Rotting Royalex

[daggerfan]

I have a Dagger Reflection canoe. It's about 10 years old and has lived most of it's life outside - in the sun. It is faded a bit from the sun but overall in pretty good shape.

I had it out this spring and when I got home I noticed a crack running from a rivet in the gunwale down about 10 inches. I know I hadn't hit a rock or anything, so I assumed I had the ratchet straps cinched down to tight and this caused the crack.

Anyway, I just had it out again a couple weeks ago, and made sure I didn't tie it down too tight on the canoe rack. When I got home I discovered two new cracks at the opposite end, both starting at a rivet.

I already bought one repair kit to repair the original crack, and I don't really want to keep buying them if it's going to keep cracking.

Do you think my canoe is ruined from the sun? Not sure what is causing these cracks because the canoe is definitely not being abused.

Any suggestions?

[Ken Corbett]

Offhand, I'd say the sun has weakened your hull. Everything (and everybody) that sits in the sun too long usually gets bleached out and dry, so the sun could be an important factor.

I wouldn't know how to fix it. There may be info on other message boards to help you out. Try www.npmb.com/cms2/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?6 the New England Paddlers Message Board, perhaps.

Ken

[scooter]

The cracks could also be from cold weather. Royalex is know for forming cold cracks. I know quite a few people who back out the screws if they have wooden gunwales during the winter to prevent them. G-flex is a good fix for this type of crack provided the royalex isn't rotten.

Scooter

[kyle]

drill a hole at the end of the crack or it will keep spreading

[youcanoe]

Thanks for the suggestion Kyle. I just got my royalex out of the garage and discovered a small crack running from the first screw in the gunwales; so I put a small hole with a nail and am now wondering where to get G-flex as the royalex is not rotten. ALSO, I am looking for ash gunwales - any ideas?