http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/boa/1192937679.html

Langford Prospector for $1000.

Looks to be some cosmetic damage -- maybe just the gelcoat, but the owner doesn't say. Easy repair if that's the case!

FWIW, I'd offer a little less given that you may have to repair it. The seller says "OBO" anyways, so you don't have to feel bad in doing so.

I jumped on it!!!!!
we will see if I am the first lol
any idea how much a repair like that would cost?

oh and thanks very much

In my experience, about $50 for a gelcoat repair kit. I bought it from Swift, maybe Langford offers similar. The benefit of getting it from Langford would be matched colours.

In my case I had just bought my Swift Kip and somehow i chipped the gelcoat off in one area. There were also some scratches that were suspect. Those "in the know" may correct me, but from what I've read, a deep enough scratch that lets in water can cause gelcoat to peel off from the underlying resin-covered kevlar. That's the cheap repair: you just sandoff/remove the peeled gelcoat, apply a new patch, sand it down with fine sandpaper, and you're good as new.

However, if a scratches gets through the resin and water soaks into the kevlar cloth, that's what may be costly. I don't know all of the details, but what I would advise is do a bit of research and find out how deep the scratch is. If you check out the boat, you can see the kevlar cloth under the gelcoat: it has a clear, hard see-through coating (resin) over top of it. If that's not penetrated, you're (generally) good to go as the water won't seep in. However, like i said, the gelcoat around there will probably easily peel off. As far as you can peel off the gelcoat with ease is as far as you should replace the gelcoat, I was told.

Here's Swift's instructions for repairing gelcoat cracks:
http://www.swiftcanoe.com/downloads/GelRepair_Instructions.pdf

Also, I noticed this boat has wooden gunnels. Check out for any rot. I'm sure gunnels are replaceable if they're in very poor shape, but that is unlikely to be a cheap endeavour.

so in your opinion if the scratch is down to the kevlar or the gunnels are rotten its not worth the buy??


thanks for all your help

To be honest, I'm not the best guy to ask...

I'd give Langford a call. If they're anything like Swift, they'll certainly entertain some questions. Gelcoat repairs are easy like I said, I know that for fact. Ask them if they have a gelcoat repair kit that they sell, for starters.

Otherwise, try asking about what to look out for when buying used. Given that it's a boat from their line, I can't see them turning you away. Be honest and just ask how to tell if a repair is going to be too costly.

As for gunnels, tough call. A quick search on my ccr:
Wood Gunnel Care:
http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=10760&hilit=rotting+gunnels

Someone fed up with wooden gunnels:
http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17333&p=175277&hilit=rotting+gunnels#p175277

Also, here's my old post for when I saw a crack in my "new" (used) boat and worried my face off. There are pictures to the crack to get an idea for what i mean -- in the first pic, you can clearly see the gelcoat (white) and underneath is the kevlar cloth with a clear resin coating over top.
http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=30176

Don't mean to butt in, but if the gunwales are rotten, the canoe isn't worth 1,000 dollars. That price is a stretch for a used boat in great condition.

thank you for your input

what makes you say that? alot of people seem to be saying that it is a good price and a great boat if the gunnels are not rotten

Ya, curious too -- I think $800-$1000 is in the ballpark for a good condition used boat. Much lower and i imagine you're getting yourself into boats that've taken a fair amount of abuse. But maybe you're a smarter shopper than I

OK, hope I don't get totally flamed for this, but here goes. Full disclosure, I'm not a huge Langford fan just because they seem to have some longevity issues.

If the boat is in great condition, no major welts or scratches, gunwales are in good shape, everything has been oiled, etc. then yes, 800-1,000 is probably a fair price. But if the gunwales are rotten, or even if they haven't been oiled, and if there are scratches that go beyond cosmetic, then I don't think it's worth that much.

I'm just saying this based on experience. A friend of mine went through a divorce where he had to get his boats appraised. Among his fleet he had a Curtis Dragonfly, North Star, and Ladybug. Those boats are much nicer than Langford, in pretty good shape, and were worth around 2,000 dollars combined. The original builder, Dave Curtis, did the appraising. This was also about twenty years ago.

My point is, much to my chagrin, boats don't do anything other than depreciate once you've bought them. If you want a boat badly, then yeah, go for this, because you won't be getting robbed. But if you are not in immediate need of a boat, and the canoe will require some serious maintenance, then I would personally try to get him down a bit or move on.

Anyways, that's my opinion. If the boat is in great shape, then yeah, the price is fair. If it isn't, well, who knows.

hmmmmmm something to think about

However in these economic times, used items (like cars) are worth more than 2 years ago I know I have been looking for a deal like I got 18 months ago on a car and it is not there. I would bet the same is true for used boats.

Replacing rotten gunwales would not be cheap (unless you can do it) so indeed look at them. With the gouge in the hull if it goes through the core material...probably foam... then there is a problem since properly built fibreglass canoes have a core the glass surrounds...like an I beam. If it doesn't go through the core material then it should be fine to fix with a kit.

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/boa/1200276732.html

what do you guys think about this one??a bit expensive?

Too bad you weren't able to grab that Kipawa..

I wouldn't touch that Scott. Beyond the fact 14' is too small for tripping it's not a great price.

I think the Scott is too small and too much IMO at 14'. As for the other canoe wood gunnels cost more but weigh more and need regular maintenance and I would stay away.

Like I said before I bought a Scott 15'2 kevlar for $350 and a 18' Souris river for $750. Keep looking and if you are patient enough a good deal will come along. Use Craigshelper (now tempest) to search the different cities. In the meantime rent a few canoes to get a better idea.

I know last year Souris river had a demo they wanted to clear out and would ship it for a couple hundred on top of the clearance price.