CANOE REPAIR

Canoe Guy Tyler here. In addition to selling canoes and kayaks, I maintain the entire rental fleet at Piragis, performing all types of repairs throughout the season. I also have started doing customer repairs and would love to work on your composite canoe! Scroll down and have a look at our price guide and some examples of our work.

Ready To Talk? Contact the Canoe Guys Below:

Email Us

Call: (800) 223-6565

REPAIR RATES

Repair prices will vary from one canoe to the next, so all rates listed below should be treated as estimates. We will be able to provide a more accurate estimate after seeing photos and talking over the phone, and the most accurate estimate once we have seen the canoe and damage in person. Prices are based on the materials required to perform a repair and the time spent performing repairs. We charge $95/hour for labor.

Patching can be added to any repair (for example, on a full refinish), but is not included in the price. We allow 30 days for each repair, and will hold the boat for that period of time, free of charge, after which time we charge $50 per month for storage. If you have a time-sensitive repair, we can discuss our availability over the phone.

REPAIR TYPE	TIME ESTIMATE	MATERIALS
Small or Medium Patch	30 min - 1 hour	$5-10
Large Patch	1 - 2 hours	$10-15
Divot	30 min - 1 hour	$5-10
Refinish (below the waterline) - $85 Recoat Kit Required	2 - 3 hours	Kit + $10-15
External Skid Plate Install (HEAVY) - $115 Skid Plate Kit Required	2 hours	Kit + $5-10
External Skid Plate Install (LIGHT)	2 hours	$20-30
Gunnel Straightening	30 min - 1 hour	-
Yoke Replacement - $34 Replacement Yoke Required	1 hour	Yoke + $5-10
Bench Seat Replacement - $50-100 Replacement Seat Required	1 hour	Seat + $5-10
INQUIRE BEFORE VISIT: Gunnel Replacement - $$ Replacement Gunwales Required	2 - 4 hours	INQUIRE
Thwart/Handle Replacement - $$ Replacement Thwart/Handle Required	30 min - 1 hour	INQUIRE
Full Parts Replacement - $$ Replacement Parts & Gunwales Required	4-6 Hours	INQUIRE

CHECK OUT THE WORK

Canoe Guy Tyler's Corner

I was once told by a gentleman at Wenonah Canoes that you should never touch a canoe up with resin because it doesn’t need it and resin only adds weight. If my memory serves me, I believe he was talking about single owner canoes that get used sparingly and rarely see more than a surface scratch, but the sentiment stuck with me.

As the person who maintains our rental canoe fleet at Piragis and runs our customer repair program, I am often approached by customers looking to restore the original finish to their canoes. While I understand the desire to have a mirror finish that sparkles in the sun, the reality is that a scratched canoe is a happy canoe – scratches represent the adventures one has shared with family and friends - and most scratches require no attention at all.

Applying this wisdom to my job, I save my resin for the times when it is required. Many of my past customers will recognize a refrain I often repeat: If there is a patch of exposed Kevlar that is approaching the width of two fingers put together, it is time for a touch-up. Now, this is a general rule of thumb, and there are certainly instances where one scratch requires a touch-up or more, but the point is that most scratches do not require attention. There are industry secrets for how to take the harshness out of those white surface scratches without adding resin-weight to the canoe, one we’ve even developed in-house, but you’ll have to call us to find out more about that.

With all this said, fear not! I will look at any scratch on any canoe and let you know what I think. At Piragis you can always rest assured that we have your back and will never try to sell you something you don’t need or send you away without due diligence. I want our customers to be happy paddlers who feel comfortable that our canoes and repairs meet their needs and are ready to stand up to the challenges of trail life in the Boundary Waters.