New Canoe.

[Coen Cameron]

Thanks for everyone who followed my threads about canoes and kayaks, and answered my questions, I finally found a canoe that would work for me in the quokka, and luckily for me, It cost me nothing!
The guy who had it said that he really just needed to get rid of it to make way for his new one, and that he was more than happy for me to have it, provided that i removed it from his property.
When we first got it, it had two "pontoons" either side, which were really just pool noodles fiber-glassed to the side of the canoe for stability. I decided they weren't necessary, so we removed them. I have taken it out twice now, and haven't found a single leak, and it is really stable, so all in all, a good score.

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7510/freecanoe001.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/freecanoe001.jpg/)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/910/freecanoe015.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/freecanoe015.jpg/)

[Kenshin]

is that a plastic or a fiberglass canoe and you gonna mount a leccie on it perhaps a fishfinder and some rodholders

just car top it?

[Coen Cameron]

Hey Kenshin.
Somehow I don't think a leccy and fish-finder are quite within my budget lol, but I can live without them anyway. Maybe down the line I will consider some more expensive addons, when I actually have some cash hehe. rod-holders sound like a good plan though, but I don't want to go drilling into the actual fiberglas shell, or make anything too permanent. Yeah just throw it on top of dads car, he has a rhino rack so its pretty easy to cart around.

[Coen Cameron]

Oh yeah, sorry its fiberglass btw.

[Kenshin]

Hey Kenshin.
Somehow I don't think a leccy and fish-finder are quite within my budget lol, but I can live without them anyway. Maybe down the line I will consider some more expensive addons, when I actually have some cash hehe. rod-holders sound like a good plan though, but I don't want to go drilling into the actual fiberglas shell, or make anything too permanent. Yeah just throw it on top of dads car, he has a rhino rack so its pretty easy to cart around.

at least if you drill fiberglass it is really easy to glass over the holes or any damage i used to work in industrial fiberglass

fairly sure you can pick up a smallish jarvis walker kota for a couple hundred would be wicked to controll your drift along the shore line

[Coen Cameron]

hmmm, I might consider that JW leccy, it sounds like a pretty good deal.

[Crayfish]

How's she paddle?

[Coen Cameron]

She paddles quite nicely actually, with 2 people in the canoe, it feels a bit heavy, and unless you paddle in sync, it can be a bit awkward, but when i'm solo, it is really nice (I will normally be going solo, o its all good) I would like to get a bit more speed out of my strokes, but i think all that comes down to experience and technique, which i will gain over time.
Thanks

[rodneycalkin]

Awesome score man. Will get you into those hard to reach by foot places around the banks.

[Kenshin]

She paddles quite nicely actually, with 2 people in the canoe, it feels a bit heavy, and unless you paddle in sync, it can be a bit awkward, but when i'm solo, it is really nice (I will normally be going solo, o its all good) I would like to get a bit more speed out of my strokes, but i think all that comes down to experience and technique, which i will gain over time.
Thanks

i think you can wean more speed out of a nicer paddle as well

[Coen Cameron]

Yeah very true Rodney, the spot I was fishing is literally unreachable by foot, unless you manage to trespass and not get caught.
Kenshin, what kind of paddle would you recommend?, would a double ended or single ended one be better, any other things I should consider?

[Kenshin]

Yeah very true Rodney, the spot I was fishing is literally unreachable by foot, unless you manage to trespass and not get caught.
Kenshin, what kind of paddle would you recommend?, would a double ended or single ended one be better, any other things I should consider?

to be honest i have no experience in yaks and canoes but my mate has a finn yak and he got an upgraded paddle and says it adds alot to his speed

[Coen Cameron]

Hmmm, ok, i'll have to do a bit of research and see what I can come up with then.
Thanks.

[streetles]

I have an old canoe very similar to yours and have fitted a 18lb thrust watersnake to it . she goes great ,not a speed boat mind you but goes as good as you can paddle flat out but no effort .runs on a small car battery for 2 to 3 hours . cant go wrong for $149.......start saving ya pocket money..:D......good paddles cost about the same , specialy double enders

[Coen Cameron]

hmmm, thats a good way of looking at it Streetles, i might think about that as an option.
Hey btw, I was talking to a mate who is pretty into kayaking and canoeing and I asked him about getting the canoe re-gelcoated, he reckons if there is no actual leaks or cracks, then it is cheaper and easier to just sand it back, and paint it with marine paint. What are you're opinions on that? and what do you reckon it would cost to re-gelcoat it?
Thanks

[Hazell]

If it doesn't leak, don't fix it. It would cost more than an electric motor I reckon. I know which i would prefer. If your worried about leakage or want to get a smoother finish, just sand lightly and use a very high quality paint.

[Coen Cameron]

Hey, so u reckon just sand her back a bit and paint her?
I have been told to use a 2 part Polyurethane mix, but that sounds a bit over the top. So what kind of paint would you recommend? and can it be sprayed on using a compressor and spray attachment? or does it have to be done with rollers and brushes?

[Hazell]

I would try something like white knight rust guard which has been made to be corrosion resistant. There are probably paints designed purely for this. Call a marine supplier like whitfords and see what they recommend. You will probably need a primer too. There should be plenty of spray paints available to suit. Just make sure you go nice even coats and several coats.