Kayak Hull Repair?

[AJ Hauser]

Yesterday, I had a very traumatic experience with ticks. If you have any tick advice, please pop over to that link and share. I also managed to puncture a hole in the hull of my kayak. When I put in at the second pond (out of 3), I noticed I was taking on some water. Huh. Emptied it out, thought it was just a weird coincidence, but in pond #3 I quickly realized I better evacuate, because water was glug-glug-glugging and I was sitting very low, very fast. 

 

I was able to get out and empty, then hike back, but do any of you have any suggestions for repairing a hole about the size of a quarter in a plastic kayak hull? I have some thoughts... but any tips would be appreciated. 

 

I have to get this fixed in a week or so, because I have to get back to these bass ASAP. They were unblemished, unbothered and willing to hit topwater. 

 

Thanks!

Leak is near the back: 

This is why I need to get back... lost one much bigger than this...

[MN Fisher]

Plastic welding kit - if you have prime, you can have it in hand tomorrow -

https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Soldering-Temperature-Indicator-Dashboard/dp/B0BBMDSGMR/ref=sr_1_54?keywords=plastic%2Bwelder&qid=1687526979&sr=8-54&th=1

[NJBasstard]

If you don't have prime than Harbor Freight sells a smaller plastic welding kit for around $20. 

[TOXIC]

I replied in your other thread, TH Marine now owns GatorGuard and they make a Gator Patch that will work. 

[AJ Hauser]

Thanks @TOXIC - I picked one up - you reminded me they are actually a website client of mine (DUH!) - I plan to double up on that patch, then coat the bottom part that I drag with heavy-duty black epoxy. I don't think that will add much weight, and since it's black I'll be able to see when it wears off (if it does). 

[TOXIC]

7 hours ago, AJ Hauser said:

Thanks @TOXIC - I picked one up - you reminded me they are actually a website client of mine (DUH!) - I plan to double up on that patch, then coat the bottom part that I drag with heavy-duty black epoxy. I don't think that will add much weight, and since it's black I'll be able to see when it wears off (if it does). 

No problem.  I’ve installed a bunch of KeelShields that was also a product of GatorGuards.  I was on their prostaff for 15 years before the sale to TH Marine. They let everyone go.  No word, no email, no nothing…..It’s a good product line but I’m a little bitter. ??

[AJ Hauser]

2 hours ago, TOXIC said:

No problem.  I’ve installed a bunch of KeelShields that was also a product of GatorGuards.  I was on their prostaff for 15 years before the sale to TH Marine. They let everyone go.  No word, no email, no nothing…..It’s a good product line but I’m a little bitter. ??

 

They cut ties with employees and everyone? Do you happen to know how long ago that was? I'm curious of that coincides with when I stopped hearing anything from them...

[TOXIC]

I can’t comment on the employees but I know Nick Barr was let go at the same time we all were.  We had a dedicated website for pro staff and we asked the questions but got no response from Scott Smith, the old owner.  Well, technically his wife owned the company.  What really frosted my flakes was that TH Marine advertised for Pro Staff right after the sale. I got a response from Nick September 13, 2021 that the pro staff would be given the option to roll over to TH Marines program.  Never materialized.  I worked countless shows for GatorGuards and installed a lot of KeelShields.  I also went to a lot of boat dealerships to install, teach techs to install or take care of problems.  Left a bad taste in my mouth for sure.  I started when they were just a small company and before they had a more formal prostaff program.  Treated us like family and even paid for all the prostaff to go to the classic one year.  Such is life though and I never looked back.  

[AJ Hauser]

@TOXIC dang man - that sucks. Nick was my main contact over there, ow that you mention it. Good dude. I thought it was odd that everything came to a screeching halt one day - this unravels the mystery... on another note, I did pick up a patch and will be installing it today so... hope it works! ? 

[Zcoker]

I’d replace the yak. Patching is just a bandaid for such a critical thing as the hull. Your life may someday depend on that hull. So I’d suggest to not take shortcuts on it. A puncture/breach like that could be just the beginning with your hull’s overall integrity. 

[airshot]

I have used " goop" on those kinds of repairs with great sucess ...

[Bankc]

On 6/25/2023 at 10:24 AM, Zcoker said:

I’d replace the yak. Patching is just a bandaid for such a critical thing as the hull. Your life may someday depend on that hull. So I’d suggest to not take shortcuts on it. A puncture/breach like that could be just the beginning with your hull’s overall integrity. 

If you patch it right, it can be stronger than it was originally.  Plastic welding doesn't compromise the integrity of the plastic, so long as you do it right.  It's not like a glue where you create a weak point at the joint with two different materials joined together.  A good plastic weld will be a solid, continuous piece with the hull with no joints.  As good as new, though admittedly, matching the color and texture is pretty difficult.  So it's usually obvious on an aesthetic level that there was a patch, but mechanically, it's 100%.  

 

Plus, it saves hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, a ton of time, and keeps some unnecessary junk from filling up the landfill.  

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Bankc said:

Plastic welding doesn't compromise the integrity of the plastic, so long as you do it right.

Exactly - considering the kayak was thermo-formed in the first place, welding with the correct tool/supplies will basically 're-make' that area...it's not a patch job, it's filling in the hole with the same material and thermo-fusing them.

 

I worked at a place that used 1/2" HDPE for the containment cabinets. We'd have to weld seams, fill mis-drilled holes, etc...once it was done, you couldn't tell that it had been done as it looked like part of the original assembly.

[AJ Hauser]

Awesome - great tips fellas - thank you!! Really appreciate your time & feedback. 

[Fishingmickey]

Quit dragging your Kayak. It will love you for it.

FM

[AJ Hauser]

8 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Quit dragging your Kayak. It will love you for it.

FM

 

 

[Kirtley Howe]

46 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Quit dragging your Kayak. It will love you for it.

FM

I am not a Kayak fisherman and know nothing about their use or care. But I have a question....is it possible to apply a keel guard to the bottom of a kayak so dragging it would not damage the hull? Just curious if it has been tried and what the results were. Would/did it cause any problems? Would/did it work to protect the hull when the kayak was dragged?

[TOXIC]

2 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

I am not a Kayak fisherman and know nothing about their use or care. But I have a question....is it possible to apply a keel guard to the bottom of a kayak so dragging it would not damage the hull? Just curious if it has been tried and what the results were. Would/did it cause any problems? Would/did it work to protect the hull when the kayak was dragged?

There is a product made by GatorGuards that works the same as a KeelShield for kayaks.

[CountryboyinDC]

10 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

considering the kayak was thermo-formed

I don't think that kayak was thermoformed - Hurricane and Eddyline are, but most are rotomolded and the repair works just as you describe.  If you do have a thermoformed kayak, you'll want to use the plastic weld kits from JB or Permatex.  There are some blow molded kayaks out there - Prijon comes to mind, but I don't think there are too many fishing kayaks molded this way.  The repair, though is roughly the same.

 

I highly agree with the those who are pro-weld.  The kayak is likely to be really hard to resell, but can last for years with a weld.

 

As for dragging a kayak, some people worry too much.  I, and thousands of other whitewater boaters, splat rocks, seal launch off rocks, use rocks to kick the bow up when boofing, and many other things that wear a plastic hull more than dragging it empty.  Sure, pick it up if you can, but it ain't a 2 liter Coke bottle.  If you do wear the hull out, you'll have gotten many years of hard use out of it, trust me.  And most of that wear won't have come from dragging it to and from the put in.

[flyfisher]

1 hour ago, CountryboyinDC said:

  And most of that wear won't have come from dragging it to and from the put in.

Unless they are dragging it up and down concrete boat ramps.  I replace the keel on mine every few years as it is a wear item and replaceable.

[AJ Hauser]

17 hours ago, Kirtley Howe said:

I am not a Kayak fisherman and know nothing about their use or care. But I have a question....is it possible to apply a keel guard to the bottom of a kayak so dragging it would not damage the hull? Just curious if it has been tried and what the results were. Would/did it cause any problems? Would/did it work to protect the hull when the kayak was dragged?

 

I was thinking about this EXACT thing - even coating it with a hard epoxy could add a layer of protection, unless that epoxy reacts with the plastic of the hull... only other issue I can come up with is the added weight (potentially). 

[CountryboyinDC]

14 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Unless they are dragging it up and down concrete boat ramps.  I replace the keel on mine every few years as it is a wear item and replaceable.

I think you may be speaking of the stern keel guard that many kayaks have.  Yes maybe if you're lifting the bow and dragging it on a small portion of the keel.  But if you're dragging it flat (take a small flip line like raft guides use and strap that to the front handle and be amazed how much easier dragging is), I highly doubt it.

[Fishingmickey]

Dragging a kayak up boat ramps with front handle in hand is like taking a rasp to the bottom. You can add a gator guard protective layer over it. But your going to eat through that too. I know of people that have used either pieces of a five gallon bucket or were able to find plastic from another roto molded kayak. and make very satisfactory repairs. It requires a delicate touch with a heat gun and some practice. I'd think especially with the thinness of the surrounding plastic it would take a skilled hand to prevent making the little hole into a big hole. 

     I'd try patching it and then put a layer of Gator guard over it and then check it periodically.

West systems makes a epoxy for plastic called G-flex.  I have done the same repair your looking at with fiberglass cloth and G-flex and it worked fine.

https://www.westsystem.com/products/g-flex-650-toughened-epoxy/

 

Here's a You Tube video of G-flex in action. You might find it a bit humorous.

Regards,

FM

[Woody B]

Like some others here I'm not a kayak fisherman, but I've seen many kayak guys and gals drag their 'yaks down the ramp with wheels on them.   They take the wheels off at waters edge and stow them in the 'yak.   I'll probably see some this weekend.  If wanted I can take some pictures, assuming it's OK with the owners.   

[AJ Hauser]

23 minutes ago, Woody B said:

If wanted I can take some pictures, assuming it's OK with the owners.   

 

Skip the pics - just yank one and mail it to me...

 

I kid, I kid... ?