Polyethelene Canoe Identification... Fusion?

Advice
#1

Hello!

I was recently given an older polyethelene (or some similar plastic) canoe that has only a simple aluminum tag riveted on it. XFP17966M781 is all that is on the tag. From some searching via Google, it appears to tell me the canoe was built by a now defunct company named Fusion. Are there any very experienced people who this name might ring a bell with that would know more about them? The canoe is fairly complete, but has some cracking that I need to repair before I think of taking it anywhere.

Thanks!

#2

Looks like it was made in 1981, Post some pics, how long?

#3

Hi Shiraz, thanks for the reply. I think it’s about 15’, and will take some better pictures of it tomorrow. Right now all I have are closeup pics of the damaged areas.

#4

Arrgh, thought I had already posted some pictures, but see that I didn’t! The boat is about 15’ long, give or take an inch or two. I currently have it hanging upside down in my garage, which is pretty dark. The picture of it on top of my car is probably the best complete picture I have of it until I take it out of the garage.! The keel support looks to have been made from iron piping, not sure if that is what it originally had. There looks to be a missing bench or horizontal center support that would tie into the sides (thwart). There are flat seats on the stern and bow seats that are not shown. . Comments welcome!


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#5

Well, I know nothing about the Fusion Canoe Company, but the boat is almost certainly single-layer polyethylene. Polyethylene is unacceptably flexible for an open boat of any size unless it has a foam core (like three-layer roto-molded poly) or an endoskeleton of some type to provid a bit of rigidity. The pipe keelson and risers going up to the seats and center thwart or console provide that bracing support. If you want to paddle that boat, you will need to fit some type of thwart to the gunwales and figure out how to attach it to that riser, or fashion a new one. Otherwise the bottom of the hull will flex up and down like crazy and possibly bend the keelson.

#6

PB, thanks for looking at my screwy upside-downside pictures. You have pointed out what I was wondering about; does the boat need more structural rigidity? And I certainly think so and wanted to see what others more knowledgeable than I thought. I already have a few ideas on what to do, and might also contact a friend who builds his own wooden kayaks, and see what thinks. After he stops laughing at me, anyway.

#7

This is a copy of a Coleman complete with an internal skeleton. It appears some of the low grade aluminum tubing has already failed and been replaced with threaded galvanized pipe or electrical conduit. Good thing you were given this canoe and did not have to part with your money to buy it. It will get you on the water, but its heavy and not a good paddling canoe. Its also a tough boat to carry with the pipe frame in the way. enjoy it, learn to paddle and then buy a good canoe for th3 type of paddling you decide to do.