Boat Repair Help

[Jobu]

Well got a call from a friend today that ended up with a boat that someone drilled through the bottom. I said "Ya someone probably hung it up as a sign or decoration". I am guessing hes gonna show up with a boat from the 1970's since he couldnt tell me what kind of boat it was. It also has a decent crack in it.

Anyhow I guess he needs help patching the holes, so tomorrow he is coming over since I have the big garage with tools. I have no idea how to patch a kayak and before I go searching the net, I figured I would ask here. I was thinking of just shaving some extra plastic from elsewhere on the boat and heatgunning or torching it in. Or if they really are drill holes I guess just go find some plugs at the hardware store.

Well I am all ears here. TY

[Force]

i've fixed numerous boats this way;

http://www.oregonkayaking.net/talesframe.html

good luck

[Jobu]

ty force thats a kick ass guide. I did some plastic welding as well and will have to post a guide on it later. It took care of the base of the crack and the holes. Bad fumes but worth it. The crack is gone now and I can push all my weight on the place where it was and it flexes as normal.

If I do write a guide on it I would really like to get it added to someones page though. I guess I will try at the place where I got the guide force recommended.

Got some more work to do on it so will take some pics and stuff.

[tdm]

With new HDPE boats you might be able to find someone with an extrusion welder, check with golf coarse pond lining companies and such. For $20 worth of beer you may convince a shop worker to F*&^% up your boat. They will grind the crack with an automobile grinder (80 grit works best) and use a extrusion welder (looks like a glue gun on steriods) watch the temperature, try 375-450 degrees F. Creats bomb proof repairs. Also called fillet weld.

[msunev]

If it is an older boat, with crosslink palstic or something else, the style of welding you are thining of ... Check this out: Whaley welding

http://www.oregonkayaking.net/how_to/boat_repair.html

its an easy, bombproof glorified duct tape weld, and it works like a charm. its basically melting the glue on the tape in several layers to get a flexible watertight patch. ever try and remove sun baked duct tape?

[Jobu]

TY mate, Well all my pictures didnt come out cause my camera was full already from lending it out and the dam thing didnt let me know. If anyone has a cracked boat thats so bad they are gonna chuck it, or a warranty boat they dont need then let me know so I can make a guide. TY

[Waterwindpowderrock]

if the crack is in a place where the boat flexes then it'll just crack again (ie the bottom or on the sides near the seat).

I had 16 cracks in my creeker last year, and it was watertight. In my opinion the only way to fix a crack & trust it is bitchathane (grace ice & water shield) it is a rubber roof membrane that you can just stick to the bottom of your boat & forget about.
you can get it from any construction site or roofer. If you just ask they'll give you enough to fix 20 boats
or if you're in denver area I'll give you some. I've got tons

Kaleb

[Jobu]

Well the crack is still holding up. I ended up doing the ducktape fix inside and outside I plastic welded the crack to seal it with an oversized blowtorch soldering tip. Still looking for an old boat to use to make a guide. Got a warranty issue coming up on mine but the boat is dark, bad for filming and pics. Also my warranty isnt really a crack or anything so...

I will have to check out that bitchathane Seems like it would be great to carry some in the boat on a creek trip. But my perm fixes will be welding.

how long does grace's product take to set up?