I agree with Doug on how to do fiberglass repairs. Someone else mentioned not using cheap hardware store resins to make repairs to kayaks. I agree with that too. I'd like to add that the reason is because the cheap hardware store resin (usually orthothalic resin) is designed for long shelf life and not for toughness. It is a stiffer (more brittle) resin than was used by the manufacturer of the kayak. In making a repair patch one should try to use at least as flexible (and preferably more flexible) resin as the boat building resin (isothalic polyester, vinylester or a combination of the two) the kayak was probably made from. A stiffer patch will tend to flake off when the kayak flexes in that area. This flaking is especially easy if the surface preparation for the patch wasn't first rate to begin with. The more flex prone the area that has been patched is the more likely you will have this flaking problem. Vinylester resin adheres better and is generally more flexible than polyester resin. It makes a good patch material even for polyester resin kayak. It can often be found at kayak manufacturing plants. Special especially flexible resins are also available from fiberglass product specialty stores. Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed May 14 2003 - 19:31:38 PDT
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