C-Forum

I am in the market for an open boat and have a line on an Ocoee. The description of this boat leads me to believe that the hull is vey worn - "well used and lots of green showing but still solid". It was suggested by a former Dagger & Blue Hole owner (the company - not just a boat owner) that any enamel spray paint would make it look better. My experience with painting a hull was that every time the boat was used more and more of the paint was scratched off and now it looks worse than if I had left it alone. I used a marine grade spray enamel and allowed plenty of time for curing (I'm a former painting contractor). My paint job was purely cosmetic. I know that paint won't "repair" a layer that is worn away.

I really don't care if it looks good. I'm much more interested in the condition. The boat is about 7 - 8 hours from where I live and the owner is about 4 - 5 hours away so I haven't been able to see it. The price is $500 obo. It has wood gunwales (I assume they are in good shape) and new flotation, but the outfitting needs work or replacing.

I have not been part of the paddling community for the past few years so I haven't paid much attention to boats for a while. I will be able to paddle whitewater several times a year in the future (now that the kids are older). Based on this description and price I'm wondering if I should look elsewhere. My other question is what if anything can be done to extend the life of a well worn hull? I really don't have the money to replace the outfitting - at least not right away - so expensive hull repair is out of the question.

One other consideration is that the boat's owner may be willing to trade for my kayak which is in pretty good condition. I will have to sell the yak (Godzilla w/ skirt/flotation/paddle - any interest?) in order to fund an open boat. The Ocoee is in my price range and the time frame will work for me too - the owner wants to sell but is in no hurry.

So, does this sound like a decent deal or should I stay away from it? With "lots of green showing" I'm thinking maybe the outer layer is gone. Is there any way to give new life to a well worn boat? I will appreciate all responses. Thanks.

I think what you've described is about right. Your option, assuming its just the outer vinyl layer worn away, is to keep repainting the scratched areas, even though it doesn't stay long. It's more for UV protection than cosmetics or hull integrity.

The hull should be fine if you trust the guy, but I'd want to see photos for sure, and I'd ask some very direct questions about wraps/wrinkles and any delamination (softness) in the chines (along the bottom edges of the hull).

$500 is a great price for a good boat with new air bags. If it seems too good to be true... ask lots of questions. A newer boat like this might go for $1200 used, and you often end up re-doing lots of the outfitting anyway. $500 probably isn't a bad investment even the hull & outfitting need some work.

P.

How much is a brand new Ocoee (Bell makes them these days) with air bags, anyway?

If the outfitting is shot in the $500 boat you are considering, just how good do you think the hull can be?

Eight hours (one way?) is a long drive and a considerable expense at $2 per gallon for gasoline. Can you drive two days for less than $100, including the overnight?

$500, no outfitting, a well-used hull, and a two-day round-trip pickup sounds like a lot personal investment and not much boat to me.

Find something that you can examine closely (and closer to home) before buying. If you don't have the skill to examine a canoe for damage, try a local retailer with a reputation worth upholding. You will pay a little more up front for his experience (or your ignorance), but there is a better chance of avoiding getting royally screwed.

Two Ocoee canoes were sold from this website recently. The "used twice, excellent shape, outfitted" boat went quickly for something less than $850. The "well used" Ocoee was fully outfitted with saddle, bags, and thigh strapes was advertised at $350. It took more than a month to sell.

ABS "glass-overs" can cost $50 to $100 for materials and supplies, depending on the extent and nature of damage. While not hard to do for a handyman with a good place to work, the job is messy and involves some nasty chemicals. The resulting hull repair is not a "rebirth" of the useful life, and it is usually seems "pig heavy" when compared to a new hull.

From the Bell Canoe website:

Brand spanking new Ocoee canoe lists for $1050.

Factory Solo whitewater outfitting (what else would you want in an Ocoee) looks like another $400 retail.

IMO, half of retail price should get you a solid, river-worthy boat, with only a reasonable amount of normal wear and tear, no structural damage or need for repair to the ABS layers, and several years of hull life remaining. Buyer pays shipping or picks up canoe.

"Well worn" is only a step above "worn out."

Look elsewhere. Rent a few boats in the meantime, and take some trips with the local canoe club. Get connected with your friendly, neighborhood paddling community. The real deals on good boats seldom leave the local takeout.

Only the real dogs have to travel eight hours to find a new home.

Well the boat is at the Chatooga River so I could demo it there and make a weekend of it, but I talked to a friend this evening and was telling him about it and as it happens he saw it 2 weeks ago. He said it had lots of dent/scratches and looked like a $250 boat to him. He said the saddle looked good but needed to be reglued, the rest of the outfitting needed replacing and the hull looked bad. It had skid plates which appeared to be covering damage rather than helping to prevent it. It does now have new bags in it so maybe add $100. Also he said the wood gunwales looked decent. His suggestion was to look elsewhere. I trust his opinion so my search goes on. Thanks for the responses.