Fiberglass Canoe Restore - Part 1

How to turn 40 bucks into 3 or 4 HUNDRED!. A damaged fiberglass canoe off craigslist gets restored as good as NEW. The repair could be done the same way on a Kevlar canoe.

[@jorg0370]

Ninety clams invested plus some elbow grease, know how, and a little risk. This is part of what makes America great. Thanks Yankee!

[@samhaverstick4737]

You really have no idea how helpful you are. I've watched so many of your vids over the years and so many have greatly improved my life. I've never been a rich man, and so I'm always looking for ways to spend quality time with my children without spending a fortune. after a canoe trip, I thought it might be nice to buy a couple of canoes so we could fish some of the larger lakes in Kentucky but I cannot spend two grand on a couple of canoes for us. This is a real possibility though. Perfect project to get the kids involved in as well! Thanks Again YP, and now I'm thinking about flank steak for dinner as well!

[@NshoreFixr]

Great vid! You are starting to be my "go to" channel for DIY repair. Thank you.

[@grillsargent09]

Can't wait for part 2. I really like the direction you've taken with your channel. These videos you do on being self-sufficient are great. I am kind of a jack of all trades (master of none), and love learning new skills and getting ideas about how to make stuff and fix things that would be expensive to purchase.Thanks for your time.

[@AndrewsGarage1]

Just bought a fiberglass canoe for $60 and it has two holes along the bow point. Watched this video as a reference for learning. I very much enjoyed watching this and can't wait to use what I learned here on my canoe.

[@I_Am_Bone]

Thanks for posting this! I was given a canoe with a couple spots that need repairing, and your video will be my reference when the weather gets warm enough to do so.

[@Earthscapeoverland]

I just want to say thank you for all of the detailed information. I've never done fiberglass work at all before and I was able to refer back to your video for step by step instructions. I bought a $40.00 canoe as well and it was full of cracks/holes. It came out great. Thanks again.

[@eravulgaris211]

Thank you so much for this fantastic video, parts 1 & 2, I recently restored two canoes using the techniques you demonstrated. They turned out fantastic, it would've been a hell of a job without any guidance. I really appreciate it.

[@AussieHomestead]

Excellent video - i've repaired stuff like fibreglass roofs on tractors but never something that has to be guaranteed water tight, this was a great refresher.

[@Rodneydncn]

Awesome! Gold in the streets for sure. Looking forward to part two

[@bctruck]

Nice job!!! Cant wait to see it painted. Ive made a ton of money over the years fixing and reselling broken stuff. Ive got a unique situation here with my local freds store. They sell featherlight weedeaters and 2 out of 10 come back because they wont stay running. I buy them for 20 bucks from the store and with about 2 minutes of carb adjustment,I have them running and listed on craigslist.

[@speed4207]

Awesome. I took auto collision tech in high school, the fragrance of that stuff takes me back also.

[@thevideoguy90]

Great tutorial! Very easy to understand and clean work!

[@klosnoski]

great vid. Brings me back to 8th grade plastics class. reminded me of what i forgot i knew. thank you

[@lemmik1900]

Looks good, I can tell you've done fiberglass work in the past. Body worked accurately and a nice paint job will make that canoe look good as new.

[@wpherigo1]

That is really cool. When I was about 10, our airplane was damaged by a tornado. My dad restored the 1940's TaylorCraft single engine plane (cloth, not fiberglass) using similar cloth and epoxies method as you. (It was flexible, unlike fiberglass.). He painted it in the blue and yellow trainer colors. I should have paid more attention!

[@dlaube]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

[@jackblaylock3696]

Thanks a lot man! I have a canoe that I cut away the back for to install the transom for my trolling motor. I am no longer intimidated to take on the fiberglass work to finish it. Thanks again

[@famillebussieres-mainville4831]

Terrific narration! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@mattnewton1030]

This is a great video! I am about to go through the same process, and this was much needed

[@devinnmarine]

Thanks a lot, this is really helpful. Very well explained. I'm currently faced with a very similar project to yours and and its my first of its kind. Wish me luck!

[@krazy45cat]

Nice repair I've been doing fiberglass repairs since the late 60's Well done !!!

[@Yankeeprepper]

Thanks man. The modern materials and resins sure make it easy these days.

[@kwstikas82]

a little bit of skill, a little bit of willingness to work and a little bit of luck and great things can happen. Great job!

[@ratherbecampin]

Wife picked me up a 16 footer off of Facebook for $50. Very similar issues with the exception of having to replace the seating. This came at the right time for me brother. Long time subscriber just giving another THANK YOU for the video content you put out. Got everything sanded and ground out so far. Laying fiber soon

[@Yankeeprepper]

Awesome, you will be on the water soon. I finished the final sand and will be putting the paint on tomorrow.

[@romsam4234]

You did an awesome job restoring that canoe, a lot of glass work but it came out realy nice; also great vid big thumbs up. I did the same with one I got for $10.00 on CG. I thought 10 bucks! easy by the time I replaced the gunnel wood, the seats put in some inside end boxes along with all of the SS hardware i was in it for $150.00 plus all my labor (mind you i didn't have to do any fiberglass work) so I figure that canoe cost me at least $510.00 ! LOL Lesson learned I could have bought a used one for the same.

[@coleroyce]

great info, been looking for a canoe, so great skill to know when looking! i also really enjoy all of your diy vids. i love learning and better understanding such skills. Im not quite established, tool wise to tackle some projects, but strive to keep building my tool and skill range. Your children are lucky to have such a wealth of knowledge to sponge off of, thank you for the sharing.

[@ronaldkhoury2464]

Excellent and clear instructions!

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

I can't wait for part two!!! I just did a repair on a 1961 Starcraft 15' boat. It's aluminum. I hunk it's harder to fix. I've heard fiberglass boats are easier to fix than aluminum boats.

[@seanyunt]

These canoe videos are great. I recently acquired a 17' custom fiberglass canoe from a coworker. It's an odd configuration, with NO GUNWALES. And some clown drill holes in the sidewalls and screwed in treated cedar 2x4 to make a trolling motor mount. I yanked that off as it was ugly and weighed a lot. Now I know how to fill in the 7/16" holes. I will refer back to your gunwale video as I need something to protect the raw fiberglass edges on mine.

[@mjf712000]

Looking forward to part 2.

[@acet7]

Nice job, can't wait to see part two. Any other updates on your camper restoration?

[@ColoradoGunfighter]

Another great video. Thanks

[@usfreedom22]

Great project!

[@SugarHammered]

Great video! You sound like Tim Allen!!

[@deanmiles3505]

Excellent video, Thank you.

[@ccj525able]

Yankee - I really enjoy your how to videos, you are a really good, concise teacher. Your work is top notch. LC

[@Big_John_C]

Nice find Yankee!

[@ireland66613]

Thank you for great video brother

[@edreurink6717]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@amyjeaninstilettos]

Currently refurbing a horse trailer roof with so much damage from cracks, stress, old age and holes.... quoted $1400 for repairs. Gonna give it a red hot go myself after seeing this!

[@OBXSOLWIND]

Nice work Brother..

[@note22]

Great Vid!!!

[@jeneratoraltonator6662]

thanks dood. i'm going to attempt this. the only tricky part is the hole damaged the bench seat inside the canoe so i have to attach it as well as patch it. wish me luck

[@Nu2prepn]

Great detail thanks

[@Peakoilcompany]

thanks for loading this up. folks like you make KZbin! question, the fill-in layer you put in after the both layers both sides, would it be better to get that under a final cloth layer so it is sandwiched in, or is it much of a muchness? also, my project has a lot of hairline cracks.. in one large square foot area, the hull seems weak because of a complex criss crossing of these light stress cracks. would you just looks lay a matt over it all, or open it right up?

[@richardschaffling9882]

Very good video

[@radrenegade2282]

Great vid!! Always worth the time i "SHOULD" be working watching this channel! Lets hope they don't block youtube at my work!! Cant wait to see part 2

[@hectorlara4023]

Hi! I was just wondering what kind of sand paper or whatever you use on 8:02. Thank you!

[@BittyBooBrown]

That was very interesting.

[@BorealSelfReliance]

Nice! ...you are right about money being in the streets.

[@LoudPipes]

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

[@TeletubbyKid]

Has anyone ever told you that your voice sounds like George Clooney? Great voice to listen to during the tutorial.

[@shoutatthesky]

You should probably get your hearing tested :)

[@joecasais6223]

Hi, I was wondering what resin and hardener did you used?, great video by the way!!

[@kcolmore1]

I can't find part 2 of this. I just got me a canoe and I'm also redoing it. I have never did anything like this so this is helping.

[@Yankeeprepper]

You gotta wait a little longer. I am finishing the sanding today and will be painting it shortly. I have been very busy, even went on a CANOE TRIP already! Now I just got a call on a load of oak for the fire place this winter....

[@ty-ler14]

Hi there, this is WAAAY after you’ve made this video but is there any chance you’d have a list of the materials you used? I’m looking to do the same repairs on my canoe I’m just not sure which material/brands of materials to get. Thanks really enjoyed your video 😁

[@mojsmg]

Awesome DIY video, thanks for posting this.

[@scubas1981]

Do you happen to know the weight of the Kevlar you used to build the keel guard on the front? Also how many layers did you use? I am currently working on a very awesome restoration of my own and keel guard is my number one concern.

[@dig-inoutdoors4305]

Any suggestion on how to repair a keel? I also just got a cheap old canoe and it's pretty beat up. The damage is all the way through the fiberglass on the rear keel. Should I attack it with bondo first or or start with fiberglass? Awesome Vid, Thanks in advance!

[@steveabner]

Can't wait for part 2. Could I use this method to patch a 2 inch diameter rust hole on my vehicle?

[@Yankeeprepper]

Yes. Same skill, same method. Cut out and grind away all rust or damages metal. Replace and build up with fiberglass and filler. Sand smooth and paint.

[@MrMitchjos000]

I am looking to repair one I got. I’m gathering supplies and don’t quite know what to buy. What fiber glass do you recommend. And what resin?

[@CharlieLTuna]

Love the two video's. Never done this work before and great step by step. A few questions. I was thinking of doing this work over the winter. Would the cold make the job harder to do? IS this work to messy to do in a garage?

[@Yankeeprepper]

Yes and Yes. Ambient temp effects the cure time. The cooler the air temp, the longer it takes for the resin to cure. Humidity also have a similar effect. This job is very messy and smelly. All these reasons are why I do it outside.

[@njseashorechas2698]

HAHAHA! I made the same purchase. I paid $50. for a fiberglass wrapped wood canoe with a hole in it!

[@wp8767]

What oz cloth were you using for the patches?

[@tscott21970]

Are you in the Oklahoma area?

[@kalledimming6298]

Great video! However i was just wondering what kind of resin you used, is it epoxi or polyester?

[@joshwithe7468]

Two part marine epoxy is stronger, and forms a more permanent bond. It also can be thinner for the same strength. Polyester resin is cheaper but not as strong

[@wildcat19671]

Yankee, are there ant really good hand operated coffee grinders out there. If so please post name and model #.

[@hotttt28]

that canoe found you !

[@Questionableorigins]

Would you mind telling me the grit of the sandpaper you used at certain stages during the video? thank you.

[@M.Esfahani]

In another repair video, I heard it should be 80 grid.

[@royhenderson9108]

Hey I see stillwater on the screen would that by any chance be Stillwater New York? I live in Mechanicville New York I have a canoe that needs work I have no idea how to do it trying to find someone to help

[@lukebond1415]

Where did you find the thin fiberglass mat? I've looked everywhere and can only find the thicker cloth! Thanks.

[@Yankeeprepper]

luke bond I picked up all my supplies at Welle Auto here in Minnesota - www.welleauto.com/ It's an old school mom and pop place for DIYers and the Pros as well. I am sure you can get it on Ebay too.

[@jorg0370]

Great video! Thumbs up. What's the parts cost?

[@Yankeeprepper]

maybe 50 dollars

[@bobhong2175]

Hi. I just bought an Old Town Camper (green), and I would like to repaint her (after fixing all holes, cracks, and gouges). The outer layer of the canoe is vinyl. Could the paint you used applicable to vinyl? Thank you.

[@Yankeeprepper]

no

[@mickcrazy400]

Hi! Very good video, But I still have some questions. I will do my best to write in English (it is not my first language) So I bought an old canoe that has a lot of “surface cracks” and I was wondering what can I do for it? Just put resin epoxy above? I want something sturdy. And can I grind a hole (to repair a crack) that is like 3 times more big than your hole, and repair it like you did or it is just the big to be repaid (I have a really big crack and the previous owner the crack worst be trying to repair it.

[@joshwithe7468]

Fiberglass is fiberglass, use marine epoxy instead of polyester resin for larger repairs, profile the edges as to give a smooth transition and plenty area to grip, and the repair will be as strong as the hull

[@GF_Burke]

Thanks man. Think we've watch you on prepping vids. ha. Anyways, just did a CL score for $20. Wide, 18ft long canoe. Going to try this today.

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

Watch part two. You won't believe how nice this canoe looks!

[@hound2011]

very easy and nice video. I wood have done it with maskingtape, you did a better job because it´s easier.

[@thelittlelobo]

Will this work for a royalex made canoe ? My keel has been damaged and now I have a crack and hole.

[@Yankeeprepper]

no, I would not recommend fiberglass on a royalex. different plastics. I believe ebay has some royalex repair kits

[@markw.clarke9766]

where did you get the (very thin) first layer of fiberglass...? what is it called? thanks

[@Yankeeprepper]

any auto body store online or brick front will sell it and it called thin/chopped fiberglass mat

[@Abious]

I was considering doing a very similar project. I have a friend who has an older canoe that has been left outside and has some holes in it. I was considering making an offer around 40 as well but I am concerned with material costs. What would your estimate be on the materials you used for this project?

[@Yankeeprepper]

I cannot discern that looking a comment on youtube. You will have to estimate that amount of material you think you will need by looking at the damage on the canoe and then adding the cost up by calculating the material you estimate to be used.

[@Abious]

I asked a ballpark figure on your restoration project because mine is similar. Are there any kits you would suggest that might contain most of the materials. Or would the quality of materials be better if purchased individually? Sorry for the abundance of questions, this would be a first time fiberglass restoration for me.

[@doobing]

could I use fiberglass to repair a aluminum boat crack I tried jb weld but it cracked again

[@Yankeeprepper]

dunkin doobing I would not recommend it. Weld the aluminum.

[@ryangardner1185]

What are the thickness of glass used in order?

[@Yankeeprepper]

ryan gardner I have no idea. It's not that complicated, it's just fiberglass auto body glass. If you want it thicker put more layers on.

[@richardbrinkman7620]

thank you!

[@harleyjune1233]

neighbor gave me this canoe and i have had to reglass entire bottom and skid...$ 100 later, 5 years rowing - just did another repair - saving pennies for new canoe....

[@sapitovid]

TIL George Clooney repairs canoes

[@PopsCabinetShop]

Nice work! I have built a Cape Charles 18' kayak and jon boat recently with tons of glass work on them and the only thing worse that sanding glass, is sanding glass in a 100 degree warehouse~ LOL BTW, I did some research on boat paint and you can spend a lot but exterior latex house paint works great for a budget paint job. My jon boat paint is holding up great just as long as you aren't looking for a super smooth finish

[@mattysams009]

George Clooney?

[@Yankeeprepper]

When I am not making movies, I make youtube vids.

[@austinklinefelter8297]

I got one for free I going to do the same thing

[@thebrooklynprepper]

Nice canoe fix...MAN!!....but in a douchebag apocalypse can it withstand a round from a Glock or AK47...MAN!!!..Hold on MAN I have flies all over my legs and my ankles are swollen...MAN!!!