Craig described a seriously strong tape G'day Craig, Your fault for leaving a solar panel in the sun! Did they manage to keep a straight face while saying that! The VHB tape sounds like powerful stuff, thanks for describing it. Do you happen to know if anyone makes 'Velcro' patches with a similarly strong adhesive? I have a Bumfortable (that's the trade name) seat I've been trying to fit in my kayak for months but can't find a Velcro tape to fasten it that stands up to salt water without eventually peeling away. The seat itself lives up to its name superbly, but it wasn't sold with any means of attaching it to the boat. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Peter, Well in all fairness these panels were bought in 1982 and the guy assembled the bits into an array and then floated an epoxy onto the surface thinking that would be the best way to protect them without shattering. I am not sure if anyone knew that epoxy was sensitive to UV back then. The guy had since moved on to importing toys and was out of the solar business but did offer to give me $230 worth of toys. That was what a 33-watt solar panel cost in 1982. You could try VHB tape on your seat-to-kayak. I removed oxidation and then cleaned with acetone. Left the tape in place for ten days with no stress (and in hot sun). I'm sure I could remove the panels but not sure what else would come up with them. :P Craig On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 1:38 PM, Peter Osman <peter_at_energysustained.com> wrote: > Craig described a seriously strong tape > > > > G’day Craig, > > > > Your fault for leaving a solar panel in the sun! Did they manage to keep a > straight face while saying that! > > > > The VHB tape sounds like powerful stuff, thanks for describing it. Do you > happen to know if anyone makes ‘Velcro’ patches with a similarly strong > adhesive? I have a Bumfortable (that’s the trade name) seat I’ve been > trying to fit in my kayak for months but can’t find a Velcro tape to fasten > it that stands up to salt water without eventually peeling away. The seat > itself lives up to its name superbly, but it wasn’t sold with any means of > attaching it to the boat. > > > > All the best, PeterO > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter Velcro seat attachment: I have used good old WEST epoxy to stick two wide strips of Velcro to the cockpit sole of my fibreglass kayak. They stayed there solidly for five years. When I sold the kayak, I chipped them out and sanded it down without much trouble. I had sewed up a flat bag - to hold the heavy part of my wheelset under my thighs. I only used it when on week+ trips, when space was at a premium and it kept the weight down low. I wanted it to stay in place when upside down. It worked very well. I believe that some of the builders' goop (in those big cardboard tubes - used for drywall/gib installation) has good life in a marine environment. Friends use it for customising cockpits with closed-cell foam. I think it has more inherent flexibility than epoxy and is cheaper if you don't have the epoxy sitting on the shelf. Best Regards Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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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