Thanks for looking in. I will be picking up a Nova Craft SuperNova next week. It is in their Blue Steel layup, which is a combination of Kevlar, carbon, and polypropylene. I believe this may be my ideal boat, a reasonably light solo river tripper for a very substantial man.

I am buying used, and she shows a few handling marks. I have been in a lengthy chat with the seller and have received a good number of pictures. He says that there are no soft spots, and no fabric is showing in any of the scratches.

I am hoping that someone here is more familiar with the layup and can identify any problem areas that will warrant additional scrutiny at pickup.

I have done some fiberglass canoe repairs, but other than the one boat, all of my canoes have been Royalex or poly. I'm not scared to take on a project, I just want a second opinion on what I might be getting into.

Thanks for any advice!

Photos below.

Have you tried asking Nova Craft?

Looks like the outside fabric layer is a hybrid weave( two different material woven into one fabric). In the damaged area all the white dots correspond to where only one of the materials is at the surface. The impact caused the strand to stretch and break loose from the resin. This may be fine. the layup is absorbing and spreading out the stress preventing a more serious break.

I would test carefully for soft spots at the obvious impact sites. Also look at the inside at those location and see if the damage goes all the way through the layup.

I did contact Nova Craft, they are yet to respond.

Thank you for the explanation of the stress dissipation. Blue Steel is supposed to be an interwoven carbon/aramid comingle, with an innegra layer sandwiched between. The inside looks very good. I will be sure to carefully probe everything when I am with it in person.