This is a long read so if you're in a hurry stop now.
For background on this post see: https://www.windycityfishing.com/forums ... r+%2F+AACB
Before I reviewed that post I'd forgotten that I'd repaired my Old Town solo back in the 90s when I had it on loan from my best friend. The post "Rambler / AACB Canoe Repair" detailed my last attempt at repairing it. In keeping with my comments about doing a full-on fiberglass repair if the one done in June 2017 didn't last until I croak, I'm beginning that process. I intend to update my progress by adding to this post as I go along.
The canoe's current state of disrepair came about mostly from 2 occasions last season. The 1st was in the spring. I 'scootched' across the southern-most check dam at Skokie Lagoons when the water was just, almost high enough to get over. I gouged a nice divot in the keel. The 2nd was during the paddle Badger & I did on the DuPage in October. We dragged our boats from the DPR to the I&M across the bike path. I thought all I'd done was leave some paint on the path but clearly I did more damage than that.
After the incident at Skokie Lagoons I did a temporary patch with waterproof Gorilla Tape. That crap really works - maybe a bit too good. Trying to get it off is a MF. I viewed a number of Youtube vids but they all started after the tape was off & dealt with how to get off the sticky goo left over. I sent an email to the Gorilla Tape Co & asked for suggestions. They got back to me right away and said brute force is the only way (no kidding - that's what they said). At my age brute force isn't very brute so I tried a hair dryer & razor blade scraper. Works better than brute force. To get the goo off I used Goo Gone & a wallpaper scraper. Again, not too bad. I intend to take a roll of Gorilla Tape along if I go to the BWCA in the fall - could be a life saver.
So this morning I went out to where I keep it behind the garage at our 'new' digs (been here since Aug so it's starting to feel like home) to take pictures & do one last inspection before starting. Strangely, the former owners left a thing out there (the guy we bought the place from said it was there when he bought the house in 2009 & he had no idea what it was) that with a few modifications, makes for an excellent canoe rack.
You can see from the pictures how bad the damage is. You might also be able to see that there's water seeping out of the damaged parts. It got in during the rain this week so I have to wait until later today to give the sun some time to dry it out.
But here's what I'm planning: (All supplies cost less than $30 so this remains an AACB certified project).
1) Patch the damaged areas with Permatex Marine "H2O Hold" epoxy.
2) Fill in a couple of small holes in the gelcoat with Permatex Water Bond epoxy.
3) Sand it all
4) Apply 2 layers of Bondo fiberglass along most of the keel. I'll probably do 1 layer in some areas that aren't too bad.
5) Sand it all smooth
6) Paint everything with Rustoleum Hunter Green gloss.
Get it done before the end of March so I can get out there.
BTW - interesting to note that most of the WCFers who commented on my June 2017 post are still around. If anyone has any suggestions please chime in.
