Speaking of breaking things..
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5584
Printed Date: 17 Sep 2025 at 6:19am
Topic: Speaking of breaking things..
Posted By: Jeff
Subject: Speaking of breaking things..
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2007 at 4:14pm
So I think the fact that I broke my AT paddle ![]("http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/smileys/smiley7.gif") this weekend has gotten around. I also managed to break my boat![]("http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/smileys/smiley6.gif") , so here is my question. Does anyone have any info on boat repair? i.e. plastic welding, propane torch, etc..? I have a few ideas of my own, but want to know if the knowledge is already out there somewhere. The boat in question is a Pyrannah S6F and it is tool old to warrenty. I also know that they are know for having this problem (stress crack along the chine/rail) since Brad showed me the crack in his S6X. Any help would be great! A free boat would also be great! haha!![]("http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif") ------------- "What could possibly go wrong?" www.flickr.com/photos/jeffdwyer/ |
Replies:
Posted By: cronar
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2007 at 4:40pm
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Pyranha has warranty, not sure why. They don't honor it. I welded my Burn recently. Propane torch is real good tool. Set it on about the lowest level you can and keep the flame about a foot from the plastic. Moving it back and forth (think Karate Kid "wax on. wax off") to get the plastic evenly heated and pliable. Then you can start your weld. Check out Rackley's site about welding boats. I've used the duct tape technique and it's been good. Of course that's assuming the crack is in a place you can do that. -Nick |
Posted By: Wog67
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2007 at 8:51pm
That sucks Jeff.. I think a guy out in inex does repairs.. but then again you wield a torch for a living anyhow right?![]("smileys/smiley14.gif")
------------- Flip, rinse, repeat. |
Posted By: SupaSta
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2007 at 10:33pm
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Jeff,
Ask the question on boatertalk, I rememer a thread about this. There used to be a guy named Karl Glessein that posted regularly there. He actually had a site dedicated to kayak modification and repair. He listed various techniques. There was also a guy who had a duct tape technique that I think Nick is referring to.
The key is to go easy with the heat or you could kill it.
Dan
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Posted By: Tobin
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2007 at 10:39pm
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Originally posted by SupaSta
Jeff, The key is to go easy with the heat or you could kill it.
Dan Ask Yotes about heat!! ![]("http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif") ------------- Sure? |
Posted By: justin
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2007 at 12:15am
| I've seen Jon Dufay melt plastic from an older boat into the crack with a barbeque lighter. He also drove a hot nail through the end of the crack to keep it from spreading. Then put duct tape on the inside. Make sure to clean the surface and then ruff it up with sandpaper, like patching a flat tire. Though the crack in his boat was a lot smaller. |
Posted By: Jeff
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2007 at 4:19pm
So far my repair has held. Boy, the powerhouse at 500 cfs is quite the testing ground! haha! I managed to get everything sealed up, but for how long is the question. My technique involved a propane torch with a soldering tip attached. Heat up the tip, then turn off the torch, and gently melt the crack closed. For bigger gaps I shaved off some plastic from inside the cockpit rim and mashed it into place before melting. All that and a hefty application of duct tape on the inside and I'm back in business!![]("http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif") ------------- "What could possibly go wrong?" www.flickr.com/photos/jeffdwyer/ |
Posted By: arnobarno
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2007 at 4:23pm
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Jeff, Are you saying that your boat is held together by duct tape now?? ------------- arn9schaeffer@gmail.com (remove 9 for my real email address) |
Posted By: oukr9965
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2007 at 4:29pm
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The duct tape weld is bomber. My H3 is still holding from cracking it for the second time in October. (The first time we used cock pit shavings and carefully melted them in there. Delicate process that took a while and had to use minicell to reshape the stern after the beating it took from the river). I found that it's best to do the weld on the inside and outside of the boat and don't be stingy with the duct tape. It's also good to drill a small hole at both ends of the crack.
Where is the crack on the S6X? I recently weld a friends S6F and it seems to be holding well. In that case all we used was a bic lighter and some duct tape.
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Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2007 at 8:23am
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James should make this a sticky topic so in the future we can reference this post in case of the need for repair or new methods arise. (boater talk, bah humbug!) ------------- Nomad |
Posted By: ashleygoesdisco
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2007 at 10:23am
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On that topic, (boatertalk) may I just say... James, this site works SO MUCH BETTER than boatertalk's forums.... Thank you!
------------- Ashley Duffus Well behaved women rarely make history. www.naiyadays.blogspot.com |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2007 at 10:26am
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I already made Eric's Fiberglassing a sticky thread that is where the goods are. But if this one should be I can do that I just don't see as much value here. Well except for Ash's last post! ![]("smileys/smiley9.gif") ------------- |
Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2007 at 10:39am
![]("smileys/smiley18.gif") ------------- Nomad |
Posted By: Jeff
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2007 at 3:51pm
Yeah Arn, my boat is held together with Duct Tape and some melted plastic, much the same way many other repairs are made in my life! ![]("http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/smileys/smiley17.gif") "If you can't Duck it, F*$k it!" haha! Still no word back from AT about my paddle though...------------- "What could possibly go wrong?" www.flickr.com/photos/jeffdwyer/ |