Sectioning an aluminum canoe

[Codger_64]

I've been looking for a cheap used aluminum solo canoe and it seems they don't exist. But I find plenty of used 17' tandems in excellent shape at a cheap price (sub-$300). I know nothing about welding aluminum, but I wonder is it possible to cut a four foot section out of the center of a canoe and weld it back together shorter? 12' to 13' long? Would it be as strong as the original single sheet hull? Can the weld be dressed down flush to make it disappear on the outside and be hidden under a rib inside? Will the shoe keel and gunnels be as strong once welded back together? And finally, while my steel welding costs me next to nothing, I haven't a clue how expensive aluminum welding is. Thoughts, experiences and suggestions?

[Scott Free]

I can't address any of your concerns, but allow me to add another. A 17' canoe is going to be at least 36" inches wide. It will probably be wider. Even after removing 4 foot from the middle, you'll still end up with a very fat and difficult to paddle solo canoe.

[Scott Free]

I just did a search on a very popular auction site for "aluminum canoe." I found two that were 15 foot, and another that was 12. The 12 footer was $1000, but at least it shows that the shorter boats do exist.

[Codger_64]

Looking at the Marathon (Grumman) site, their 17' canoe has a 36 1/2" beam. Their 13' canoe has a 35 1/8" beam. Their 12' 9" solo has a 29 1/2" beam. Taking the center section out of a 17' Grumman would leave a 4" narrower beam at least, or 32 1/2". Three inches wider than their purpose built solo. And three inches narrower than their 13' model. My current solo has a length of 10' 6" and a beam of 27". I think the alteration would work dimension wise. If it is mechanically feasable to do it. I am not in a position to lay out a grand on a new canoe, or I would get an Old Town Pack (12' x 32"), or even the Dicks Sporting Goods version, the Guide 119 (11' 9" x 31") at $400 plus tax. But if all else fails, that may be what I wind up doing. Transporting a used (eBay/Craigslist) canoe from any distance is cost prohibitive.

Yeehaw!

[Codger_64]

Nevermind. I just bought a used solo canoe locally from Craigslist at a good price, an Old Town Discovery 119K with the ash and cane seat I prefer. This is the Old Town version of the rebadged ones being sold at Dick's under the Guide 119 name. The current Old Town and Dick's versions both use the molded plastic seats I dislike.

[Scott Free]

That's a pretty boat—and a whole lot prettier than any aluminum canoe. Nice.

[Codger_64]

Hopefully it will be more well-mannered than my Dagger. Now I'll see if either the 119K or the Dagger will ride hanging off the side of my trailer. I got the cargo box brackets welded last week and will hopefully finish welding the paddle locker today, and take all three to the river this weekend.

While researching the Discovery 119K, I had to laugh at one review I found:

Stable? Let's Be Honest Now!

Old Town Canoe Old Town Guide 119 Canoe Review:

Purchased this OT Guide 119 canoe Thursday evening and returned it for a full refund on Sunday. Why? I have owned many OT canoes in the past and had very good experiences with all of them (Katahdin, Discovery, etc.). This Guide 119 was just not stable enough for me! I'm only 5'6" (170 lbs.) and felt like I was on a carnival ride from the moment I sat in it! With all the years' experience I have on the water, I felt like a novice in this canoe! I could hardly move around or reach for something without feeling like it wanted to capsize. After about 1.5 hours on the lake fishing, sure enough, I leaned forward to grab my tackle box and over I went! It happened pretty quick! Lost the cell phone and all my gear was soaked. Pulled the canoe to the shoreline and emptied all the water out; placed the gear back inside; paddled to the boat ramp; loaded the canoe back onto the car and drove straight to Dick's for a return. Old Town makes great products but have to say that this Guide 119 version could use a re-design by adding a few more inches in the girth (Width) to make it more stable. I can't believe more people have not experienced or spoke about this in their reviews? I bought this canoe based on the great reviews and wanted others to know that you should be aware that this canoe can and will feel unstable a times if you are not careful; not a great feeling by any means!

Let's be honest indeed! An experienced paddler? He flipped in a lake while leaning forward? That lowered his center of gravity, did it not? Lost his phone and soaked all his gear? Why wasn't the phone secured and the gear waterproofed? I think maybe he leaned to the side while talking on his phone and hadn't become familiar with both the canoe's primary and secondary stability. He panicked and swam. And he blamed the canoe for it.

[mewolf1]

Let's be honest indeed! An experienced paddler? He flipped in a lake while leaning forward? That lowered his center of gravity, did it not? Lost his phone and soaked all his gear? Why wasn't the phone secured and the gear waterproofed? I think maybe he leaned to the side while talking on his phone and hadn't become familiar with both the canoe's primary and secondary stability. He panicked and swam. And he blamed the canoe for it.

Like the saying goes, " It's not the plane, it's the pilot"

I've never seen a canoe flip, tip or twitch, without a paddler in it.

[Codger_64]

Like the saying goes, " It's not the plane, it's the pilot"

I've never seen a canoe flip, tip or twitch, without a paddler in it.

I had a canoe flip with no one in it. Off the roof rack of a '75 Honda Civic. That was before I learned to tie, tie and tie again. Haven't flipped one since! Well, not off of a car. I think it is actually a pretty good idea to experiment with a new canoe and find just where it's tip point is (before it counts). Certainly not in a lake with unsecured and unwaterproofed gear. But what do I know. I'm just an old Codger.