Bell Wildfire Information

[CaptainOllieWest]

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I have a couple of questions about this canoe.

Do the air chambers look original?
Does the aluminum gunwales look original?
Is this Bell's Fiberlar lay-up?

I am kind of interested, but it would be a 4-5 hour drive each way.

Any other information or opinions welcome.

 

[Alan Gage]

I can't say for sure about air chambers but I had an old Wildfire and as I remember it was just a block of black foam glued to each stem. These look like they might be version 2.0 of that.

That boat had wood gunwales so I can't say about these aluminum gunwales being original or not.

Alan

 

[dutchlennart]

I have no fb so can not comment.
Bell has done some iterations in their airtanks . As far i know they always did a 2 piece gunnel . Either zilver or bronze anodized . Same as te current northstar ones

 

[sailsman63]

Can't speak to Bell history or practices, but:

1. That flotation does look like closed-cell foam block
2. Whether the gunwales are original or not, they appear solid and fair. (Used canoe. Unless it's a rare collector's item, "usable" trumps "original" any day.)

What I'm concerned about is that discoloration on the inside starboard side. It might be just some staining from high-tanin leaves rotting in there, but it also appears that it could be some of the layup de-laminating and flaking. The later would be a structural issue that would require intervention if you want that canoe to remain safe and floating. Maybe request the seller to explain/send some more detailed pictures of the area?