Hi All,

Does anyone have experience paddling a Bell/Northstar in the older BlackGold layup with the clear gelcoat and also the newer skin coat? It looks like in 2006 the gelcoat was no longer used and from then on just the resin skincoat was on top of the carbon layer. Pros and Cons to each? I imagine the gelcoat has better abrasion resistance with the penalty of extra weight. Any other major differences that I'm not considering?

I'm no expert but I do have two older B/G Bells with a thick gelcoat, one newer B/G Bell with either a thin gelcoat or just a skin coat, and one BlackLite Northstar with just skin coat. I like the thick gelcoat because of the abrasion resistance and feeling that you can treat them rougher. It definitely adds weight. One of mine has taken 2 major rock hits (in addition to 20 years of more gentle rock hits and scratches) that did a little damage to the gelcoat but the fabric has never been touched. My newer Bell seems like it has a thicker skin coat than my Northstar Polaris. I think that some might say that the skincoat flexes more than a gelcoat so may absorb major impacts with no damage while a boat with gelcoat might damage the gelcoat since the outer shell is more brittle. I have a friend that just bought a BlackLite Northstar solo and he uses his gear pretty hard and expects to have to add an epoxy coating occasionally.

The skin coat only is to save weight; it does just that. Clear gel at an extra 4-5 lbs. is worth it IMO for the abrasion resistance mentioned above. I've got a 25+year old Flashfire that looks like hell, but the laminations are near as good as can be, I doubt skin-coat boats can say the same in that time.

Arcola: "The skin coat only is to save weight; it does just that. Clear gel at an extra 4-5 lbs. is worth it IMO for the abrasion resistance mentioned above...."

Agree totally with that. Both my magic and my northstar have gelcoat. Much preferred.

Arcola: "The skin coat only is to save weight; it does just that. Clear gel at an extra 4-5 lbs. is worth it IMO for the abrasion resistance mentioned above. I've got a 25+year old Flashfire that looks like hell, but the laminations are near as good as can be, I doubt skin-coat boats can say the same in that time."

I paddle a Skin coat Advantage from 1986. Still going strong. In the running for most Q miles in a solo boat. Prefer the skin coat cause it's easier to repair and doesn't fracture and flake from impacts. My whitewater tandem tripper is a gel coat boat. Much harder to mask repairs. The gel coat gets brittle with age to some degree. The whitewater boat is still solid- also from 1986.

Can you tell the difference just by looking at it? Or do you just need to have seen both? I have a the kevlar 2000 Bell Northwind 17.

climbon: "Can you tell the difference just by looking at it? Or do you just need to have seen both? I have a the kevlar 2000 Bell Northwind 17."

If it's a KevLight from 2000 it probably has the clear gelcoat on it. From what I understand KevLight and BlackGold Bells didn't get skincoat until 2006.

Has anyone seen warped plastic deck ends on Northstar canoes? I'm looking at a used magic right now and it has this on the stern cap. Doesn't seem to be any hull damage just the warped cap.

I’d guess that came from the factory that way. Seems unlikely it would get hot enough otherwise to deform like that, but maybe. If it really bugs you northstar would surely sell and if needed install a new one.

I’ve had and repaired a bunch of BG gelcoat boats over the years. I’m a huge fan. The white scratched never really go away, but the fabric protected beneath it will last and last and last. To me, it’s definitely worth the weight.

If I do get a spider crack gash, I just fleck out whatever I can with a pocket knife, mix a small batch of epoxy, fill the void, and tape over it until it dries. Repairs look great.

That said, I wouldn’t be sad about having a skin coat either. Halfway through a 300 rodder, I may prefer it.