Another fiberglass canoe repair question...

[littlewolfrus]

Hi everyone! I just got a canoe and thought I'd ask about tips to strengthening and repairing it.
It's a 14 foot Abitibi fiberglass canoe. I've already patched up a few scrapped up areas on the outside (mainly on the keel). Those were more preemptive repairs and overall the hull is in good shape.

It seems to me like there's something missing. I haven't taken it out on the water yet but it feels pretty wobbly/bendy. Shouldn't there be more crossmembers along the top?

Also, around the lip (not sure what you call it) of the canoe, shouldn't there be wood or something? Right now it's just the fiberglass that kinda doubles back to form a lip.

So-I plan on repainting the hull. Is there anything out there that would give it a bit more strength and rigidity in terms paint or clear coats/epoxies (that's also not too expensive)?

And there's a crack at the edge of one of the ribs inside and a crack on the lip of the canoe any recommendations on properly fixing that?

Thank you in advance for any advice or help!

 

[littlewolfrus]

I have spent 30 minutes trying to upload a photo of the top view of the canoe and cannot so I give up. Keeps telling me I dont have rights to add or remove attachments. No idea how I got the ones I have up in the post.

I posted that photo as my avatar photo.

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

until you have 3 posts, you cant add photos. its in the rules that you agreed to (however never read) when you signed up for the site

after then, you can add photos that are 400kb or smaller.

 

[littlewolfrus]

Ah. That makes it somewhat inconvenient when asking advice about something where photos are needed or at least helpful. Seems like that would lead to more superfluous posts being made just to reach that quota. Anyhow. Thanks! Definitely didn't read the rules.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you have 3 posts, so now start posting pics

most people simply say "Hi, glad to be here" with their first post and introduce themselves

if posting from your computer, you have better controls than the mobile site.

 

[Ned L]

Hello:
I suspect your canoe is "complete" the way it is. There are about as many ways of finishing off the gunwale as there are canoe builders. If it were not 'doubled back to form a ?ip', and was just a raw fiberglass edge I would be inclined to agree something is missing. As for feeling wobbly/bendy, keep in mind that on land you are leveraging against the ground to flex the hull. In the water you don't have that advantage. And so what is wrong if it flexes some? (Keep in mind, if airplane wings didn't flex up and down and move they would simply break off).
A coating to add strength? .... nope. (Ok, yes you could add another complete layer of resin and cloth, and add a good bit more weight, and spend a good bit of money,... but why??? -It's fine the way it is.

 

[jbcurt00]

Post count requirement prevents most spam posted pix, which is often porn images. Not something Iboats wants posted on its family friendly site.

The pix in the 1st post show up on your end because they are cached in your computer/browsers memory. They do not appear on my view of your post or Scotts.

Smaller 700KB pix take up less room on the server and load faster then larger 2+MB pix.

In the Rules and Guidelines subform, along w the rules, you'll also find a pix posting tutorial.