Canoe Ponderings by Red Rock Wilderness Store

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What is a Skid Plate on a Canoe?

Q. I am not sure what a skid plate is. ???

A. A skid plate is a wear strip made out ot kevlar felt. Essentially, the felt acts like a sponge and allows epoxy resin to build up into a 3/16" thick "plate" on the bow and stern of the canoe. This plate grinds away on the rocks and is what that makes a canoe more abrasion resistant in the bow and stern for skidding up on the shore.  Skidding while fully loaded into the a rocky shore is really tough on any canoe and should be avoided as much as possible, but sometimes that just doesn't happen.  Usually skid plates are externally glued to the canoe's surface (bow and stern) which makes a 1/4" high raised surface of very hard material and a resultant bump around the edges of the plate that drag in the water, catch weeds and rocks.  Souris River's skid plates are  built right into the canoe m- no bump, no edge, and no required after-purchase installation.    When the front skid plate does begin to wear down you'd need to install a new skid plate over the top or in Souris River's case, just repair that little 4" long by 1/2" wide worn thru area with another piece of kevlar felt and epoxy resin.  Not a difficult process and you may never need to do that depending on your personal use and avoiding skidding (like a paddler possessed) into shore.  Mud and beach sand do nothing and very little to a canoe.  Gravely sand and rocks are hard on it.  Don't skid up on shore - step out when canoe bow just touches and keep the canoe floating while boarding and exiting and your skid plates will last a long time