Canoe Ponderings by Red Rock Wilderness Store

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Duralite Refinishing

Q.I purchased a much used Souris River Duralite last fall. After I did so, a fellow  who saw it atop my van commented that with a coat of West System epoxy on it, it’d look like new and last for years. I was planning to do just that, when I noticed you had a blurb on your web site about refinishing. 

So at the risk of sounding as though I can’t comprehend what I read: West System epoxy would be the wrong thing to use on it and I should just go with varnish on the Duralite? 

A. West System Epoxy would do a nice job.  I used to do that all the time.  However, in certain humidity and temps, epoxy can develop an  " amine blush" or cloudiness when curing.  On Duralite, it won't look too bad, but it can really show on kevlar.  Have to sand it off and re-do.  We've moved into marine spar varnish with better results. Sticks like glue and is easier to touch up and re-coat the canoe.  Works very well.  You could - although it's not necessary - coat the canoe with West and then varnish.  Varnishing is by far easier. Give it two thin coats with sanding in between and you'll like the results.

Joe
Red Rock