Re: [Paddlewise] Eddyline Carbonlite

In a message dated 6/20/00 10:47:13 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
dkruger_at_pacifier.com writes:

> 
>  I traced all the posts in this thread and could find no mention of anybody 
> who
>  had **repaired** a substantial crack and then **used** the Carbonlite craft
>  heavily.  Anybody done that?  


I have some experience with Carbonlite repairs.  The first time we cracked 
one of the Merlins, Eddyline sent me some Merthacrylate (Sp?) glue, which is 
what they spec for all repairs.  The glue is truly tremendous for many types 
of repairs.  A cousin of Cyanoacrylate maybe?  Dave, what can you tell us 
about this Vundergoo?  

At first, I tried the repairs without instructions from Eddyline.  I gouged 
the cracks on one side into a "V" notch and filled them with the 
Merthacrylate, then tried to work the glue into the unmodified cracks on the 
opposite side.  The first few times the boat was used, the cracks disjointed 
again.  

After contacting Eddyline for instructions, I re-did the repairs their way, 
saturating a strip of fiberglass tape with the Merthacrylate and applying it 
over the cracks.  We used the boat extensively after that, without further 
failure of the repairs.  However, we had already stopped using the Carbonlite 
boats in rocks, caves and all other rough-use situations except bay rentals.  

The same boat later came back for repair because the keel had been 
dragged-through on the sand and gravel beach where the boat had been 
stationed.  There was a 4-inch long hole the width of the keel at the point 
of maximum (fore/aft) keel radius, and the plastic was thinned beyond.  I 
filled in behind the opening with thickened resin, then covered the hole with 
the same tape/Merthacrylate patch.  The patch seems to have reasonable but 
not great abrasion resistance and seems to be holding up OK.

Overall, I think the material is fine for light use where you want something 
that is light, rigid and fast.  But I think composites (fiberglass, etc.) are 
stronger and more completely and successfully repairable.  Both composites 
and poly seem more durable and less easily broken when boat meets rock.  And 
I admit that I am still skeptical about the long-term durability of the 
Merthacrylate repairs.

One other thing -- the repairs all looked like yellow Band-Aids.  They lie 
full-thickness on the surface of the boat, very obvious and (if on the 
outside of the hull) protruding into the flow of water.  On the opposite 
side, the crack is still fully visible, looking just like a tight crack in 
any of the other hard plastics, such as acrylic.

Hope this helps,

Harold



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