I've got an Ally canoe--a foldable canoe with an aluminum frame-- with some bent stringers. Is there any trick to straightening them? Here they are:

I think Aluminum tubes will survive being bent once. They don't do well being staightened unless the bend is slight.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I've about written my thousand words for today so how about a picture from you so I or someone else can see how severe the bend is?

One of my Ally stringers is also slightly bent. I’ve just been living with it. A bit harder to assemble but paddles fine. But maybe yours are bent more.

It may be more efficient to replace the bent tubing.

Thanks. I do think I could indeed replace them using common sized aluminum tubing. But here's what I'm uncertain about: How can I replace the elastic cords that hold the pieces together and help in assembly? Is there a way to do that?

overland: "Thanks. I do think I could indeed replace them using common sized aluminum tubing. But here's what I'm uncertain about: How can I replace the elastic cords that hold the pieces together and help in assembly? Is there a way to do that?"

Yes, replacing the shock cord in poles is easy.

overland: "I've got an Ally canoe--a foldable canoe with an aluminum frame-- with some bent stringers. Is there any trick to straightening them? Here they are:
"

Thanks for the picture. With that much bend I would be looking for new stringers. Measure the outside diameter and inside diameter and try to replace them with tubing with a little thicker wall.

Replacing that section of tubing is an interesting idea. I hadn't thought of that and will consider it for our Ally. I wonder if using a thicker wall will affect getting a constant curve over the length of the canoe.

Some useful info on this web page and the links on it:

web page on fixing Ally tubes.

page showing how the tubes are linked (and selling the springs) Not sure who in the US now sells Ally canoes and parts.

video showing how to replace the springs between tubes.

andym, the video link was interesting.

I think the original spring/cable connections could be reused or replaced but It may be easier and more efficient to replace them with a continuous shock cord.

I hope that you are right that they can be reused because the springs are listed as out of stock on the Bergans site in Norway. And I think they gave up on having a US distributor.

It might be a while before I try. Currently my Ally is assembled and I've been planning to leave it that way for now.

Another source of poles and springs might be PakBoats. They are an evolution from Ally and maybe the owner there would have some ideas about fixing Ally frames. A long time back, he was an Ally distributor.

Check your local hardware store for the springs. They look like a common hardware item. If the store doesn't have them, they can probably order them for you.

Google "custom tent poles", there are several options. Tell them what you are using them for or even send them the bent ones and have someone duplicate them. You may even find that they can replace the springs and re-string them.

In my case the springs and/or cables are lost or slipped inside the tubes and irretrievable. So I like the idea of making my own. I don't quite understand how those little folded wires hold the spring assembly inside without sliding out, but I'm going to give it a try.
I wrote to the distributer that Bergans referred me to in the UK that is responsible for serving the U.S. I haven't gotten a response about the spring assembly, but that may be because it's not available.

marine grade shock cord. I don't know the extended length of your pole but for about $10 you can purchase 25ft of shock cord, enough to connect approximately 33ft extended length of pole.

The problem is that each pole junction has a separate spring and wire assembly and to thread an elastic cord the whole length of the pole you would have to remove all the existing spring assemblies and whatever broken remains are inside the poles. That's why it might be easier just to replace the spring assemblies where needed with either bought or home made springs and wires.
I have a couple places where there are broken wires, but it's impossible to pull the old springs out. They're fastened tight.

You would need to remove the original spring clips before stringing the shock cord. I would pull the female end spring clip out of the female end of the pole, disconnect the cable then push the male end spring clip out the female end of the pole with a rod.

Spring Clip Removal

After some 30 years, I replaced all the shock cords in my 6 man Eureka Tent. One had worn out and others had shown wear. I bought around 30 feet or so at 25 cents per foot from a local sporting goods store. Just ask for directions on how to use if in doubt. The actual threading was no problem,