Damaged Sea Clipper - Repair or Replace?

[BlackRock]

Hi All,

We had the deepest winter in recorded history here in Southeast Alaska this past winter. It was phenomenal for skiing but, sadly, the snow crushed our beloved Sea Clipper. This is an amazing boat. I bought it from a couple of guys from Vermont who paddled it up the inside passage, from Vancouver Island to Juneau. It is an ideal big water boat. We've even done some sizable salt water crossings to ski remote peaks with it.

My question to the many brains of this forum is wether it is reparable or worth repairing or if it is better to cut our losses and trash it. If it is worth it, any ideas as to where I should start? I've build one cedar strip so am semi-competent with fiberglass work. No experience with heavy mat or gelcoat or this sort of structural repair. I've included some pictures of the damage. It was bottom up on saw horses when it was crushed. So there is damage to all four quarters.

And, for good measure, one from last weeks trip to the St. Regis Canoe Area in the Adirondacks...

 

[Alan Gage]

Sure doesn't look very pretty. I would start by removing the gunwales and thwarts and seeing what the hull does. Hopefully it kind of goes back to it's normal shape. At that point, if I chose to fix it, I'd sand it down on both the inside and outside and add strip or two of 6 ounce glass to to the inside and outside over the break. After filling the weave with multiple coats I'd feather the edges and paint it with a red that sorta matches (or mask off the top portion of the hull and paint that strip a contrasting black).

You could see if any local canoe retailers have aluminum gunwales in stock or maybe they can get you a set with their next shipment. Or you could just build wood ones. Not a big deal.

I don't imagine it will cost a lot of money but plenty of time. So if you don't mind the work and can give up the time I say go for it.

Luckily, other than roof racks and winter snow loads on sawhorses that area of the hull does not see a lot of stress.

Alan

 

[Packrat]

Call Western Canoe and Kayak in Abbotsford BC the manufacturers of Clipper. They could look at the photos and tell you what if anything would be worth doing. Too bad you aren't closer to them.
604-853-9320

 

[Chip]

I agree with Alan’s FG repair suggestion. If you can get the boat to go back to its shape, I think it will work. On boats I’ve fixed, the hardest part is getting the hull back to shape. Maybe it will go back when you remove the gunwales. If not, seems like you need some kind of form. If you go for it, mark or record the position of thwarts before removal so you know where to put them back.

What a shame—such a nice boat. Good luck.