Finally got a solo

[mdkelley]

It has been a couple years that I have been looking around trying to figure out what boat to get. Many of you on here have helped me out along the way and I appreciate it. I found a mad river independence kevlar (KH?) from 1992 locally for a reasonable price so I picked it up. It has aluminum gunwales so that was a bonus to me, less maintenance. A friend that has quite a few boats told me that a kevlar indy was on his list of boats he wanted so if I didn't like it he would buy it from me so it was an easy decision. This boat has had the kneeling pads removed and it looks like maybe it was dropped at some point since there are some light cracks in the gelcoat near the seat just on one side but other than that it looks nearly new. I am looking forward to finally getting out and learning how to paddle a solo boat. Just need to get back up north where my life jacket and paddles are stored which will probably be in the next week or so. Not the 12-14ft 20lb pack boat I was hoping for but I could be looking for another 3 years if I keep waiting for the perfect boat and perfect deal.

Here are some pics from the ad:

 

[MrPoling]

Very nice, enjoy.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Well, @mdkelley , I think that was a wise purchase. The Indy was on my short list last time I was shopping. I would have been all over that. And shopping for used solo canoes is less about the target than the opportunity, but you did good on both counts.

 

[mdkelley]

Does this block need to be treated with watco? There is one in each stem, not sure what it is for. The deck "cap" is plastic so maybe that block helps hold the shape? The seat is the only other wood on the boat.

 

[Alan Gage]

I think it's there to help support the shape of the stem and maybe serve as something substantial to lift. It certainly wouldn't hurt to treat it.

Alan

 

[mdkelley]

More pics. Some spider cracks in the gelcoat, hard to get good pics of. Weighed at 34.5lbs on a large package scale.

 

[stevet]

Great first solo…comfortable. Treat all wood on a boat. Enjoy!

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Does this block need to be treated with watco? There is one in each stem, not sure what it is for. The deck "cap" is plastic so maybe that block helps hold the shape? The seat is the only other wood on the boat.

I'm thinking the blocks aren't original. How are they fastened? I would give them some Watco Teak Oil if they're going to stay.

The spider cracks are of no consequence.

 

[mdkelley]

I think they are just jammed in? Maybe they were just used during the build or for shipping and never removed. Not sure how much this boat was actually used. Sounds like the owner (deceased) had ~8 kevlar boats this guy was helping to sell. Not sure if he had a paddle sports shop at one time or what but kind of sounded like it. There were 3 indys, the seller and his brother kept the other 2 that they said were showroom new condition. The boats lived most of their lives stored in a barn. I will see how tight the blocks are in there.

 

[Boatman53]

I think they help prevent lifting from the plastic cap.
Jim

 

[mdkelley]

I'll just oil them and leave be. They aren't hurting anything. Thanks

 

[Sliding Focus]

A friend that has quite a few boats told me that a kevlar indy was on his list of boats he wanted so if I didn't like it he would buy it from me so it was an easy decision.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with enabling friends But I predict you're going to love that canoe: my Indy was my first solo canoe (and my first canoe of my own), and I absolutely adore it! It's definitely a good one in which to learn solo paddling, too. Congrats!

 

[M Clemens]

I don't recall seeing an Indy with aluminum trim, this may be a retrofit. Many were built without float tanks (as was mine and this one). On the original wood trim, the deck served as a carry handle and a stiffener for the gunnels toward each end (pic below). Perhaps the person who did the retrofit added the wood blocks to serve as stiffeners; I would add proper carry handles instead. Enjoy the boat, it is the one I most regret letting go.

 

[mdkelley]

How would I add a proper carry handle? It has rope loops at each end, are those similar to what you mean? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I have never modified a canoe.

About no float tanks, will this boat sink if swamped and how do i fix that?

It could be a retrofit, the seat is on an aluminum angle "bracket" and other pics I have seen show wooden dowels attaching the seat.

 

[M Clemens]

I would add Mad River carry handles like pic below. Mount them like your thwarts are mounted; provides support for the gunnels (instead of those wedge blocks). If I remember. Mad River used to claim that the Airex core and the wood trim keep the boat from sinking, but it would be semi-submerged. I have had a lot of boats without float tanks, but you could add bags when you travel deep water on bad-weather days. My Indy was equipped with tie-ins for bags in the bow, but I never used them.

 

[Sliding Focus]

I don't recall seeing an Indy with aluminum trim, this may be a retrofit.

The Indy was available with aluminum gunwales in its last year or two of production (2003 or so), but on this one it’s definitely a retrofit (the photo of the HIN in the OP suggests it was made in 1992).

About no float tanks, will this boat sink if swamped and how do i fix that?

I agree with @M Clemens that the foam core + wood trim would be enough to float a stock one…but I have no idea if the foam core is enough on its own with your aluminum gunwales. Maybe try swamping it in shallow water and see if it floats or sinks? If it sinks, you could consider carry float bags like whitewater canoeists do.

 

[mdkelley]

anyone know where to get replacement kneeling pads that would be similar to the factory versions.