All, I am new to this list and wanting some advice on canoes that are available with slotted wood gunnels today. I have an older Mad River Explorer - Duck Hunter special edition with olive drab royalex inside and out and dark stained slotted wood gunnels. Love it. Super stable, beautiful, and versatile---just got back from 24 miles on the Buffalo River in Arkansas, Poncat-to-Pruitt run. But it is getting older and I may need a replacement in a few years for a versatile hull like this. I love slotted wood gunnels but have only seen them provided by Hemlock Canoe Co., which are indeed nice canoes. Is anyone aware of other companies that offer slotted wood gunnels in a boat similar to my old Mad River Duck Hunter/explorer? Maybe even in a Prospector design? Nova Craft and Wenonah both said they could not do it. Thanks, Rob (cell 504-231-1067, rmoreau@southeastern.edu).
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canoes with slotted gunnels
- Thread starter rmoreau
- Start date
Is it the gunnels or the canoe that are getting worn out?
I know Dave at Hemlock can fab gunnels for just about any boat.
If the gunnels are fine and the boat is worn out, you could always try to find another RX Mad River Explorer that’s in better shape than yours and swap the gunnels out with your existing slotted gunnels. Would be a lot cheaper than buying a brand new boat. If you’ve been taking decent care of that ash, it should last a very long time.
I know Dave at Hemlock can fab gunnels for just about any boat.
If the gunnels are fine and the boat is worn out, you could always try to find another RX Mad River Explorer that’s in better shape than yours and swap the gunnels out with your existing slotted gunnels. Would be a lot cheaper than buying a brand new boat. If you’ve been taking decent care of that ash, it should last a very long time.
Welcome rmoreau.
I am not sure you are going to find an easy fix . That said I used to own a Royalex Old Town Penobscot, 16 feet long that had wood slotted gunnels. Finding one like that would be pretty hard. Good luck to you.
Bob.
I am not sure you are going to find an easy fix . That said I used to own a Royalex Old Town Penobscot, 16 feet long that had wood slotted gunnels. Finding one like that would be pretty hard. Good luck to you.
Bob.
You could take the gunwales off whatever new canoe you get and cut the scuppers yourself. I did it with a radial arm saw’s router bit attachment. Came out great and gave me full control over their placement to coordinate with screws and thwart bolts. I actually skipped the center seat section for strength.
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Slotted inwales look classy and are extremely functional for tying things in, to, or onto the canoe. Member here @Conk makes the gunwales for Hemlock Canoe. If you are going to spend money for a new canoe, I'd follow @TimG's advice: Order one with wood gunwales and pay someone with woodworking experience to cut the slots for you after removing the inwales, if you can't do it yourself.
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