I can do that. Thanks!
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Happy Birthday, Stan "the Man" Musial (1920-2013)! ⚾🐦
Greetings, and a Bell layup question.
- Thread starter Steve in Idaho
- Start date
I can do that. Thanks!
I could be wrong but I believe the earlier models had an extra layer of cloth, before they started using the foam core to save some weight. Not sure which is more durable...
Congratulations. The Wildfire is one of the best designed canoes (so far...); If I could only have one boat.. that's IT!
I used a toothpick to apply the g-flex in the space between the straw and the hole, just letting run off the tip. A little tape under the gunnel held the straw in place and kept the g-flex from running out the bottom.
A few more vintage Bell questions. A former Yampa river ranger from Steamboat Springs, CO willed his canoes, including two Bell Yellowstone Solos and an older composite Wildfire to his son in Salt Lake, who put them on the market. Two friends of mine who were interested in getting into canoeing bought the Yellowstones. Although I didn’t “need” another boat, I couldn’t resist the Wildfire, despite its ugly condition.
P
It cleaned up nicely after a lot of sanding and scrubbing. I am nearly positive that it is a black gold model. There is pure black under the gel coat as shown in the chip in the photo. It weighs 37.9 pounds. The PO installed foam knee pads, 8 D rings, eyelets for float bag retention and perimeter snaps for a cover. The CCS cover for my Phoenix actually matches the snap pattern for 1/2 of the boat exactly!
Did black gold boats from 1997 come with an option for almond gel coat? It has some type of skid plates bow and stern which are unlike any I have seen. The brown/yellow strips are totally flush with the gel coat. They are hard and smooth. It is so well integrated into the hull that it looks like a factory install. Does anyone know if this was ever a factory option? The PO painted over at least part of them at some time and the residue can be seen in the photos.
I really like the Wildfire and am glad that I spec’d the $250 on a long neglected boat. It feels pretty similar on the water to my Phoenix, but maybe a little more playful.
P
It cleaned up nicely after a lot of sanding and scrubbing. I am nearly positive that it is a black gold model. There is pure black under the gel coat as shown in the chip in the photo. It weighs 37.9 pounds. The PO installed foam knee pads, 8 D rings, eyelets for float bag retention and perimeter snaps for a cover. The CCS cover for my Phoenix actually matches the snap pattern for 1/2 of the boat exactly!
Did black gold boats from 1997 come with an option for almond gel coat? It has some type of skid plates bow and stern which are unlike any I have seen. The brown/yellow strips are totally flush with the gel coat. They are hard and smooth. It is so well integrated into the hull that it looks like a factory install. Does anyone know if this was ever a factory option? The PO painted over at least part of them at some time and the residue can be seen in the photos.
I really like the Wildfire and am glad that I spec’d the $250 on a long neglected boat. It feels pretty similar on the water to my Phoenix, but maybe a little more playful.
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The exterior sure looks like carbon through that chip in the gel coat. I have no idea what kind of gel coat colors were offered. I don't have any spec sheets but the weight seems about right for a black gold layup. If I remember correctly the black gold layups were solid cloth with no foam core, which would jive with what you have. They weren't made to be the lightest but rather the strongest.
If I'm not mistaken they offered an internal skid plate which I'm assuming was placed in the mold at the time of layup so it would be flush.
Either way it's a great boat for a great price. Nice score!
Alan
If I'm not mistaken they offered an internal skid plate which I'm assuming was placed in the mold at the time of layup so it would be flush.
Either way it's a great boat for a great price. Nice score!
Alan
That wood cleaned up so nicely! Well done!
The vast majority of black-gold Bell canoes were clear gel coat + carbon + plus a bi-weave (tweed) fabric of black and yellow Kevlar strands on the interior. A colored gel coat could have been substituted for the clear by customer request, I assume.
The composite Wildfire is one of the most comfortable, friendly, versatile and fun solo canoes for day tripping and (depending on total weight load) overnight tripping. The Bell version is prone to rot on the tips of the gunwales where they overhang the hull.
The composite Wildfire is one of the most comfortable, friendly, versatile and fun solo canoes for day tripping and (depending on total weight load) overnight tripping. The Bell version is prone to rot on the tips of the gunwales where they overhang the hull.
That went well. I found drinking straws that were the perfect diameter. Now we wait for the G-flex to cure completely. I already lightly sanded the wood. Possibly tomorrow I can apply oil.
I won't get it on the water though at least until Saturday. Scheduled hike in the mountains with my daughter Thursday, and trail ride with friends on Friday. Retired life is busy.
So BTW, I weighed the canoe again on a calibrated scale, and it came in just under 30 lbs. I noticed that the 2004 Bell catalog mentions a "Lightning Tech" skin that gives a 13% weight reduction over gelcoat. Is it possible that my 2003 boat got that treatment shortly prior to the next year's catalog? That would explain it.
It looks like Whitegold and Blackgold were the only two layup options for the Wildfire in 2004. I'm guessing the "Lightning Tech" was just a skin coat but I've never heard of it.
I'm pretty sure Whitegold used a foam core and I'm sure KevCrystal did. By process of elimination I'd be pretty sure you have the Black Gold. The low weight is the only puzzle.
Alan
Alan, are you confusing Steve's Wildfire with Halpc's? Hal's is likely a black-gold under the almond gel coat.
As I understood Steve, his boat has a foam core but no foam ribs. Also, his can't be black-gold because with a vinylester skin coat, which is what 'Lightning Tech' is described as in the 2004 catalog, his canoe would be all black on the outside from the exposed carbon layer, just as the black-golds with clear gel coat are all black. The weight coincides with a KevCrystal with skin coat. I'd guess it was a customized boat for a customer who wanted an ultimate lightweight Wildfire. And . . . I'M JEALOUS!
Glenn, that's my best guess also. I'm super excited to get this on the water!
Alan- thanks for the internal skid plate idea. I had always pictured internal skid plates as being completely hidden under an exterior hull layer. You are probably right about my boat. They appear to have done a good job. Glen- mine did have rot right where you described on the bow. Luckily the gunwhales were solid underneath the surface damage.
Not bad for a neglected 21 year old canoe.
It's really cool being able to pick it up without any gymnastics. 
It's really cool being able to pick it up without any gymnastics.
And that factor will become even more welcome as the years continue to roll on.
Glenn, I think you were one who put that thought into my head years ago. And that's why I've been trying to reduce my weight in boats before it becomes necessary. Thanks for that.
As for now, I can see that I'll be a little quicker to head to the water more often with this one.
