Visit the Northwoods Canoe Co website. And see if you can get a copy of "The Wood & Canvas Canoe" by Jerry Stelmok and Rollin Thurlow. There's an extensive section in the book about restoration of wood and canvas canoes, and lots of information on their construction.

If the canoe needs new canvas, then that new canvas should be treated with a proper filler before the canvas is painted (it's available from Rollin Thurlow). If the canvas is in good shape, it may need little more than removal of the old paint before new paint is applied.

Do you know the builder/model of the canoe?

Ed

: My friend has and old canvas canoe his father built. He is in the process of
: restoring it and is looking for a ideas on what to use on the canvas
: before he repaints it. Any input would be welcomed