured and drilled new attachment holes for the yoke. Then once it was attached to the canoe where I wanted it drilled the six hole and riveted into place. This is the only thing that concerns me. It seems like those rivets have a high possibility of popping out. We will see.

Today I'll fit and attach the seats.

If this rain continues I'll be able to float the canoe in the backyard.

Pictures when completed.

Lookin' good!

It didn't turn out too bad. We'll see how it is after day three of my trip in a few weeks.

Nice job. What paint did you use? Were gunwales and thwarts silver or black when you bought it?

Northwoodsman: "Nice job. What paint did you use? Were gunwales and thwarts silver or black when you bought it?"

They were black. I just sanded them wiped them down with Acetone then shot them with Rust-Oleum Satin black spray paint.