C-Forum

What do people use to attach anchor points for thigh straps on old composite canoes? Can I just glue in some D-rings or do I need to "glass" them in? In the alternative could I just glue in a bulkhead? Pros and cons?

What about placement of the anchor points? Is is just a matter of eyeballing or do I need to measure twice?

How about painting a composite hull? It currently has a sweet (but faded) brownish gold sparkle going on that I would like to revive.

Thanks in advance for all the help. I will try to post pictures as this project gets going.

Keith

I'd think you'd want to rough up the hull where you want the anchors and glass in rope for anchor points. You could glue in a bulkhead though just fine too.
If your hull is just faded, a coat of clearcoat would bring it back to shine.
Pics would be nice

Oops, everyone is pretty particular about strap placements. Are you doing a single over thighs or a Mike Yee style with over the knees and thighs?

If I do strap instead of bulkhead (leaning toward bulkhead) I would do single strap just to keep it simple.

I've had good results with G-flex on purchased loops/rings (e.g., Mike Yee outfitting). Rough up the boat with 60-grit; vacuum; apply the G-flex to the item; place on boat (leveled so patch is flat); roll/push out air bubbles; cover with saran wrap; lay over a thin sandbag, then a heaver, 10 lb. sand bag; remove in the morning.

I did extensive repairs to an old Defiant and painted the interior with latex grey house paint at Kaz's suggestion; outside of hull I sprayed with spray can enamel.

Here are a few pictures. Paddled it briefly on the canal through some gates today. Different than my Octane and I like it.

Really like the way the sun is able to penetrate the hull. Maybe I will put some mini puppet cutouts on the inside...

So far that is it for the outfiitting. Starting bulkhead installation tomorrow and maybe bags if I have time.

Love those lines.

Almost done with the seat build. Probably will install tomorrow.

Can anyone advise me on seat placement. The previous setup was pretty far back. I paddled it briefly on some gates and the rear did feel like it was hanging up a bit. Do people usually center the seat in a boat with the intent to use it for slalom? Do I just put the seat in loose and find the pivot point like with any other boat? I guess the highly rockered stern is kind of throwing me off.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Keith

Kinda like the way it looks at the moment: "experienced".
With a nice rigging job some & some good floatation colour that would be a signature boat to me.

I'm hauling my kevlar Viper 11 into the shop this winter for some love, it's had a few hard rivers in the last years.
Pretty much I'm just gonna lightly glass/tape over the abrasion feathering, grind to expose a few impact blisters, and maybe lay a layer of tape on the bow crack. It looks well travelled, but that is it's calling card, with pride.
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From just having setup a Royalex Howler, I think you are going to have to paddle it with a loose saddle to find the right placement.

I took a bubble level with me. After some review, I convinced myself that the gunwale at the middle should be essentially horizontal when it was trimmed correctly. I moved my position until I found the right place with the level, then tested out how that felt. I found the right place for me was about 3" back of the level position when not moving and sitting upright.

I don't know if the Millbrook Howler gunwale should be level or not when trimmed correctly, but it seemed right on the Mad River version.

Have fun - it is a cool boat.

Keith, did you get my email?

I did John. Thank you for the follow up. I also responded with another question...Thank you for all your help, greatly appreciated.

Keith