I'm looking to buy a used Bell Northstar, reportedly from the early 2000s, reportedly in a Royalex-like layup. Has anyone ever seen this blue color before? Can you tell me anything you know about it? Info is hard to find...

Also wondering what to look for when assessing the gunnels. I'm aware that I can sand and re-oil to bring back the luster and longevity, but any red flags to look for?

Yes I've seen that color before. I believe it is composite construction, not Royalex. Bell had an inexpensive composite lay-up called Fiberlar. Pictures of the interior might help, I bet you can see the weave of the fiberglass cloth if you look closely at the interior. In any case the only downside to the lay-up is that it's not the lightest.

The wood looks totally fine. You look for rot in the ends and at the ends of the thwarts and underneath the gunwales. Based on what we can see in the pics that boat will be easy to restore by sanding and piling.

Northstar is a great hull design.

Serial number looks like it ends in 96 - so that would be the year it was built.

As long as the wood isn't rotten and soft, you would be able to hit with some sand paper and oil based stain to bring it back to life.

The Northstar wasn't available in Royalex (as far as I know). So this would likely be one of their other layups.

I had a Northwoods that was this same blue color. The layup was white gold, which I think was a mix of Kevlar and fiberglass. It was heavy, but rock-solid.

I also do not believe that's royalex.

Arcola on this board owns a Bell in that color and could likely provide more definitive answers.

That appears to be Kevlar, to me; it's definitely gecoat. From the pics all it needs is a good cleaning with soap and water, and reoil the rail stock.

Arcola: "That appears to be Kevlar, to me; it's definitely gecoat. From the pics all it needs is a good cleaning with soap and water, and reoil the rail stock.
"

The Legend appeareth!!

Well I picked her up today. Am I correct in thinking this is a black gold model?

Seems to have walnut thwarts and yoke.

Love it already.

Regarding the gunnels, in areas with some mildew is using a mildew/bleach type clearer ( like ZEP) recommended, it just sandpaper? Any other wood cleaning ideas?

No, not Black Gold, just Kevlar, was call White Gold. Unless you don't like the look of the blackness of the rails, no need to bleach, just sand and oil. Good buy by the way!!

This is one mighty nice score! My favorite tandem - GREAT boat! I do believe that Bell sometimes put a colored gel coat on Black Gold boats - the way to tell would be the weight. If it's around 45ish pounds, it's likely Black Gold. If over 55 you're likely looking at a White Gold layup. If the walnut thwarts and deck plates are original (which they appear to be), I lean towards thinking it's Black Gold.

Also (at least in the solos) I think Bell used a core mat rather than a foam mat in White Gold boats through the '90s - but this appears to have a foam mat (suggesting Black Gold)...

NikonF5user: "This is one mighty nice score! My favorite tandem - GREAT boat! I do believe that Bell sometimes put a colored gel coat on Black Gold boats - the way to tell would be the weight. If it's around 45ish pounds, it's likely Black Gold. If over 55 you're likely looking at a White Gold layup. If the walnut thwarts and deck plates are original (which they appear to be), I lean towards thinking it's Black Gold.

Also (at least in the solos) I think Bell used a core mat rather than a foam mat in White Gold boats through the '90s - but this appears to have a foam mat (suggesting Black Gold)..."

That's a foam core. Carbon was built by special order with the colored gel.
I worked there in the 90's.

After sanding, I occasionally use barkeeper's friend on some spots of my gunwales if there's a particularly dark spot. I usually get them from keeping/transporting the boat on my Scout troop's canoe trailer, so your mileage may vary with the product.

Nice looking boat!

Arcola: "No, not Black Gold..."

Yes, a black gold boat would show the black carbon interwoven with the kevlar on the inside. I have owned 3 black gold boats and the carbon fiber is definitely visible on the inside weave. Nice catch in any event.