Michael Daly wrote:
I know those old canoes - but wood is stiffer than aluminum in bending, pound
for pound. I'm pretty sure that stiffness is more important than strength in
those Colemans - the plastic hull is so flexible that it relies on the frame and
gunwale to keep its shape.

I think a slightly heavier than average version of a canoe gunwale would do.
Hardwood would be best. In fact, two strips - one inside. one out - screwed
through the hull at regular intervals would probably be easier and better than
one big hunk of wood. It would also be easier to bend to the shape of the canoe.

Mike
Inwale and outwale screwed together is what I was suggesting, although
I was joking about using pressure treated 2x4's.

Or at least partially joking - I was serious about a wrapped '79
Coleman not being worth spending more than $25 or 25 minutes fixing.
Used Colemans are fairly common in the $100 range.

The cost of new wood gunwales is undoubtedly out of the question
($150++). And finding 16' lengths of decent hardwood is hard enough,
at least where I live. And pricy to boot.

Even if something like 16' lengths of halfround hardwood trim were
used it'll still need several coats of oil or varnish and then time
and materials to screw the inwale and outwale together.

If you can pick up a similar used canoe for $100, or even $150 how much
money, time and effort is it worth to bandage up a 27 year old model
that's been wrapped?

T + E + $ (Time plus Effort plus Money), all to polish a turd..