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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Kevlar repair |
Author
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08/28/2021 09:25AM
I just became the owner of my first Kevlar canoe, a 2019 Northwind 17. I’d like to rejuvenate it a bit. The bottom has a good bit of scratches and some are deep enough I was thinking of applying a coat of resin to the full bottom. My question has to do with the bow. It has an internal skid plate, that has been completely worn through. Wondering what the advice would be to repair that? Can I just apply more resin there, or should it be something more substantial? I always wet foot, so I don’t need something bomb proof. Basically I want to prep this canoe for a better life going forward :)
08/28/2021 09:53AM
Your recoat will be with vinylester; you can use some fiberglass cloth & vinylester to beef up the stems before the recoat. Mine have held up really well.
Arcola on the board here is the real expert on this...
Arcola on the board here is the real expert on this...
"I don't care what you believe. I care what you can prove." -Philosopher & Mathematician JJJ
08/29/2021 09:51AM
Having repaired several canoes I have learned a few thing . Before re coating the bottom lightly sand it and clean it with acetone. I use a 4” roller to apply the resin, doesn’t run like it will with a paint brush. On the stem I cut small patches, starting at the bottom working up laying them like shingles. I use Kevlar cloth to repair the stems. Using Kevlar may require a couple coats of resin to get it smooth, Kevlar doesn’t sand, fuzzes up.
I get my material and resin from Express Composites in Minneapolis MN. They will ship and are very knowledgeable about their products.
After the repairs it will paddle like a new canoe. I prefer used canoes over new because someone else put the dreaded first scratches in it, also are cheaper.
Carl
I get my material and resin from Express Composites in Minneapolis MN. They will ship and are very knowledgeable about their products.
After the repairs it will paddle like a new canoe. I prefer used canoes over new because someone else put the dreaded first scratches in it, also are cheaper.
Carl
08/29/2021 10:19AM
A lot of us here have refinished a canoe. I'm sure you'll do just fine. There are a lot of examples on this site if before and after canoe refinishing.
Here is my example. Link
Here is my example. Link
"In wilderness is the salvation of mankind." Thoreau.
09/01/2021 03:32PM
Thanks for all the advice. I contacted Express Composites and Northstar. Both were very helpful. It was suggested that if I wanted to stay minimal, I could just coat the stem with the same resin as the bottom of the canoe, or I could just do a thin smaller kevlar felt strip over the worn area, or even kevlar tape. Also if I needed to fill it first, could use superbond from Northstar first, then resin. So it seems I have several choices depending on how big of a bandaid and protection I want on the bow. I'm debating between a thin kevlar felt and just resin.
09/05/2021 08:08AM
That’s funny! That’s where I got mine, and it was the last one on the rack. I put a deposit down since I had to drive from Michigan. I wanted to make sure i had a claim on one even though it was a blind purchase. I think we also got the worst one, so I’m also doing some minor repair work. No big deal
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