Cracked Jefe

[JRC]

Opening Day 08 = 4 inch crack under the knee of my Jefe. Does anyone have any repair tips... Plastic Welding? Material to use when filling the crack after melted, etc.

[peterB]

Cut strips out of the cockpit combing with a utility knife, 1/8 - 1/4 inch wide and 3 to 5 inches long. there are special tips for heat guns that focus the heat and have a hole to feed the material into.

Aluminum foil duct tape (the real stuff) - put that on the inside.

Heat the cracked area until it looks dull (this is just before it looks shinny and liquid), hold the strip next to the tip to preheat that as well until it is shinny.

Start at one end of the crack and lay the strip over the crack and melt it into place, pushing it flat with either the welding tip or a flat object.

If you can reach the inside weld the inside as well.

Practice welding some of the strips first.

some people talk about using tar backed aluminum patches call "bitchathane" I think.

Haven't seen them though.

[wnccreeker]

Where do you get bitchathane? I went to home depot asking for it and they seemed pretty convinced I was just cursing.

[riverchick]

CKS sells Bitchathane in 12" x 12" sheets. It is normally used for construction, but definitely works on boats too, at least temporarily. Check it out here:

Bichathane Boat Repair Material

Good luck!

[Browntown]

Is it a new boat? Warranty? Otherwise I would suggest Peter B's method along with bitchathane

[hialtitude]

This is the best technique I have found for the $ and simplicity. I have done this three times and all have been solid and dry.

[cwcowan77]

Originally Posted by wnccreeker

Where do you get bitchathane? I went to home depot asking for it and they seemed pretty convinced I was just cursing.

Its also called Ice and Water Shield. Its used for roofs so i should be in the roofing materials. It should be a couple bucks a square foot.

[cwcowan77]

Originally Posted by JRC

Opening Day 08 = 4 inch crack under the knee of my Jefe. Does anyone have any repair tips... Plastic Welding? Material to use when filling the crack after melted, etc.

Is this the jefe that was stuck in waterton the other day?

[JRC]

Fortunately, My boat was not pinned in Waterton... This was a swimless crack (back in Connecticut).

[IkayakNboard]

Originally Posted by wnccreeker

Where do you get bitchathane? I went to home depot asking for it and they seemed pretty convinced I was just cursing.

It is actually called Bituthene. Kayakers call it Bitchathane, so that's probably why Home Depot folks looked at you funny.