DIY vs. HAP: Canoe repair?

As many of you know, I fish from my canoe (though I intend to sell it toward the beginning of next fishing season, around late May or June of 2016). But this past weekend the anchor system broke. There is a brace that attaches to the canoe which serves to hold the pulley. The pulley is how I lower and retrieve the anchor. This brace totally broke off!

Incidentally I snapped my fishing pole in half on this some fishing outing. Granted, it was an Ultralite that I was using in situations I shoudl have been using a Medium for. But I digress...

I am trying to decide what to do here. As I see it my options are:
1. Go to the tool library and check out a few tools to try to drill new holes and such for the anchor bracing device. Keep in mind, I am not handy at all. This would be me trying to DIY.
2. Find someone, perhaps at a local bait shop, who can fix this for me. HAP... more costly...
3. Sell the canoe now and let this issue become someone else's issue. But sell it for less because it does not have an anchor system and because the best part of the fishing season is behind us now.
4. Wait a while and decide later... (This is not my favorite option).

I don't know of anyone with an anchor system on their canoe - canoes are used mostly for fast water around here. I imagine any welding shop or marina, maybe once school is in session hit up the local High School Tech center. I know ours does all sorts of welding, sandblasting, engine repair, paint jobs, etc. The more variety they have of small jobs to do the better the students are able to decide which direction they want to in the future.

The canoe is all plastic! ;)

How do you keep your yak from drifting on windy days?

I just let it drift. There are a few good quiet coves that seem more protected when I want to fish. If it's too windy I'm just out there for exercise - playing in the waves can be fun.

I wasn't sure what your canoe was made of. We have a kayak sales place that does repairs on fiberglass or plastic. When my truck got totaled 2 years ago one of my kayaks was in the back of the truck. The handle came off. The kayak place gave me a new handle and said they'd be glad to install it for me.....only I haven't taken it up there to have them do that. It still has one handle on the other end and I usually carry it in the middle. It's light enough for one person. I just use the handle to put a tie rope through to keep it in the truck.

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Originally Posted by Float On

I just let it drift. There are a few good quiet coves that seem more protected when I want to fish. If it's too windy I'm just out there for exercise - playing in the waves can be fun.

I wasn't sure what your canoe was made of. We have a kayak sales place that does repairs on fiberglass or plastic. When my truck got totaled 2 years ago one of my kayaks was in the back of the truck. The handle came off. The kayak place gave me a new handle and said they'd be glad to install it for me.....only I haven't taken it up there to have them do that. It still has one handle on the other end and I usually carry it in the middle. It's light enough for one person. I just use the handle to put a tie rope through to keep it in the truck.

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Ah... I canoe just to fish, basically. So the anchor really helps. I think I will call around to the kayak shops and see what they can install for me. Hope it does not cost a pretty penny...

DIY: You don't say how the brace was attached, that makes a HUGE difference. If the brace was screwed to the canoe, and you are not mechanical enough to drill out the broken screws, then leave it or have it done professionally. Drilling holes in something waterproof, is a good opportunity to take something worth slightly less, and make it worthless and leaky.
HAP: Is what your going to get back out of the sale, going to cover the repair, or is the amount less it is worth, WAY less then the cost of repair, especially to someone who can tie a knot, and tie the anchor to the boat?
Might be much better off to sell it as is, when people are gearing up for next season.

The part it get drilled into would not leak. It is up near the rim of the gunwales so it is a thick rim of plastic. But I am, like you suggested, taking an abundance of caution because I am no Mr. Fix-it! haha

I have just completed one of the most mechanical tasks I have ever done!

I fixed the canoe's anchor system.

You didn't say how you fixed it, or if you took it to the water to test it!

My BIL let me use a drill. I drilled pilot holes and then screwed it back together. The way I drilled it will make it so no water can get in. It is will above the waterline.

I also had to carve another notch into the device so it would work on the opposite side of the canoe. I think it is actually going to be more sturdy now. I am taking it out tonight to be sure!

Good job being resourceful and fixing it yourself.