Comments on: How to Avoid and Repair Scratches in Your Kayak http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/ The World's Best Fishing Kayaks Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:18:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: W kayak http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-8321 W kayak Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:44:13 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-8321 Chris, You refer to gouging the crack out and good penetration of the weld, so it sounds like you're talking about a very thick wall, such as you'd typically find in the lower side of whitewater kayaks ;) Welding such a crack without reinforcement could work to some extent (its not fool proof) but only if it's undeveloped, straight, and relatively short. But welded areas are weaker than the wall around them, so for longer cracks and thinner walls the method you're talking about doesn't necessarily work, and such cracks require additional reinforcement, such as this article describes. BTW, instead of drilling the ends which creates a full perforation, try 'scrambling' them with the tip of a soldering iron - You'd get the desired effect of limiting the crack's expansion without the unwanted consequence of needing to fill holes. And last but not least - People don't have electric hot air guns at home. They have simple blow torches that produce a flame that's not easy to control as the flow or hot air coming from a heat gun. This makes welding much harder for them, and it can lead to accidents. Chris,
You refer to gouging the crack out and good penetration of the weld, so it sounds like you’re talking about a very thick wall, such as you’d typically find in the lower side of whitewater kayaks ;)
Welding such a crack without reinforcement could work to some extent (its not fool proof) but only if it’s undeveloped, straight, and relatively short. But welded areas are weaker than the wall around them, so for longer cracks and thinner walls the method you’re talking about doesn’t necessarily work, and such cracks require additional reinforcement, such as this article describes.
BTW, instead of drilling the ends which creates a full perforation, try ‘scrambling’ them with the tip of a soldering iron – You’d get the desired effect of limiting the crack’s expansion without the unwanted consequence of needing to fill holes.

And last but not least – People don’t have electric hot air guns at home. They have simple blow torches that produce a flame that’s not easy to control as the flow or hot air coming from a heat gun. This makes welding much harder for them, and it can lead to accidents.

]]> By: Chris Naumann http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-8320 Chris Naumann Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:32:28 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-8320 You can definitely weld Polyethylene as long as its not cross-linked, and it will be strong, you just need to do it right. Drill the ends of the crack so it doesn't spread, gouge the crack out so you get good penetration of the weld, and then use the same type of plastic. Good luck it's not hard to do. Just take your time and don't over heat your boat. You can definitely weld Polyethylene as long as its not cross-linked, and it will be strong, you just need to do it right.
Drill the ends of the crack so it doesn’t spread, gouge the crack out so you get good penetration of the weld, and then use the same type of plastic.
Good luck it’s not hard to do. Just take your time and don’t over heat your boat.

]]> By: Jeffrey McGovern http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-996 Jeffrey McGovern Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:46:29 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-996 Good point on the higher level of seating in the W. I can attest to the fact that you can see much better than any sit inside or SOT boat out there. I just take it as second nature I can see problems and avoid some of them because I'm so much higher. Jeff Good point on the higher level of seating in the W. I can attest to the fact that you can see much better than any sit inside or SOT boat out there. I just take it as second nature I can see problems and avoid some of them because I’m so much higher.
Jeff

]]> By: admin http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-351 admin Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:45:00 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-351 Polyethylene doesn't bond well to any adhesive because it has a low surface tension. You can use strong adhesives to fill very small holes and very narrow scratches but I would certainly not recommend it for use anywhere in your kayak that's under water. Polyethylene doesn’t bond well to any adhesive because it has a low surface tension. You can use strong adhesives to fill very small holes and very narrow scratches but I would certainly not recommend it for use anywhere in your kayak that’s under water.

]]> By: Striper Magic http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-350 Striper Magic Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:07:11 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-350 Fish Wiz... looks like you'll have to give up this project. BTW, how about using glue to fill scratches, glue patches and so on? Bill Fish Wiz… looks like you’ll have to give up this project.
BTW, how about using glue to fill scratches, glue patches and so on?
Bill

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