Hey All,

Thought a post here would get more eyeballs than in the lesser traveled canoe forum....

Recently picked up a Spirit II w/all wood trim. She was built in 98 and it looks like the original owner took pretty decent care of it. The people I bought it from, the 2nd owners, I'm not sure what level of care they gave to the wood. The undersides of the outwales especially have patches where the varnish (I assume) is peeling away from the wood.
I want to refinish them sometime this year, possibly as late as next fall but it really depends on available time & how long it will take to do it nicely. This is my only canoe so I would rather not be out of commission on it for a few weeks while I try to find the time to finish the job.

What's the best way to go about removing the existing finish? Should I use some kind of stripping solvent? Low grit paper by hand? Power hand held sander?

Once I'm down to bare wood I was thinking of using minwax spar urethane. I know there are many options out there & I'd love to hear people's thoughts.

Tape off the hull of the canoe where it meets the gunwale and sand with a small random orbital sander, round disk kind from all the major stores or Sears etc. 120 grit would work fine.
I use Watco Exterior oil finish on all my wood gunwales and wood seats and thwarts and yolk.
Watco exterior is hard to find, none of the majors carry it just the regular Watco.
I get mine from Northwest canoe in StPaul.
CB

Thanks Cedarboy. Why oil instead of a spar varnish/urethane? Ease of upkeep?

Ease of upkeep #1. Gunwales get banged around alot and if the varnish is chipped then H2O can get in under the varnish and start the flacking and discoloration. Oil is easey to lightly sand and reoil each spring and or fall, maybe after a long trip. Most of the canoe companies use oil on their woodwork.
CB