Refinish cedar strip outrigger canoe

I am refinishing the 28 ft red cedar strip canoe i build in 2020. The canoe was finished with 6 oz fg ( 2 layers on the bottom) and west systems epoxy and top coated with several coats of Totalboat Gleam II. Since I let the varnish go too long before refinishing I had to remove all he varnish prior to recoating. I used Citristrip gel to remove the varnish, scraped, and then wet sanded with 120 grit and finished with 150 grit paper. I want to add a little glass to wear points on the bottom then recoat with 1-2 coats of epoxy over the entire bottom. I plan on recoating the bottom with 6 coats of Gleam II and not letting to go for 2 years next time. Is there anything I am missing here? The canoe is stored on the beach with a full cover. The varnish started breaking down after about 1.5years of the wind beating the cover against the side of the canoe

Keoni, let me welcome you again, as I did in our private conversation, to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! We look forward to your participation in our canoe community. In fact, I suspect there would be interest in seeing pictures of your unusual canoe.

While I personally have a composite outrigger canoe, I am not experienced with refinishing cedar strip canoes. I don't think it matters for purposes of your questions that your stripper is an outrigger canoe as opposed to a traditional North American canoe, so I hope and encourage our experienced strippers to chime in with opinions and advice for a new member.

I have no advice, but I'd love to see pictures and hear more about it.

MrPoling said:

I'd love to see pictures

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Me too!

Building a 28' canoe is no easy undertaking ! My hat is off to you !

How many people paddle this ?

In reality there is nothing, that will Weather Proof, a Cedar strip canoe, for a long period of time.

Inside storage, when not in use has been the best solution, I have found.

How are the gunnels ?

I think your plan sounds good. RAKA markets a UV inhibited epoxy.
I used it on a composite canoe build, but it is stored inside, out of the weather, so I can't testify to it's qualities.

Sorry ! I see they don't stock this any more .



https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=c1d5...kdWN0L3V2LWluaGliaXRlZC1lcG94eS1raXRzLw&ntb=1

Others, more qualified than I, might have other recommendations !

Good luck !

Jim

Can't believe I managed to post these photos. This is a 4 man canoe (OC-4) a standard canoe is an OC-6 and then there are OC1's and 2's. Our club needed a 4 man because frequently we have 3-4 0r 7-8 people show up for a paddle so you either don't go out or you leave someone on the beach. I keep it on the beach under a cover an locked to another canoe. This was my first canoe and most likely my last since I am 76. I used the plans for the Ulua from "Building Outrigger sailing Canoes" by Gary Dierking and I made the stretch version. I modified the original "V" hull, for sailing, to a round bottom because round is more efficient for paddling, I changed the width to accommodate my large body, some C-6 canoes are too narrow in the bow and stern for big people. I made the gunwales 2" higher than the original because waves can come over the side when it's choppy, it's a very dry boat, dryer that OC-6's. I didn't want to make my own cove and bead red cedar strips so I found a great source for them at Totum Strips I BC Canada, great people. Since the canoe is to long for single strips I ordered 8 ft strips with their "talon grip" ends so I didn't have to fool with lap joints. The build took six months and only had help with some of the sanding and when we put the FG on it. The net finished weight was 100 pounds without the outrigger and it outperforms my expectations.
One note on construction: the first 2 strips, gunwale side, I used 1-1/2 wide strips rather than 3/4. That really stiffend the start of the build, which was more stable than the 3/4 strips, but would still allow the mild upswing on bow and stern. The gunwales are 3/4 X 1-2 " cherry, the stems are white oak, the inside stems and outrigger supports and fine grained douglas fir, and the manus, bow and stern, are from a chunk of cherry I've had for 50 years. I used West Systems epoxy because they had multiple viscosities for various applications that would be compatible when over layered. Their Six-10 is perfect for reinforcing paddle edges. More than you asked for but that's the short version.
I live and paddle in Ventura CA

Keoni said:

Can't believe I managed to post these photos.

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Nice photos and a very unique canoe for most anyone not living on or near the Pacific Rim. I suspect our strip builders think your restoration plan is solid. Regular maintenance sounds like a requirement for a wood canoe stored outside on a salt water beach, even under a cover.

My outrigger is a composite OC-1 built by Huki in Sacramento. I've never seen another on the east coast, although I know they exist.

Is your ama composite or painted wood?

Wow , nice boat. I have a friend on Kuaii that wants to build one. He takes out injured vets and kids with autism as a community service and needs a lighter boat.