AlanGee wrote:
Looks like I may have to do this myself after all, The Complete Paddler wanted $700 + tax.
Alan, I am hesitant to suggest this, but have you considered installing vinyl gunwales and deck plates?
I know vinyl gunwales are anathema to some folks, but the installation is straightforward simple and requires nothing more than a saw to cut off excess gunwale length, a drill and pop rivets. OK, a rubber mallet and a couple other things.
https://www.madrivercanoe.com/us/experi ... eplacementI’ve done wood gunwales, and if for some reason I positively had to have wood, I’d do so again. I’ve done aluminum, and will never do so again. One-piece aluminum that is; I have never tried the newer two-piece aluminum gunwales, which promise to eliminate some kinking and sheerline rise bending issues.
Installing vinyl gunwales is the easy part. Finding them, and getting them, is more difficult. Long lengths of vinyl gunwale don’t ship. If you have a canoe manufacturer nearby picking them up at the factory is one option (strap an extension ladder to your roof racks).
Or, if you find some manufacturer with vinyl gunwales (and end caps, the two should match) suitable for your kevlar Blue Water they might ship them with the next load of boats to an outfitter for you to pick up (still need the extension ladder).
Hereabouts I am fortunate to have an outfitter shop that does repairs and stocks replacement gunwales only an hour away. It’s been a while, so I called to ask pricing:
Wenonah Vinyl Gunwales with aluminum insert, $95 USD a pair
Wenonah deck caps, $15 USD a pair.
Still need the extension ladder to go get them.