Re: [Paddlewise] Bought an old Klepper

Andree Hurley wrote:
> 
> While I love my British boat for it's sleekness, I actually bought an old
> Klepper yesteday for a couple hundred dollars. I'm so excited - no sewing
> or knitting this fall, just glues and epoxies! I loved running ten day
> trips in them in the eighties in Baja, and have always wanted one. I
> finally pulled out Ralph's Folding Kayaker and read the repair section
> today.
> 
> The worst of it (and I want to hold off buying a new skin for
> awhile) is where the blue canvas has departed from the grey hull. What is
> the cool fix for that?

There is no simple glue fix for that unless it is a few inches or so of
seam separation.  It may need to be re-sewn.  If you are handy you could
do it yourself.  Mark Eckhardt was mentioned as being able to do it for
you but you may not want to go through that expense, although his
workmanship is stellar and reasonably reasonable.
  
> 
> The wood and fittings are mostly in great shape, so I want to do the skin
> first.
> 
> Looks like it needs new keel strips and stuff, but I have a long history
> in raft repair and patching even Klepper hulls.

The keelstripping material itself is costly when it comes from Klepper
but maybe NRS has it at a better price.  If you go the keelstrip route,
use just the 2.25 inch wide strips for the bottom rather than the 10
inch wide strip.  Run 4 of these 2.35 inch keelstrips one each for the
chine rods area and one each that go where the two rails form the keel.

best,

ralph
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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