Gunwale options in California

[shawtbus]

Hi Yall!

Recently purchased a Seda Scout 16ft kevlar canoe for 200 bucks, can y'all believe that?! However it was stored on it's side and the gunnels have cracked in a few places and the decks are coming apart so I'm looking to replace them. So my question is,

Does anyone know where to source gunnels and decks on the west coast for these canoes and if so which brand?

Should I just order mad river gunnels?

Seda appears to be inactive and haven't answered my calls. Thanks everyone in advance!

Bonus photo of the canoe at ahjumawi lava springs state park

 

[Gamma1214]

Welcome. Looks like a great boat for the money.

Are you looking for plastic / aluminum replacements or would you consider installing wood gunwales? (Not a bad DIY project IMO and that would look sharp with Cherry)

 

[ppine]

I have been through this process with a wood and canvas Guide 18. You can patch the old gunwales with epoxy and reinforce them. You can buy wood gunwales probably somewhere in the East and have them shipped with a scarf joint. They will still cost a lot to ship at over 8 feet long. Or you can find some white ash and have a woodworker or cabinet shop mill them for you. The bevel is the tricky part. Good luck.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I think that canoe deserves ash gunwales. Surely there's a local or semi local hardwood supplier who will sell you a plank. If you have a Woodcraft store in the vicinity, they may be able to hook you up with a local hobbyist that would mill it for you (they likely know who has the good tools).

 

[gumpus]

Here is one option

Knock Down Gunwale System

 

[shawtbus]

Welcome. Looks like a great boat for the money.

Are you looking for plastic / aluminum replacements or would you consider installing wood gunwales? (Not a bad DIY project IMO and that would look sharp with Cherry)

I was mostly thinking about vinyl for the cost and durability factor. I plan on using her for mostly canoe camping trips.

I think that canoe deserves ash gunwales. Surely there's a local or semi local hardwood supplier who will sell you a plank. If you have a Woodcraft store in the vicinity, they may be able to hook you up with a local hobbyist that would mill it for you (they likely know who has the good tools).

But I can't deny the class of wooden gunwales lol
Wooden gunwales also might be easiest to source here in Cali. Thanks everyone

 

[shawtbus]

I have been through this process with a wood and canvas Guide 18. You can patch the old gunwales with epoxy and reinforce them. You can buy wood gunwales probably somewhere in the East and have them shipped with a scarf joint. They will still cost a lot to ship at over 8 feet long. Or you can find some white ash and have a woodworker or cabinet shop mill them for you. The bevel is the tricky part. Good luck.

Patching might be a good option in the meantime. How would you go about reinforcing them?

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Patching might be a good option in the meantime. How would you go about reinforcing them?

You could bridge the crack with a strip of aluminum on the outside pop riveted in place. Better yet, a strip inside and out with through bolts. It would be ugly, but it would get you on the water and should last a while.

 

[shawtbus]

You could bridge the crack with a strip of aluminum on the outside pop riveted in place. Better yet, a strip inside and out with through bolts. It would be ugly, but it would get you on the water and should last a while.

This might be the route I go for now. Thanks Steve

 

[ppine]

Make a sleeve for broken sections, maybe 6-8 inches long. Find some stock that roughly approximately the shape of the gunwale. Hard to see the exact shape from here. I would drill pilot holes and use sheet metal screws. Cut a section out of the sleeve on the inside with a grinder. Pry the sleeve apart and fit it over the broken section. Squeeze it back together and screw it in place. Paint it black when you are done.

I made some temporary fixes in a wood boat, crunched inwales. I repaired them around 1992 with epoxy and wood dust. I paddled the boat like that for 0ver 30 years with fixes I thought were "temporary."

That is a nice canoe.

 

[shawtbus]

Make a sleeve for broken sections, maybe 6-8 inches long. Find some stock that roughly approximately the shape of the gunwale. Hard to see the exact shape from here. I would drill pilot holes and use sheet metal screws. Cut a section out of the sleeve on the inside with a grinder. Pry the sleeve apart and fit it over the broken section. Squeeze it back together and screw it in place. Paint it black when you are done.

I made some temporary fixes in a wood boat, crunched inwales. I repaired them around 1992 with epoxy and wood dust. I paddled the boat like that for 0ver 30 years with fixes I thought were "temporary."

That is a nice canoe

Thanks for the advice. I got lucky with the boat, it paddles like a dream.
A permanent temporary fix might be what I'm looking for haha I will update you guys with progress on the boat. I think eventually it will deserve wooden furniture.

 

[ppine]

I would add 2 wood thwarts that are close to the center thwart in place. Not only makes the boat stronger, but gives you lash points for gear. And it looks better.

I got to the point where the repairs did not bother me at all. They are just battle scars on a boat that gets used. Refinish your seats and add 2 thwarts and it will take care of your urge to make the boat look new.