Froggy, if you have even a modicum of shop skills you should be able to
fabricate a replacement keelson and center thwart for next to nothing.
Just size some thick-walled electrical conduit for the keelson, and use
amything you want for the thwart.

That's the easy part.

The hard part is going to be the gunwale replacement. I'll take you
at your word that Coleman parts are not available. If one gunwale is
unsalvageable you'll need to find something to take its place. The
poly construction of Coleman RamX boats was so floppy that they
absolutely needed both the keelson and strut framework and the those
beefy aluminum gunwales to help maintain their shape.

That being the case I'd suggest that the replacement needs to be a
relatively beefy aluminuim gunwale. Two if you want the gunwales to
match for esthetic reasons (Coleman...esthetics...I guess just one
replacement gunwale will do eh)

Replacement gunwales aren't cheap - think $100+ for a pair. And
they are even more expensive to have shipped (unless they come in with
a load of boats from a manufacturer).

Best case scenario you have a canoe manufacturer (who uses beefy
aluminum gunwales) somewhere within driving distance. Drive out, pick
up the gunwale(s), drive back. Drill out the busted original gunwale.
Remove the strut work and bent keelson. Buy the appropriate conduit and
thwart replacement. Reassemble the canoe and you still have a
crappyclunkyColeman.

Let's add it up (just the cost, not your time and effort):

Gas - $20, gunwale - $60, conduit and other parts, $15.

Hmmmm $95? For another $5 you could just buy a use Coleman RamX from a
Pennysaver ad.

Seriously, it's only worth fixing this junker if you have time,
skills, patience and access to reasonable priced materials. And even
then it's awfully close to polishing a turd.

FrogontheLog wrote:
Here are some reasons to repair:
First - hopefully the cost of repair, which would be very simple,
should be less, and the boat would be good as new. The ramx material
returned to its original shape just fine.
Second - where do you get rid of a half good canoe? and Why would you
want to throw out something that is fixable?

Then upon purchasing another canoe, I would have an extra for even more
fun!



riverman wrote:
"FrogontheLog" wrote in message
oups.com...
Loaned out my Coleman B Model canoe, purchased in 1979. Guess what -
wrecked. Need a Keelson, Center thwart and Gunwale for left side.

Unfortunately, Coleman sold the div to Pelican who no longer have or
stock parts.

Do any of you know where I can still get replacement parts for this
conoe????????

Thanks


Umm, why bother? Coleman boats are notorious for being of low quality, and
your 1979 model is certainly beyond its life expectancy anyway. You could
use this opportunity to replace it with a boat from a more reputable
manufacturer, and get something of quality. Old Town, Mad River, Lincoln and
others have boats in a competitive price range to Coleman, and they will
last much longer. In fact, it's quite possible that an OT Discovery 16'
would not have wrapped in the same situation that destroyed your Coleman, as
the OT hulls are much more rigid and slippery.

--riverman