How to Install Skid Plates on a Canoe

If your canoe is starting to show signs of wear, and is actually wearing through a layer or two of material, do not despair. Instead of buying a whole new canoe, you can still get some life out of your present canoe. How? Install skid plates. Read this eHow to learn more.

Instructions

    • 1

      Turn the canoe upside down and rest the gunwales on two saw horses. Choose a location where you can leave the canoe set up through the entire skid plate process.

    • 2

      Sand the bow and stern of the canoe with 80 grit sand paper.

    • 3

      Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe down the sanded areas.

    • 4

      Buy packets of resin, available at hardware stores or camping stores.

    • 5

      Fold the packet of resin over, squeeze the contents of both the resin and hardener down, and tear off the top of the packets.

    • 6

      Pour the contents of three such packets into a clean container. Try not to touch it with your skin.

    • 7

      Stir the resin and hardener with a clean popsicle stick or stiff twig (bark removed).

    • 8

      Don latex or nitrile gloves.

    • 9

      Put one of the skid plates in the resin/hardener mixture and stir it around with your gloved fingers until you are sure that it's completely covered.

    • 10

      Take the skid plate from the resin/hardener mixture and place it on one of the sanded areas on the canoe. Have the pointy end face toward the bow or the stern, depending on which end you decide to tackle first.

    • 11

      Center the skid plate on your canoe with your gloved hands. Repeat the process with the other skid plate.

    • 12

      Make the resin rise to the surface by placing plastic wrap over the skid plates, stretch the plastic wrap so it's stretched tightly against the canoe, then smooth out the air bubbles. Make certain the skid plate stays centered. Do this for both ends of the canoe.

    • 13

      Keep the plastic wrap in place for at least six hours, then remove it.