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D-ring attachments on composite canoes

D-rings with vinyl pads are easy to install on plastic boats, but a more elegant and secure D-ring attachment for composite boats can be created by leaving off the vinyl pad and attaching the D-ring with a combination of nylon webbing, resin and fiberglass tape.

Find "naked" D-rings (just the metal D part, with no vinyl pad) and mark the locations on the hull where you want to install them. If you can't find a naked D-rings check the Wyoming River Raiders catalogue; WRR sells 1.5" D-rings on a plastic fitting plate for $3 (throw the fitting plate away).

Cut a 4" long piece of webbing, 2" wide webbing for a 2" D ring, 1" wide webbing for a 1" D-ring. The webbing will run atop the flat base of the D. Crease the middle of the webbing and, using a small piece of duck tape, secure the D-ring so that it stays vertical on the webbing. The crease and tape will prevent the D-ring from later flopping over into wet resin as you work. Lay the webbing/D-ring assembly back in position on the hull.

Next, cut two pieces of 4" wide fiberglass tape; cut each piece about 5 or 6 inches long. Place the pieces of fiberglass tape atop the webbing (so that the tape forms the head and feet of an "I" across the webbing). Lay down a rectangular masking tape box outside the edges of the fiberglass tape.

Remove the fiberglass tape, webbing and D-ring and mix up some resin. Paint a coat of resin inside the masked area, being careful not to apply resin directly under where the metal bar of the D-ring itself will be positioned.

Position the nylon webbing (stuck through the D-ring) on the wet resin. Paint a bit of resin atop the dry surface of the webbing and lay the 4" fiberglass tape in place across the webbing ends to form the "I". Finish the fiberglass tape with a touch more resin. Again, leave the area immediately under/around the (vertical) D-ring itself resin free.

Once the resin becomes tacky remove the masking tape.

When the resin has cured sand down the seamed edges of the fiberglass tape and apply another thin coat of resin to smooth out any rough spots.

Ohhh baby, nice and flush with the hull. No ugly vinyl pad. You can literally pick up the entire hull with one of these D-rings.

You can also use this technique to resin in rope loops; just cut a small piece of rope, fray the ends and resin the rope loops into place.

(Thanks to Joel Beckwith from Springriver for sharing this D-ring & composite boat hint)


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