Rehabbing an MR Freedom

[Erica]

Under some sad conditions I have regained possession of my original Mad River Freedom which needs some work. My former paddling partner and I bought it at least 30 years ago. This is the boat we did our most extensive and remote trips in, including white water. Some of the best experiences of my life. It has great sentimental value. I have no idea when or where I might paddle it, but I’d still like to get her looking good again.

It’s made of Royalex. I cannot find a serial or ID number. I’ve looked under the gunwales in and out.

Obviously the center thwart and seats need to be replaced. There’s a spot on the gunwale that is torn. I suppose that means the entire gunwale needs replacing. I can see how to replace these.

The bottom needs some serious work. I’m not at all sure how to go about it. Some input would really be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Gamma1214]

From the pictures, it looks like all the scuff-age is along the keel line. If that's so, you could probably just run 4-6 inch wide fiberglass tape from stem to stern. I favor Raka for epoxy & such as they've been extremely helpful in the past but you have the added advantage that they're based in your home state.

I'd check with them to see what epoxy and what surface prep would be appropriate. If my experience with them is any indication of their norm, they'll have you on the right track in no time.

I agree that the gunwales probably need replaced. They're likely still available from MR unless you'd like to use wood.

The seats may just need re-caned(?)

Best of luck with the rehab. I'll look forward to following along if you update the tread as you go. Cool winter project for sure (although winter may be your "outdoors time")

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Mad River is out of business, so I'm not sure where you might get comparable vinyl gunwales. Maybe someone sells them. However, I don't think I'd replace them if the only damage is that one small missing chunk of outwale. I'd probably try to fill the void with thickened epoxy, building a "dam" with tape or whatever to shape the epoxy into the void. I sort of did that with a smaller void in wood gunwales, documented in an overly long video here:

As for the abraded areas, lots of folks have used epoxy and fiberglass or Dynel patches (or tape), and then painted the entire hull for aesthetics. I haven't done it, so I'll refrain from commenting on the specific steps.

 

[Robin]

I would call Jamestown Distibutors to see what they recommend for the hull. (https://www.jamestowndistributors.c...RdN4Ec3y9xDHsuOr2IFQ299oLjXM9RoC-CsQAvD_BwE)1

I used Total Fair on a beat up Kevlar hull with good results. The $46 dollar package should be enough to patch that damage. I would just paint the repair, not the whole hull.

As for the seats, I would remove the cane, then flip the seats over, sand and varnish, buy some webbing, there are a few videos on YouTube showing how to web a canoe seat.
If you’re happy with the rest of the gunnels, I would make a small patch and screw it in place. Cant think of where I’d get the patch material but we all have lots of plastic on hand.
I would replace the gunnels with wood, but that’s an individual choice.

 

[ppine]

Felt on the stems. Recane the seats, your frames are fine. I would add three thwarts of white ash which are easy to find. I would just live with the vinyl gunwale. This canoe is never going to be for show. Fix and use it. A good rock boat.

 

[stevet]

I know how you feel about your old friend. Sold all my boats except one and miss them all…..sorely miss a particular few. Good luck with the repair. I’m sure your first paddle in it will bring back the best memories.

 

[Robin]

Felt on the stems

I think that’s a better idea, here’s a good source, ( you will need some G-Flex also), maybe thwarts from them too.

Products

Manufacturers of canoe parts and accessories.

www.mohawkcanoes.com

 

[Erica]

Felt on the stems. Recane the seats, your frames are fine. I would add three thwarts of white ash which are easy to find. I would just live with the vinyl gunwale. This canoe is never going to be for show. Fix and use it. A good rock boat.

What is “felt on the stems?” I know the center thwart needs replacing, but why two more thwarts? I don’t think it ever had more thwarts.

I love the look and feel of wood canoes and wood gunwales, but living in south Florida the heat and humidity damages the wood quickly. I’ll try a local fix for that spot.

I am pleasantly surprised at the solutions to the bottom of the boat. I can probably do that.

Thank you gamma, Glenn, Robin, ppine and stevet for your advice and suggestions.

 

[Jmharrick]

I’ve seen old cane seats, where the cane was removed, they were flipped upside down, and then webbing was wrapped with stainless staples to replace the cane. It turns out great and is a cheap solution to rehab the seats.

I’ve seen @NoelCanoeDad do this. He might be able to share some pictures/examples.

 

[Robin]

What is “felt on the stems?” I know the center thwart needs replacing, but why two more thwarts

Felt on the stems are skid plates. One thwart is ok, if you ad one behind the bow seat to make it serve its purpose, you won’t be able to solo while sitting on the bow seat, canoe reversed in a 16’ canoe, it will be two close. Those gunnels you have, while not pretty like wood, are robust.

There are a bunch of skid plate videos on YouTube, I always used Kevlar but some prefer Dynel, here are some links. You can buy the felt (Kevlar) and G-Flex separately as shown in the link I shared above rather than a kit to save some $. I agree with this

I’ve seen old cane seats, where the cane was removed, they were flipped upside down, and then webbing was wrapped with stainless staples to replace the cane. It turns out great and is a cheap solution to rehab the seats.

Skid plate suggestions

Just as I was getting ready to wash the mud off my Old Town Pack 12, I noticed I had a pretty considerable gouge near the stern. Given there was also a little yellow rub spot starting to form near the bow, I think it's high time for skid plates. These would be virgin skid plates, and even...

www.canoetripping.net

 

[Erica]

Felt on the stems are skid plates. One thwart is ok, if you ad one behind the bow seat to make it serve its purpose, you won’t be able to solo while sitting on the bow seat, canoe reversed in a 16’ canoe, it will be two close. Those gunnels you have, while not pretty like wood, are robust.

There are a bunch of skid plate videos on YouTube, I always used Kevlar but some prefer Dynel, here are some links. You can buy the felt (Kevlar) and G-Flex separately as shown in the link I shared above rather than a kit to save some $. I agree with this

Skid plate suggestions

Just as I was getting ready to wash the mud off my Old Town Pack 12, I noticed I had a pretty considerable gouge near the stern. Given there was also a little yellow rub spot starting to form near the bow, I think it's high time for skid plates. These would be virgin skid plates, and even...

www.canoetripping.net

Thank you so much, Robin.

 

[Erica]

I looked through some old photos. Here’s the Freedom in better days.

And in this photo it looks like there is a thwart in the bow. Once I saw that, I looked more closely at the first picture and can see a bow thwart there.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I looked through some old photos. Here’s the Freedom in better days.
View attachment 149292
And in this photo it looks like there is a thwart in the bow. Once I saw that, I looked more closely at the first picture and can see a bow thwart there.

View attachment 149294

Erica, those look like two different canoes in the two pictures. The first one appears to be a green Mad River with black vinyl gunwales. The second appears to be a blue or green canoe with aluminum gunwales, perhaps a Blue Hole from the logo sticker.

In fact in your OP, the first two pictures seem to show a green hull canoe while the last four pictures show a light blue hull. Is this just camera aberrations?

 

[Erica]

Erica, those look like two different canoes in the two pictures. The first one appears to be a green Mad River with black vinyl gunwales. The second appears to be a blue or green canoe with aluminum gunwales, perhaps a Blue Hole from the logo sticker.

In fact in your OP, the first two pictures seem to show a green hull canoe while the last four pictures show a light blue hull. Is this just camera aberrations?

The pictures in the OP are all of the same canoe. The canoe is entirely green. So that had to be the the camera. I noticed it too, but I promise you those pics are all of the same boat. They were taken on different days, so I suppose the light might have been different.

I only paddled a Blue Hole once and on that trip I only took slides. Then I had a yellow fiberglass boat for a couple trips and then the Mad River Freedom. We didn’t have more than one canoe at a time back then.

What bothers me more, is that the gunwales are different colored. That shouldn’t change. You think it’s aluminum. And the deck looks different.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Erica, those look like two different canoes in the two pictures. The first one appears to be a green Mad River with black vinyl gunwales. The second appears to be a blue or green canoe with aluminum gunwales, perhaps a Blue Hole from the logo sticker.

What bothers me more, is that the gunwales are different colored. That shouldn’t change. You think it’s aluminum. And the deck looks different.

The popular Blue Hole OCA and Sunburst canoes had aluminum gunwales, thwarts and decks, and usually solid plastic seats. A Mad River with vinyl gunwales usually had wooden thwarts and plastic decks with cane seats. This picture looks like a Blue Hole as does the logo sticker on its bow:

Maybe you (is that you?) were photographed by someone else toting someone else's Blue Hole OCA or Sunburst. You obviously did not take the picture. Perhaps it was sent to you by the someone else.