MRC Explorer, Fiberglass?

Hi Everyone,

I grew up Canoeing in New England, primarily Maine where I am from, in either a Blue Hole (not the slightest idea on the model) or Old Town Tripper. I have lived in Northeast Florida the past few years and decided it was time to pick up a canoe to take my kids out in. I have nothing against kayaks, grew up with those too, however felt a canoe would better fit the bill for my family.

A few days ago I picked up what appears to be a fiberglass MR Explorer (from what I have read a versatile boat but the V hull may not be the fastest, not a concern for me at the moment) for $240. The one oddity is all the pictures I have seen of other MRC Explorers do not have the interior the same color as the gel coat, whereas mine does. Any ideas on this? From reading the HIN (MADEX395L798) it was build in December of '97 if I have interpreted it correctly, so still when they were in VT. I measured it and it is 16'4". Any information would be just that as I have already bought it as at $240 I figured I couldn't go wrong as it overall appears in decent shape. It will be my first experience in both a MRC and fiberglass boat (assuming I'm right).

Courtesy of this website I was able to find the catalog for the 1998 model year from a link posted in a different thread. Sure enough the fiberglass explorer was offered as pictured. I had been trying to find a copy of the old catalog everywhere however was coming up with nothing.

Now I just need to pick up a couple paddles and a PFD for myself. I think I am going to buy the onyx pike paddle sports life jacket I saw mentioned in a different thread as it looks like a decent vest and the price is very reasonable. I had been looking at some NRS and LL bean vests (partial to L.L. Bean being from Maine and even worked there one summer, they have gotten away from their roots but that is a different discussion) however similar vests will run more than double the cost.

Trying to not let costs balloon too much I was thinking of picking up the L.L. Bean West Branch, any more affordable recommendations? I grew-up paddling with beaver tails and plan on bringing a couple of those back with me in the summer when I visit.

great boats.
You can make a paddle.

That is a nice find for $240. I would look for a used paddle and then spend $$ on a nice life jacket that fits well.

I like NRS lifejackets and Bending Branches paddles.

Welcome. I agree that you can hardly go wrong at that price. I also agree that paddles are pretty easy to DIY but be careful. Next you'll be building boats & sewing up shelters and portage packs. All great ways to save coin but it gets addictive.

I anticipate picking up a bending branches paddle eventually. I'll need to establish some consistency with using the canoe to justify the purchase. I live within 10 minutes of two separate canoe launches so hopefully I'll be able to get out on the water regularly, even if only for a couple of hours on a Saturday morning with my kids. As I will be able to pick up my old paddle (a beaver tail made of a single piece of ash, branded LL Bean but I'm not sure who made it for them) when I travel back home in June. I think I will just pick up a couple cheap paddles that will get us out on the water for the next couple on months. Used would obviously be best but nothing is coming up. If I was still in a cold climate I would just wait it out but right now the weather is perfect for canoeing in northeast Florida. I'll keep combing through listings for the next week or so. I'm excited to get out on the water. I have a lot of fond memories from my childhood and hope to instill the same into my kids.

Mad River fiberglass hulls had the insides finished in the same color as the gelcoat skin. Kevlar hulls showed natural kevlar color except for the "football" which was painted grey

$240 for an intact fg Explorer is a heck of a deal!

Nice boat, congrats!

I don't think shallow vee hulls are slow, I think the industry moved towards shallow arch because they feel more stable to beginners (shallow vee can feel a bit like a teeter-totter that wants to lean one way or the other). Shallow vee hulls tend to carve graceful turns...nothing wrong with a shallow vee.

I suggest that you oil the cane in the seats because if it's super dry it's likely to just tear the first time you sit on it. I'd oil it several times over the course of a week.

If you want to spiff up the outside I'm attaching a pic of an excellent product. 3M also sells a marine Restorer/Wax if the outside is in rougher shape like being stored outside in the sun.

Also attaching a pic of another Explorer with aluminum trim and colored interior.

Happy Paddling!

Paddle said:

Hi Everyone

Click to expand...

Paddle, welcome to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos, and to start threads, in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! Also, because canoeing is a geographic sport, please add your location to the Account Details page in your profile, which will cause it to show under your avatar as a clickable map link. Many of the site's technical features are explained in Features: Help and How-To Running Thread. We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.

Paddle said:

I have lived in Northeast Florida the past few years

Click to expand...

I lived in Jacksonville Beach in 2007 and I have family in Clay County near Green Cove Springs. Florida is magnificent day paddling canoe country.

Paddle said:

A few days ago I picked up what appears to be a fiberglass MR Explorer (from what I have read a versatile boat but the V hull may not be the fastest, not a concern for me at the moment) for $240.

Click to expand...

That looks like a great deal. The first canoe I bought as an adult was a Royalex Mad River Explorer. I did everything in that canoe—solo, tandem, family, whitewater, flat water, rowing, motor, poling, west coast, east coast. It's a very versatile canoe. Enjoy it.

Paddle said:

HIN (MADEX395L798) it was build in December of '97 if I have interpreted it correctly

Click to expand...

That's correct.

Paddle said:

I think I am going to buy the onyx pike paddle sports life jacket I saw mentioned in a different thread as it looks like a decent vest and the price is very reasonable.

Click to expand...

I linked that life vest and bought it. It arrived yesterday. For $49.97, it's a great bargain and has many useful pockets. It's just as good many vests that cost three or four times as much. Based now on personal inspection, I recommend it.

Because Cabela's only gives free shipping on orders over $50, I avoided the shipping charge by also ordering a 3-pack of small carabiners for $2.99, which I use to attach things to my life jackets, such as a whistle, phone, camera, or to my thwarts, such as a sponge, bailer, pelican box.

Well, the good news is I got out in the canoe this weekend. Saturday was a beautiful day. A little bit rough for the first few minutes as I was fighting the wind but eventually got into the swing of things. My eldest "helped" paddle intermittently and my youngest fell asleep in the bottom halfway in. A good day overall. A few things to report and then more advice seeking....

-I initially picked up a couple of paddles from Bass pro shops. I had low expectations but my gosh were they terrible, heavy, felt awful in the hand. They are being returned. I bit the bullet and bought some cosmetic seconds from Bending Branches for their lower end models, the traveler and loon for myself and wife respectively. Those paddles aren't half bad. Pretty good to look at, feel great in the hand, and are lightweight. Their use will be restricted to flat water but that's all I'll be doing for the near future anyway. Eventually I can see myself upgrading/collecting additional paddles but I could use the traveler for years on flatwater and be happy.

-For the Onyx Pike Paddle Sports jacket, for the price I would say it's quite good, I was comfortable paddling in it. When the weather warms up down here it may be a little warmer than some other life vests. I'll feel it out when the time comes.

In my angst to get out on the water I deferred gumpus's advice to oil the cane. Well, sure enough when I was fighting the wind with some strong strokes the cane gave way, not entirely but it is definitely in need of replacing. Given the cane is 28 years old I don't feel too bad. The seats and thwart could use a good sanding and refinishing anyway.

For the cane it would appear I can do whatever I would like as there is no consistent answer to this that I can see with people advocating for nothing, oil, and spar varnish. I will probably just finish it with whatever I finish the frames/thwart. Is there a huge preference for oil vs spar varnish for the seat frames and thwart? I'm leaning towards spar varnish. For oil, Watco seems to be a preferred one however my question is what Watco oil? Any fan favorites for spar varnishes?