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Author	Message Text
Finnboy	07/12/2025 05:43PM   I have a Bell Magic. It has the same seam.
mkvnwk	07/12/2025 08:54PM   Northstar boats without tumblehome lift out of a one-piece mold after curing. Boats with tumblehome have a two-piece mold as the shoulder would not allow it to lift out of a one-piece mold. The seem you're seeing is where the two pieces come together.
scottiebaldwin	07/14/2025 01:55AM   I own a 2020 Northstar Northwind 17 in Ultralight and a 1999 Bell Magic in the Black/Gold layup. I can say unequivocally that I would recommend calling Northstar and purchasing your refinishing supplies through them. They send stuff out the same day and it's worth it knowing that you are getting OEM supplies to re-coat either the inside or outside of the canoe. I had purchased a West System refinishing system on Amazon that other people have used and luckily I called Northstar and Bear instead pointed me in the right direction. They have proprietary resin compounds that they use for all their canoes. Their advice is worth the call. Before and after photos...
brulu	07/12/2025 04:33PM   I have a Northwind Solo, it has the same seam on the bottom, as I understand it it's the parting line from a 2-piece mold, but the canoe itself was layed up as one piece. Mine does not have the stubble on the inside.
plmn	07/13/2025 08:19AM   My Bell Magic has a rough finish on the inside. I think they still do that but can't remember for sure. Some people like it because it doesn't get as slippery. I prefer a smooth glossy finish that's easy to clean. As already mentioned that seam is due to the two-piece mold. The canoe itself is formed in one piece.
tumblehome	07/12/2025 04:07PM   Hello. I’m doing a small improvement repair on a Northstar Polaris for a friend of mine. He bought it used but it was a new unused canoe. I can’t remember the whole story. It has a 2017 build serial number. The canoe has a seam in the center of the canoe from one gunwale to the other. My friend mentioned something about the canoe being built in two pieces but huh? I can’t believe that’s true. Another oddity of this canoe is on the inside. The surface has a rough stubble of carbon fiber or Kevlar and it feels like a 5 O’clock shadow. It’s rough to the touch and on bare feet. Is this normal? I found that a light sanding with 220 sand paper takes it out. I tried a torch but that didn’t help. I’m planning to give it a coat of satin spar varnish after the sanding to eliminate the flat appearance of the surface after sanding. What are your thoughts? Thanks. Tom
YardstickAngler	07/13/2025 05:03AM   Bear discusses this himself in this video. The part on the seam starts at about 10:30. Really all of these discourse videos he has are well worth watching! Great background info that makes me love the beauty and craftsmanship of my Northstar even more.
OCDave	07/13/2025 10:26AM   When a mommy canoe and a daddy canoe love each other very much .... That is how new Northstar canoes are made.
ScottyBravo	07/13/2025 10:32AM   I might give Northstar a call to talk about any repairs you plan to do. I'm in the process of selecting a canoe and they have been amazing. They will likely talk you through any repairs and sell repair kits, too.
tumblehome	07/13/2025 10:47AM   YardstickAngler: "Bear discusses this himself in this video. The part on the seam starts at about 10:30. Really all of these discourse videos he has are well worth watching! Great background info that makes me love the beauty and craftsmanship of my Northstar even more." Well there you go! That indeed answers my question. The seam on the canoe I’m working has a seam that is not smooth. I almost feel like I need to drip some epoxy in there and cover with waxed paper til cured to smooth it out. I am a fan of Northstar canoes and what they do. We’ve come a long way from Old Town Royalex canoes or Grumman aluminum bath tubs. But esthetically, I’m not a fan of the seam. Thanks for sharing the link! Tom