This is the time to make sure that the surface of the rail that will be against the hull will be thoroughly treated with Gunwale Guard. Keeping your old decks can ease the “pain” of having to come up with a replacement if current factory parts do not fit. Also trace line of bottom of rail on hull. Cut both rails on line marked. from canoe. Lightly trace end of deck on top of gunwales. Drill from inside of canoe towards outside, making sure that drill does not go all the way through outside of gunwale. Apply Gunwale Guard to all surfaces of new rails. Reposition decks on canoe and drive #8 x 1” Phillips head screws into gunwales below decks to secure decks. ** “S” hooks can be made easily from a wire clothes hanger. You will be doing one side at a time. and transfer from hull to top of gunwales with pencil. If fit is good, cover ends of new inwale and ends of existing end pieces with glue. Define center between older holes and mark gunwale. The hardware is durable stainless steel but the heads or threads can be stripped during removal. Gunwale Guard is available in a natural or dark-stained finish. Bend the opposite curve at a slight angle to the bottom. Mad River Canoe has been manufacturing Royalex canoes for over 35 years and during that time, changes have been made in various models, new molds have been brought into use, etc. ... talk to any canoe dealer that can supply Mad River products. The easiest way to tell the size of your hardware is to look at the bolt heads. Due to their length, ash rails cannot be sent UPS. If you have a foam cored Mad River Canoe and are unsure of its’ construction, contact Mad River customer service with your serial number and we’ll help identify your canoe’s construction. Tamp down lightly on top of gunwales to seat them firmly on top edge of hull. Prior to 1985, Mad River used square sided gunwales on all canoes. If you are short-splicing the repair, leave these intact and clamp the remaining deck/gunwale ends assembly to the hull. the seats are still usable along with the thwart and yoke. secure rails to hull. Holding the rail in place over stem of canoe, trace contour of stem of canoe onto rail so that rail will conform to hull shape. Older Mad River canoes also used ¼” hardware to suspend seats, attach yokes, etc. Angle bit so that the interior end of hole will be just below the bottom edge of the inwales. The kerf is a small extension that will cover the top of the hull laminate. Current Mad River Canoe decks are made of beech. Remove the “S” hooks. The gunwales take a more circuitous route from end to end. Drill ¼” hole vertically through the point of the deck to provide a drain for water trapped when canoe is inverted for storage or transport. Check to make sure gunwale is seated on the marked line and proceed to drill holes at new marks, working from center towards ends of canoe. Mad river canoe wood gunwale repair - that can help build the interest your readers are usually pleased in making these pages. You may prefer to make a complete changeover even if some of the original hardware is usable. There are two alternative processes described in the instructions. Mad River ash gunwales can be used on canoes of other manufacturers. This is normal as the hull tends to spread when components are removed. A full set of wood rails has four pieces: two inside (inwales) and two outside (outwales) strips. Remove all thwarts/yokes, seats, decks, etc. Timeless and Rugged. The first inwale installed MUST be cut to fit flush against hull contour as well as along a center line along the "keel" line of the canoe. Return to original end and wipe up any glue that may have run down from gunwale. If you are concerned with maintaining shape especially if gunwale replacement may take extended period of time, make a brace from a 2 x 4 notched at same width as canoe's original beam. Note which are outwales and which are inwales and mark accordingly with pencil on gunwale (marker will bleed into wood causing discoloration). Replace Mad River gunwale, seats, carry yoke? Decks on Royalex canoes have been made of different materials and different woods over the years. Pair of 18 ft canoe gunwales. The use of cardboard squares inserted between the clamp and rail will lessen the compression of rail by the C clamps and provide easier clamping. This in turn leads to deterioration of the gunwale from within. Start your gunwale replacement project by visiting or calling North West Canoe. It is always good to retain original decks if you can. To re-rail a 14' or shorter canoe you will need 15' gunwales, 15' or 16' canoes will require 17' gunwales, etc. The Malecite, a 16.5-foot … Repeat steps #9-17 on opposite rail. 80 pack of #8 x 1 ¼” stainless steel screws (if existing hardware cannot be used). If you have an older model canoe and the decks are glued to the gunwales, you may want to consider the “short-splicing” process that allows you to utilize those existing decks. The new gunwales also need to treated with a fresh coat of oil. Slotted rails do cost more than solid rails. If using 3/16” hardware, slide cupped finish washer onto bolt and bolt into hole. Over the past four decades, Mad River has manufactured it in 17 different layups. Prior to 1985, Mad River Canoes were outfitted with square gunwales. Attach all hardware to each component to prevent loss. It is recommended that to minimize the chances of stripping the screw heads, first back them out manually with a screwdriver and then remove with reversible drill with a #2 Phillips head bit. You will use the S hooks to hold the ends of the gunwales close to the hull as you begin to clamp them at the middle. The size change has more impact if you find out that your existing ¼” hardware cannot be re-used and has to be replaced. For best results run screws to just snug with drill and finish tightening by hand. For maximum protection of your new gunwales, dip mounting hardware in Gunwale Guard before inserting into gunwales. If you are short-splicing with original decks: With center of inwale secured, check to see that one end of the inwale fits snugly against the existing inwale attached to deck. In most of the wooden boats, gunwale remains mounted inboard. For short-splicing installation salvaging existing decks: Make sure that center mark on each inwale is aligned with center mark on hull. It is an option to use non-kerfed gunwales intended for Royalex hulls on a composite hull if your dealer has such gunwales in stock. It’s usually easiest to start with yoke first and work towards the ends. It is not necessary to glue the decks to the inwales. Prior to removing original gunwales, the locations of the seats, yoke, thwart, etc. Locate the marks defining seat locations, yoke/thwart, carry handles, etc. Ideally, the outer edge of the deck will overlap onto the outwale, concealing the top edge of the hull. If the gunwales are already grey and peeling, or even cracked, Davidson would call them a” blue run” repair. Check to see that new gunwales are on line with line traced on hull at bottom of original gunwales. Withdraw the wax paper before tightening screws at ends. On 3/16” hardware, place dimpled finish washer over bolt before inserting into gunwale and secure at bottom with flat washer and locknut. All these fittings are hung from existing rails; removal of those rails will result in loss of position of original fittings. Tighten hardware firmly but do not over torque as it is possible to sheer off stainless steel if over tightened. Mark location of all thwarts/yokes, seats, carry handles on hull of canoe with marker. A better job results if all the rails are of the same age and moisture content. Use of spring or bar clamps can be helpful at this point to temporarily. Tighten screws to secure gunwales. Trace outside of seat hangers to provide accurate reinstallation. Hang “S” hooks over hull at each end and place ends of rail in bottom curl. *C-clamps with round clamp surfaces can tend to walk off the gunwale as you tighten the clamps. Hang the top curve over the side of the hull and put the outwale in the bottom curve. Set saw just inside lines and trim off rail to form rounded end with straight side at center of canoe stem. Below component, place flat washer and lock nut and start nut. Wood gunwales milled for Royalex canoes are flat sided and are installed flush to hull on each side with top of hull material exposed in center. dylan schoelzel and emily schoelzel of salmon falls canoe steam bend gunwales… Hook an “S” hook over hull at each end and put the ends of the outwale in the bottom curve. Due to their length, ash rails cannot be sent UPS. Match new rails into pairs. On the average, 80 screws are required to refasten a 16' canoe. Starting at center point and working towards first one end and then the other, using drill with 11/64" TAPERED bit and countersink, drill holes as marks along the rails. If they are glued, you will need to order replacement decks as well as new gunwales. rails, removal of those rails will result in loss of position of original fittings. I did a Mad River Malecite and a Perception HD-1 and an Old Town Penobscot this way. At that time, Mad River switched to a rounded rail system for a more elegant, finished look and lighter weight. Set the countersink on drill bit by holding 1 ¼” screw against bit and aligning the countersink with the flare at the head of screw. Trim off the ends of the outwales, leaving about ¼” extension beyond end of hull. *C-clamps with round clamp surfaces can tend to walk off the gunwale as you tighten the clamps. Replacement gunwales will need to be treated with Gunwale Guard or equivalent penetrating oil before installation. The first inwale installed MUST be cut to fit flush against hull contour as well as along a center line INLINE to the "keel" line of the canoe. So please can anyone advise aluminium replacement parts as it will be kept outside for long periods. It made the canoe an inch and half shallower. You will use the S hooks to hold the ends of the gunwales close to the hull as you begin to clamp them at the middle. But, some canoes with large upswept en Rails can be ordered from an authorized Mad River dealer. The rails are already dipped in a penetrating oil at the factory. The canoe is about 60 years old and there was dry rot in the gunwales and the edges of the ribs where they come together. Clamp rails, to hull at center point. Wipe clean and apply Gunwale Guard as described above. i have seen some stuff online for sizes - inner gunwale at 1 inch by 3/4 inch and the outer at 5/8 inch and 3/4 inch wide. Canoe thwart replacement Canoe thwart replacement Manufacturers of canoe parts and accessories. Cut off about 12” of wire and bend into an S shape with each bottom curve of S large enough to fit around the gunwale to be used as an outwale. Gunwales of appropriate length: 1 to replace single inwale or outwale, 2 to replace gunwales along one side, 4 for complete re-rail. Once you’ve reached end of canoe, return to center point and repeat procedure to opposite end of canoe. To ensure that hardware is re-usable, it is best to start with a #2 manual Phillips screwdriver (for 3/16” hardware and rail screws) and start screws loose before using variable speed drill. While we do not sell replacement parts for Mad River Canoes, you can get them from edscanoe.com.You can see what they offer on their Mad River Canoe replacement page. Once components are secure, place deck over end of canoe and judge fit. Ideally, decks will fit snugly against junction of inwales at stem of canoe. Once the rail is tapped down as far as it can go, the rails can be re-drilled and re-riveted. intact. to top of gunwales with pencil. Set rail in place in hull and clamp to make sure both inwales are level. When fitting the ends of inwale inside stem, trace not only shape of stem of hull but also mark where other inwale will contact and cut accordingly. The length of a canoe is usually measured down the center along the keel line. Varnish is a brittle top coat protection that will be broken down as the gunwale flexs under normal use. Mad River Canoe recommends oiling wooden Gunwales twice a year, more if you store your canoe outside. Make sure to coat the ends of the gunwales and if during installation you trim the ends, to coat the newly exposed surfaces. For best results, however, it is recommended that you replace a complete set of gunwales. Rails can be ordered from an authorized Mad River dealer. The coating of oil will help seal the newly exposed wood in the holes as the bolts pass through. In 1985, a new lighter rounded profile was introduced and all replacement gunwales are rounded. It is not an effective protection for gunwales. Center the holes in the inwale and take care to drill vertically so that hardware can drop through holes and will not contact inside of hull. At narrow end, it is necessary to offset the first two screws so that they do not conflict with one another. Hang the top curve over the side of the hull and put the outwale in the bottom curve. Slotted inwales are available at additional cost. New gunwales are then clamped to the hull and tamped down to ensure they are properly seated. 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