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/ ***************************************************************************
You need to ask "Why did the repair fail"? One possibility is that you did not let the area to be repaired dry out well enough. The glass cloth under the repair probably accumulated moisture. Before doing the repair you need to let the boat dry out. This could take several days (perhaps someone else could give a time estimate for drying out). Another possibility is that the epoxy did not cure properly - either due to time or poor mixing. good luck ss > Kayak fiberglass repair > I have a dearly loved kayak that gets dragged up the beach a lot (better > the > boat than my body) I had a hole on the bottom under the back stern hatch > that repaired with fiberglass and I have a fiberglass skid stip along the > back keel. This weekend the epoxy and a layer of the fiberglass came off – > the exact size and shape of the fiberglass repair. (rectangle) I’m looking > for some good advise on how to redo this repair and also wondering if I can > use stronger materials (kevlor, polyethelene…?) for the patch and for a new > skid strip that might be tougher – not sure if I can marry these materials > to fiberglass. The boat is an easy rider Eskimo double. Thank you! Adise is > greatly appreciated! > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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