Thread: Quick Canoe - Clinton's build in Sydney

6 months later and its time for repair and maintenance.

1. The varnish on the gunwales is worn from handling, storing and paddling. I left it a bit long, its been a wet few months and the canoe is stored in the weather. Varnish is worn off, epoxy rubbed through in places and a bit of mould/fungus is appearing on the 'bare timber'.A good sand, epoxy coat, varnish and fixed.

2. Inwale split from the centre spreader for about 50cm. It started as a break between the inwale and centre spreader, and the inwale split angling toward the ply hull side. (Should not have dropped it off a stand onto concrete)I drilled a hole near the end of the split, then forced the split in the inwale so it terminated at the drill hole. Closed the split by pulling it all together with a rope around the hull, and used an abrasive wire in a fretsaw to open up the split. Stuck a few match pieces into the split to maintain a bit of spacing and filled with epoxy bog. Disguised the bog line with sawdust and clear epoxy.3.

Took the opportunity to cut out and redo the decks as I damaged one when it was dropped (big storms, big wind and another fall off the stand) Just made new decks which I'll fit under the inwale this time, and will brace/strengthen with some timber strip offcuts from the inwalle/gunwale to fit between the hull and under the deck. (corner block style)Its had a hard life so far, and I'm now storing it on polystyrene veggie boxes against the fence... bit silly to store it 1.5 meters off the concrete, but it kept the backyard tidy.