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 Tue, 22 May 2012 13:41:12 +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-9860 W kayak Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:26:14 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-9860 Andy, While a hairdrier doesn't generate enough heat to melt the surface of the kayak wall, it can generate enough heat to soften and warp it, and while fixing scratches in your kayak is relatively easy, and fixing cracks harder, fixing warped walls is quasi impossible. Andy,
While a hairdrier doesn’t generate enough heat to melt the surface of the kayak wall, it can generate enough heat to soften and warp it, and while fixing scratches in your kayak is relatively easy, and fixing cracks harder, fixing warped walls is quasi impossible.

]]> By: andy http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-9859 andy Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:41:05 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/2008/03/23/how-to-avoid-and-repair-scratches-in-your-kayak/#comment-9859 I checked with the guys I bought my kayak from and they recommended using a hairdryer and your finger, lol. Guess I will give it a shot. I checked with the guys I bought my kayak from and they recommended using a hairdryer and your finger, lol. Guess I will give it a shot.

]]> 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

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