John, new canoe owner

[jccampbell001]

Hi, I just bought a 14 ft Chestnut canoe online. My brother checked it out and is bringing home to me from Ontario. I’m excited to have found this forum and expect I will tap into the knowledge base here. There is some work to do - sanding and painting initially I think, maybe more down the road. We always had a Chestnut canoe at our cottage, which my brother now has and I have been wanting to get one for many years. Nice to know there are so many people out there who love these canoes.

 

[MGC]

Bet you can't own just one
Hopefully the boat lives up to your expectations. They are great to own and paddle. They (wood and canvas) are not as common on the carry's as they once were. They draw a good deal of attention and admiration and even derision (how heavy is that?).
When you work on it, use good paint and good varnish.
You should be able to source any real specific material you might need from the Builder and Suppliers listing on this site. https://www.woodencanoe.org/builders-suppliers
Post some pictures when you have them.
Mike

 

[jccampbell001]

Thanks Mike, will do.

John

 

[jccampbell001]

It’s been in storage in a temperature controlled garage for 10-15 years and seems in good shape but with some cracks. Not sure what if anything should be done before it goes in the water again. John

 

[jccampbell001]

Here are a few photos. You can see some of the cracks that will require repair.

John

 

[Dave Osborn]

It’s evident that the paint and filler is starting to craze. Sand and repaint will keep you going for a while. Remove the outwales and stem bands first. Don’t forget to put bedding compound under the stem bands when you reinstall them.

 

[chriscook]

Here are a few photos. You can see some of the cracks that will require repair.

John

Looks great! Congrats

 

[jccampbell001]

Curious as to people’s experience sanding wet or dry, and hand vs orbital sander.

 

[Dan R.]

I have a Morris that needs new canvas. I skipped recanvassing, hand sanded dry, and put two coats of paint on last spring and it fixed the slight leaking it had. Not sure what next year will bring.
Heads up, I’ve read that some of the boats, depending on year and originality, might have lead filler and/or paint. It caught me off guard even though it makes sense based on what was the practice during different times.

 

[Gil Cramer]

Don't worry about lead based filler. It was the best filler available. I used it as long as I could get it reasonably priced. Even after that I added Lead oxide to fillers when I could get it . After almost 40 years of restoring canoes, I am no more "mad as a hatter" than I was before I used white lead!
Well Maybe??

 

[Dan R.]

Haha! I’m sure the addition of lead made a good product. It’s pretty impressive that these canoes have been around for so long and maybe the lead has had something to do with that? I don’t know enough to say.
I mainly worry about it when it comes to the little ones. I took into consideration where they play when sanding just in case.

As far as myself, I spent lots of time fishing without pliers as a kid, I can’t say I never ingested lead split shot… I’m sure it has only added to my personality!

 

[Dave Wermuth]

Dry sanding is dusty
Wet sanding is messy
Orbital sanding is aggressive.
pick yer poison.
And Gil is no more crazy than the rest of us.

 

[Gil Cramer]

Dave is wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a lot crazier than everyone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Lead around little ones is dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!! Evidently, youngsters can pick up lead in their systems very easily and it inhibits their intellectual development. Old People, like some of us, don't react the same because we are not growing but deteriorating.

 

[jccampbell001]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll try wet sanding by hand first and see how it goes. I will be doing it in a garage so I want to minimize the dust, and I don't want to be too aggressive. And I'lll watch out for lead. I remember those lead sinkers on my fishing line when I was young - maybe that's my problem!

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

I don't know in Us but here in France I change lead water plumbing from the street to home 10 years before the water company in the street
and it was the same plumbing tubes when I was young in all ours homes
the problem is in antique paints with "flowers" like salpetry ... not in sucking a piece of lead