Regarding my new used canoe, the previous owner said that it oil canned excessively. It is fiberglass. I believe a 1974 wenonah 17. Is it possible to add foam ribs to it? Will that solve an oil canning problem? What kind of foam is used by a a diy- er for such a project? Anyone have experience for doing such a job?

I had fiber glass canoe with an oil canning problem. It was a 16 ft tandem with only a center thwart. Adding a 2 thwarts, one just behind the bow seat and the other approx. 2 ft ahead of the stern seat stiffened the hull enough to cure the oil canning problem.

Foam ribs covered in glass will add one thing, weight. If the oil canning bothers you throw in a few packs you'll not see the problem again, or on a local lake a cooler full of beer....

I too have a boat that oil cans and would like to add a few ribs and cover with glass. If anyone has been down this road and has some tips, would appreciate.

I have found Express Composites in Minneapolis MN to be a good source for repair materials. I haven’t added ribs yet but got the correct foam there. The owner is very helpful. They supply to the manufacturer.
Carl

I owned a Sorus River 18' Wilderness that started to oil can. I contacted SR and they told me this is a problem with the older Wilderness canoes. They told me to add two patches of fiberglass forward of the aft seat but between the ribs, I did as advised and it worked but added some weight.

Not sure if this fix would work on a fiberglass canoe but I doubt you would worry about the added weight. What did Wenonah have to say about a fix?

RedLakePaddler: "I have found Express Composites in Minneapolis MN to be a good source for repair materials. I haven’t added ribs yet but got the correct foam there. The owner is very helpful. They supply to the manufacturer.
Carl"

yes! Express Composites has the right stuff. I will order the foam and glass tape from them. The foam comes in a sheet and is scored in 1" strips, so the question is, how wide to make the ribs? 1", 2", or 3"?