How to Install Skid Plates on a Canoe

How to install skid plates on a royalex canoe. I purchased the kit from Swift Canoe and Kayak. It comes with almost everything you need to do this install such as the fabric( already cut to size), resin, hardener, cups to mix in, stir sticks, sand paper and gloves. The only things you need to purchase separately to do this install are tape, a cheap paint brush and newspaper.
swiftoutside.com/product/kevl...

[@wetcanoedogs]

i put one on my oldtown pathfinder in around 1985 when i got it.i went into quetico solo 4 weeks a year and the bwca west end 2000 to 2015.too old had to stop after that.the skid plate had very little wear and going solo ment some hard landings.i have read that some think it adds weight but on a heavy royalex boat there was no diffrence.at a portage i saw a royalex canoe without a plate and it was worn down to the white? layer.

[@ryansroutes1805]

I agree, it doesn’t add a noticeable amount of weight to the boat and if you apply them well it lasts for a lot of years. Well worth the money and effort to put them on in order to protect the boat in its most vulnerable spots!

[@charleswilburn5640]

In your option how long do these last and what should I use if I'm missing a spot of plastic on outer layer

[@ryansroutes1805]

Really depends how many times you skid the boat up on rocky shores or slam into rocks but at the very least a couple years of very heavy flat water abuse. Although If you’re using them for whitewater they might only last one year of heavy use. As for the outer layer of plastic, I wouldn’t worry about it. That’s been the case with every canoe I’ve installed them on. My buddy has canoes with full on holes in the bow and the only thing keeping the water out is skid plates.
Hope that helps you out!

[@charleswilburn5640]

@@ryansroutes1805 thank you sir I run class one and occasionally 2 in Missouri but have low rocky spots I have the old town discovery 158 I believe it has three layers do you think I should remove the foam first and put a secondary cloth in first

[@ryansroutes1805]

Personally I wouldn’t but it’s up to you. I’d just leave as much of the material as you have left and put new material over top of it. I’ve never experienced a problem with that but I know fibreglass resin can react with certain types of foam. I’ve never experienced a problem when it comes to canoes though.
Btw I hear the old town 158 is a nice canoe, I know it gets recommended a lot in the canoe fishing community.