clean your canoe once in a while

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Tearing down a canoe for new canvas and I could not believe how much sand came out.https://twitter.com/orcacanoes/status/786584970038870018 I think the canvas was on too loose. No doubt a bit gets between the planking, but this was crazy.

 

[MGC]

I'm curious.. shy of pulling the canvas, how do you clean the sand out of a boat? I've run into this fairly often and especially on old gap toothed planking.
If boats are used in sandy areas, sand finds it's way in.
I think boats with floors are the worst because the floors tend to make people less careful about tracking crap into the boat.
Boats that are used for fishing or in areas where you are in and out with wet sloppy feet also get filled with silt and sand.
Aside from not using them, I don't see how you can prevent this.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

I know that sand and dirt is inevitable but I have never seen this much sand under the canvas and I have done over 50 of them in the past 10 years. Just suggesting to tip the boat over and wash it out so this does not pile. As stated though, I really think this canoe had loose canvas allowing the sand to get under there. Most of the sand came out before I reached for the camera. This is also partly why I like to varnish the insides after the canvas is on as some vanish will seep in and seal up a bit.