MR Explorer find

[Robin]

I found this Mad River Explorer (1988) the other day, needs new gunnels. The seller said he was the orig owner and had it out 12 times, on a pond. No scratches just some fading of surface color. It's a Royalex "Special Edition".
He said he left it out over winter one year under a tarp and he thinks the moisture got trapped inside. Come spring, the wood had started rotting.
I need to find some 16'4" ash.

 

[dave0]

Geez Robin, What's with finding all these dang hulls? I'm starting to get jealous!! Nice find, looks to be in great shape!

 

[Jamie]

I wouldn't waste a nice 16'-18' piece of ash on royalex canoe. Why don't you just scarf together a couple easy to find shorted length of ash? Done right, most wouldn't notice and will last a good number of years with proper care of the canoe. Save your long ash for attaching to ribs on a canvas canoe that you don't ever want to replace

 

[Philtrum]

Robin, is the wood generally intact? If so, you might consider a couple of products made by Minwax. One is a hardener that works wonderfully on wood that's begun to rot but where the wood fibers are still intact - even if the wood is soft. The other is a filler that you can use to replace small areas where the wood fibers have disintegrated. I've used the filler on old windowsills and the hardener on slightly dry-rotted gunwales. Both products work great.

 

[Canotrouge]

Wow, what year was it made? Look in terrific shape, even the center line of the hull is not worn out like on most explorer!!

 

[Robin]

Geez Robin, What's with finding all these dang hulls? I'm starting to get jealous!! Nice find, looks to be in great shape!

Just lucky, I watch and put the word out.

I wouldn't waste a nice 16'-18' piece of ash on royalex canoe. Why don't you just scarf together a couple easy to find shorted length of ash? Done right, most wouldn't notice and will last a good number of years with proper care of the canoe. Save your long ash for attaching to ribs on a canvas canoe that you don't ever want to replace

I think the scarf is the way to go, I'm going to try and save the inwales with a scarf and maybe invest in 2 long pieces of ash for the gunnels.

Robin, is the wood generally intact? If so, you might consider a couple of products made by Minwax. One is a hardener that works wonderfully on wood that's begun to rot but where the wood fibers are still intact - even if the wood is soft. The other is a filler that you can use to replace small areas where the wood fibers have disintegrated. I've used the filler on old windowsills and the hardener on slightly dry-rotted gunwales. Both products work great.

The inwales are good except for about 18" on one end (both sides) I plan to remove them and scarf new pieces in, then flip one so that there is a scarf on either end of the canoe.

Wow, what year was it made? Look in terrific shape, even the center line of the hull is not worn out like on most explorer!!

1988, other than some fading of the color, the hull is in great condition.It's also a "Special Edition" with the notched inwales and nicer seats.