I have a 15" lake kayak that I bought as a kit while serving time in Viet Nam. I assembled it in colorado in 1972 and now the old canvas has detiorated. Is there a special canvas for canoes or can you use any canvas avaliable, like canvas drop cloths. This kayak has a flat bottom, so do I need to add an keel for stability on BWCA lakes? I am in favor of canoeing with two or more partners. I have been looking for a "Canoe Partner" for sometime. I am now considering solo with this kayak seeing that I can never find someone to go with.

I don't think you need to think about a keel. Have you ever paddled the boat? IF not, and if the canvas is good enough to keep water out, then go for a spin and see what you think.

Keels tend to help with tracking and not so much stability. Keels also tend to drag on rocks :)

This solo thing is a catchy thing that happens to infect paddlers (some older ones like me too). Age is just a state of mind

I see we hail from the same era. Canoe partner........ Where are you from now?

canvas? I don't know, but someone around here will know.

Viet Nam era huh? That was a tough era. I served in the Coast Guard 1966-1970. I dodged a bullet. Some of my friends were not so lucky.

Good luck with that restoration. Seems the boat means something to you and you should get her restored and on the water.

I live in Portales, New Mexico and it seems that around here no one knows what true wilderness is and is scared of water, so I can never find anyone to go canoeing with. My wife is scared of water also and won't go in over her knees.
I was a heavy equipment operator in the U.S Navy Seebees. I spent 13 months in Viet Nam.
The 1967 Kayaks canvas is tearing all apart, so that is why I need the canvas. You can't buy anything like it around here.
I am 63 years old and retired. I just can't imagine not going canoeing as often as I want. I have considered solo but I have read articles of men getting in real trouble alone.