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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Listening Point - General Discussion Buying a used kevlar canoe |
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03/28/2021 08:14AM
I didn't know where to post this as I am new to this site so thought I would start here.
I've owned an Old Town Discovery 169 over 25 years and it has served me well.
It's been on many trips in the Ozarks, as well local lakes and up north portaging on trails in Sylvania Wilderness. I even escorted my daughter to the altar with this canoe on her wedding day!
It is built like a tank, but weighs like one, too, and the older I get, the heavier it feels, especially on portages, so this is why I'm looking for a kevlar canoe. I have a few questions when shopping for used ones.
What is the life expectancy on kevlar canoes? I may have an opportunity to buy a used Sawyer kevlar tandem for $125. Pics look good, it is green gel coat, but needs some repair which I'm not afraid of.
I also have seen a few Wenonah Sundowners for sale. Don't know much about either one except that they both are no longer in production.
Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.
I've owned an Old Town Discovery 169 over 25 years and it has served me well.
It's been on many trips in the Ozarks, as well local lakes and up north portaging on trails in Sylvania Wilderness. I even escorted my daughter to the altar with this canoe on her wedding day!
It is built like a tank, but weighs like one, too, and the older I get, the heavier it feels, especially on portages, so this is why I'm looking for a kevlar canoe. I have a few questions when shopping for used ones.
What is the life expectancy on kevlar canoes? I may have an opportunity to buy a used Sawyer kevlar tandem for $125. Pics look good, it is green gel coat, but needs some repair which I'm not afraid of.
I also have seen a few Wenonah Sundowners for sale. Don't know much about either one except that they both are no longer in production.
Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.
03/28/2021 09:22AM
If you haven't looked, a lot of times, outfitters near the BWCA sell off used boats at the end of the year, but I'd bet there are still a few out there. Often they get fixed up before selling and are usually listed on their websites somewhere, like under "gear" or "shop". I saw a few this winter.
Kevlar canoes do last a long time, but not as long as aluminum. Store properly out of the sun when not in use to extend life. I'm sure others will add comments on how old their boats are.
$125 for a Sawyer Kevlar seems way too to cheap to me. Needs repair work? Like maybe to keep it afloat? As a rule of thumb, I have seen outfitters sell fairly well-used, but still very functional, kevlar boats for somewhere around half their original price, give or take a bit. Not sure you can buy a beat up old fiberglass canoe for $125.
Kevlar canoes do last a long time, but not as long as aluminum. Store properly out of the sun when not in use to extend life. I'm sure others will add comments on how old their boats are.
$125 for a Sawyer Kevlar seems way too to cheap to me. Needs repair work? Like maybe to keep it afloat? As a rule of thumb, I have seen outfitters sell fairly well-used, but still very functional, kevlar boats for somewhere around half their original price, give or take a bit. Not sure you can buy a beat up old fiberglass canoe for $125.
03/28/2021 04:36PM
We bought a used Mad River kevlar tandem for $50 at an auction. It needed the wooden gunwales replaced as they had rotted out. The canoe was about 25 years old at the time and had been used hard. But it has been serving us well for quite a few years now...it's not a pretty canoe, but very trip worthy.
03/29/2021 05:54PM
I think you have to see the boat and make a judgement. My Bell Magic is 22 years old and is still in very good condition. My Northstar is 15 as I recall and is very good. It really depends on how they were treated and maintained. Both have ash gunwales that are in very good condition.
03/30/2021 03:25PM
Had an Old Town, tough stable 90 pounds. The cheapest kevlar that i ever bought was a Mad River Explorer with the built in black stem guards. It retailed for $2500 at the time. A remarkable craft for varied conditions, but not a speed demon like our Minnesota 2s. I paid $500, it was in fairly good shape all except for one hole in the bottom, a metal dock brace punched a hole in it. Two pieces of kevlar patching and it was good to go. Whether you like the design or not, Souris Rivers do seem hold up better than most other canoes. I would consider renting one if you are planning a trip.
03/30/2021 04:14PM
Definitely take a look at the Sawyer. They're known mostly for their faster designs, but they made a lot of boats. $125 for a kevlar boat is peanuts (even if it doesn't float!). For lifespan, I have a 38 year old glass Wenonah that is perfectly functional, and it's been stored outdoors (usually under a tarp) for most of its life. Glass/kevlar hulls are easy to repair.
The Wenonah Sundowner is an 18 foot pretty sleek canoe--goes straight, handles pretty rough water. Not so good on quick turns. No rocker.
Coming from a Discovery, the Sundowner, and quite possibly the Sawyer, will be a completely different feel. It will feel tippy unladen, but settles down well when loaded. It will feel like a jet once you get it to speed. That type of boat responds well to sit and switch paddling with bentshaft paddles, but works with straight shafts too. It is an efficient hull either way (gets you there with less work, a lot less work than your Disco).
Good luck.
The Wenonah Sundowner is an 18 foot pretty sleek canoe--goes straight, handles pretty rough water. Not so good on quick turns. No rocker.
Coming from a Discovery, the Sundowner, and quite possibly the Sawyer, will be a completely different feel. It will feel tippy unladen, but settles down well when loaded. It will feel like a jet once you get it to speed. That type of boat responds well to sit and switch paddling with bentshaft paddles, but works with straight shafts too. It is an efficient hull either way (gets you there with less work, a lot less work than your Disco).
Good luck.
03/30/2021 05:05PM
I bought a 2yo Souris River Quetico 17 Le Tigre from an outfitter in '06. It had been banged up at the beginning of it's 2nd yr and the outfitter repaired it but then decided to sell it. I love this canoe! It's stable and durable. What I like best is that the layup is sealed not with vinylester/polyester resin, it's epoxy resin which is stronger and allows the canoe to be more flexible over those submerged rocks you don't see until you are on them. There is no gel coat. Some 'gel coat' canoes can crack (esp the older or more exposed to UV they are) when getting stuck on a rock and the repair is more extensive (and expensive). Souris River canoes can actually be sanded down and re-coated with marine varnish to make them look brand new again. I've done this about 3 times since '06. The canoe sees 2-3 trips to the B-dub every years plus some occasional fishing around local lakes. I store it hanging in my garage out of the sun and I think it will last many, many more years.
Top-water smallies are a slice of heaven.
03/31/2021 08:12PM
The Sundowner 17 and 18 are very different canoes. So it depends which one it is. If I recall...the 17 is fairly tippy and I didn't like it much even though we have/had one. The 18 is a more stable better platform in general (just comparing those 2)
04/01/2021 12:19PM
https://haywardoutfitters.com/product-category/wenonah-canoe/
They sell blemished canoes at a discounted price. Best ones are available in mid winter, and most are gone by spring.
http://www.nighthawkcanoes.com/
Ben is very customer driven and these are great options. I own a 17'CF Leo = Amazing Canoe
They sell blemished canoes at a discounted price. Best ones are available in mid winter, and most are gone by spring.
http://www.nighthawkcanoes.com/
Ben is very customer driven and these are great options. I own a 17'CF Leo = Amazing Canoe
Take it easy, but Take It!
04/02/2021 09:08AM
If buying a used Kevlar canoe, the #1 consideration for me would be how much time it has spent in the sun. Inquire about how it's been stored. Sun is the enemy of Kevlar. I've had a Wildfire for .... 26 years, still solid and beautiful :) .
04/02/2021 12:21PM
chessie: "If buying a used Kevlar canoe, the #1 consideration for me would be how much time it has spent in the sun. Inquire about how it's been stored. Sun is the enemy of Kevlar. I've had a Wildfire for .... 26 years, still solid and beautiful :) ."
Does that go for Carbon Fiber as well?
Take it easy, but Take It!
04/02/2021 12:45PM
MasterBaiter: "chessie: "If buying a used Kevlar canoe, the #1 consideration for me would be how much time it has spent in the sun. Inquire about how it's been stored. Sun is the enemy of Kevlar. I've had a Wildfire for .... 26 years, still solid and beautiful :) ."
Does that go for Carbon Fiber as well?"
Probably....
But if this boat has a gel coat your probably good. Even if there are some spider cracks. Very much worth the risk!
Nctry
04/03/2021 12:42PM
Well the Sawyer kevlar for $125 was sold. I tried reaching out to the owner several times over the past week telling him i wanted to buy it but never got a reply from him. It was on Facebook market place. I think I'm going to buy a used one through an outfitter. When one becomes available . I'm really leaning towards a Souris River Quetico 18.5.
Thanks to everyone for the great input and advice.
Thanks to everyone for the great input and advice.
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