Open canoe paint advice...

[SuffolkLady]

New to all this, my apologies but I'm not a boat enthusiast!!

I have been lucky enough to get a really cheap 4m fibreglass open canoe from a neighbour so that I can reach and maintain the far side of my large pond.

The fibreglass is in tact, there's a small hole in one part of the outer hard shell (gelcoat??) where I can see the solid fibreglass. This I was thinking of patching with some marine plastic pudding, is this right??

There was a layer of red paint on the outside which mostly came off with a jetwash, under that there's some sort of paint job over the original coating as I can see brush marks, odd shading in places, etc. I'd like to give it a light sand and repaint. So confused by antifouling, hull paint, kayak paint, etc. What is the cheapest paint for use permanently below the waterline?? It will be in the water forever more as it weighs a ton and I'll never get it out again!! It doesn't need to look amazing, just not too shabby and unloved. The pond contains ducks so paint needs to be safe for them.

Many thanks in advance. xx

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Leaving it in fresh water means ultimately you'll need some sort of antifouling (poison) on its bottom, but I wouldn't be too happy with that in a small freshwater pond. Much better to try and find some way to drag it out when not in use. Can't be too hard to engineer some way of doing that.

Then to paint it, scrub really well with detergent, sand it all over and fill any 'dings' with car body filler from Halfords and then when it's rubbed down really well with 120g paper, give it a coat of outdoor gloss paint. It won't be the perfect solution, but will tart it up. Just keep the pressure washer away from it when it's done.

 

[SuffolkLady]

Leaving it in fresh water means ultimately you'll need some sort of antifouling (poison) on its bottom, but I wouldn't be too happy with that in a small freshwater pond. Much better to try and find some way to drag it out when not in use. Can't be too hard to engineer some way of doing that.

Then to paint it, scrub really well with detergent, sand it all over and fill any 'dings' with car body filler from Halfords and then when it's rubbed down really well with 120g paper, give it a coat of outdoor gloss paint. It won't be the perfect solution, but will tart it up. Just keep the pressure washer away from it when it's done.

Thanks so much for your reply, unfortunately it's an old farm pond with incredibly steep sides and it takes 4 people to comfortably lift it even a foot off the ground. Once it's in the pond it will have to stay as there's just the two of us. Might be able to get it out every year or two when we can get young fit family to visit but not on a regular basis. Is antifouling really bad then?? xx

 

[Motor_Sailor]

It depends what you call really bad! If you are trying to establish a wildlife pond, then it can't be helpful.

The other alternative is just to paint it normally and then let it go 'au naturel'. If you're not using the canoe to go huge distances or race, then a hairy bottom won't really be any issue. Then when the manpower is available, haul it out and give it a scrape once in a while.

 

[Pete7]

Rather than body filler which may just flex and crack, Halfords do a simple fibreglass repair kit. Sand the area and fill it in, then sand again and paint on top.

 

[SuffolkLady]

Thanks Pete7, I'll give Halfords a look.

Motor_Sailor, au naturel sounds the way to go, better for the ducks, newts and us!! What paint should I use?? Still something for below the waterline or any old thing?? It's so confusing to us newbies who have never given a second thought to what real boat owners have to consider!! xx

 

[Boathook]

Just use an ordinary outdoor gloss paint and see how long it lasts. What ever paint is used, it will get growth on it unless an antifoul, which I feel is a waste of money in your situation.

 

[Seashoreman]

I paint my rowing dinghy with white Dulux spirit based exterior paint. Regular stuff. As you wont need a great deal I think its worth getting more expensive branded paint, but I am just guessing about that. Dinghy last painted about 6 years ago and gloss paint still in good condition.
As mentioned any type of antifouling/tar etc on its bottom is designed to kill growth, wont be too kind on static pond water.

 

[SuffolkLady]

Wow thanks guys!! I have just found a load of bedec barn paint in the garage so will give that a go as it does wonders on everything else. Thanks so much for you help, was so worried I'd do something wrong and ruin the boat. You've given me the confidence to have a go and not kill off all the wildlife. Stay safe and happy boating!! xx

 

[Boathook]

Thanks so much for your reply, unfortunately it's an old farm pond with incredibly steep sides and it takes 4 people to comfortably lift it even a foot off the ground. Once it's in the pond it will have to stay as there's just the two of us. Might be able to get it out every year or two when we can get young fit family to visit but not on a regular basis. Is antifouling really bad then?? xx

I always thought that farm ponds had gentle slopes so that the farm animals could get water. I'm not a farmer before anyone comments .....

 

[SuffolkLady]

Okay, you got me, it's an old farm building pond!! The pond was created a couple of centuries ago when they dug the clay out to build the farm buildings, so more like a small quarry. About 6ft down to the waters edge and pretty darn steep, pond itself is about 10ft deep, even our dog thinks twice before venturing for a drink because it's so much effort to get back up if you fall in!! xx

 

[Andibs]

Sign up to Song of the Paddle web forum, it's free. It was specifically set up for open canoe paddlers. Huge wealth of knowledge and experience on there and very friendly.

I damaged my fibreglass one down to the weave and just filled with gel coat. Lasted wel including rocky river running

Andy

 

[James_Calvert]

If it's going to be left afloat, have you given any thought as to how you will get rainwater out of it?

Some boats get really unstable when part filled, you wouldn't want that surprise when bailing it out.

No idea myself how a canoe like yours would behave.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Assuming that the land around the pond belongs to you, I would seriously consider excavating a shallower approach to the pond or building something like a human-sized hedgehog ramp before using a somewhat unstable vessel like a canoe on the pond. An alternative would be some sort of pontoon arrangement on the pond. There are several reasons:

1. Ease of taking the canoe out of the water for maintenance etc. Personally, I'd advise taking the canoe out of the water for the winter months even if it is left in the water for the rest of the year. You don't want water to get into crevices and then freeze; that would rapidly destroy the canoe.
2. Ease of a swimmer getting out of the water if the canoe capsizes. I don't know where you are, but in temperate latitudes the water temperature will be not much above freezing for several months of the year, and a swimmer will lose strength very rapidly. Even a bank normally climbable could become an insuperable obstacle. I've been in cold water and you lose strength VERY rapidly; after a few minutes I could not get out of the water into an inflatable a few inches above sea-level.
3. Removing rainwater from the canoe would be much easier if you have good access. And the point made above about free water surfaces destabilizing vessels is certainly true - I have first-hand experience of capsizing a much more stable vessel than a canoe because of the presence of free water! And the easiest way to remove water is to slide the canoe out of the water and tip it over!

I can't imagine if being an onerous job if you can hire a mini-digger (boys toys!); way back when I was a teenager (probably 50 years ago!) I helped to excavate a slipway for a nascent dinghy club on the River Calder in Dewsbury, and the job was certainly doable with picks and shovels.

 

[SuffolkLady]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I really do appreciate your advice.

I've already purchased a cover for it to back up my diy tarpaulin version having discovered how quickly it fills with rainfall on land and just how heavy it is to try and tip over!!

Rest assured, I shan't be getting anywhere near the canoe without hubby being nearby to help pull me out or more likely video me!! xx