How To Fix A Crack in a Kayak [Plastic Welding]

[@TheQuietfiresnag]

You have just given me the confidence to try and save a Rumba Sailboat I picked up a couple of years ago. It has cracks along the centerboard tunnel that take on water. It is such a fun boat to sail, but the stress at the centerboard over time took its toll long before I got it. Seeing the style of plastic welder you have, I feel I can fill the crack and add enough structural integrity with the mesh and the style of welder you used to actually reinforce the area as well as stop the leak! I'll be ordering the lit tonight, though it will be a hot minuted before I can get to that repair. I have a Key West Center Console I'm working on right now! There is always another boat project in the queue. But the sailboat just got put to number 2!!! Thank you So much.

[@dannysworld582]

I have a good size Crack on the bottom of my kayak. Thank you so much for this video. I've had my lifetime sit on top kayak for 10 years now and just not ready to give up on it.

[@lorieakins2843]

Lol I have a Sun Dolphin 12' I've also had for 10 years. I will be patching it today. I was flipped out of it yesterday when it sank.

[@nm2795]

I’m a single mom and we love kayaking! Well my nephew cracked his kayak. I tried the jb marine wield putty stuff and didn’t work. This seems like it would work well. So I’m definitely trying this tomorrow. Gonna go buy some mesh and a plastic welder as well. Gotta be ready for our fishing trips ❤. Thanks again so much for sharing

[@cheyennehdakota854]

Thank you so much. This was extremely helpful! thank you also for not fastforwarding your video while you were doing the work like another one I was attempting to watch.

[@Jonathan-wo6kf]

Just recently found your channel but have literally watched all of your videos. You are always so clear and concise. Thank you for making such awesome videos! I hope you get many more subscribers in the near future as you deserve them.

[@c4chris177]

Thanks much for the cohesive instructions! Too broke for hobbies so I bought a really old heritage redfish with a couple cracks similar to this one on top of the scupper holes near the seat though and a welder now I'll be good to go for only 220, without this video I was at a loss thank you!

[@DennyT71]

Very impressive. I'll own one (a plastic welder) by the end of this day. Thank you. Very informative.

[@elizabethholis237]

Thanks for this video. I have a 6" T crack in my Ascend D10. So its on the bottom of my kayak where the seat feet are. I ordered a better welder, I am hoping this will work. Wish me luck.

[@newyorkbasshunter3552]

Thank you very well explained video 📹 😀 👍 just saved me a few bucks of getting my yak patch up

[@saltui64]

This so amazing. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@BombproofCraftsman]

Thanks for the tips. I’ve got a hobie PA that was riding on a trailer & involved in a fender bender. Hopefully I can straighten it back out & fill the cracks.

[@spiltmilt]

Good luck! I sold this kayak and the patch is still holding up after a few years

[@terp53]

Great instructional video 👍🏼. Thanks

[@andrewlm5677]

Thank you for the video. Very helpful

[@slacktide_angler]

I'm thinking of reinforcing that area with some fiberglass on my Revo

[@spiltmilt]

Not a bad idea. A friend of mine just had his crack halfway across the seat well.

[@nuancedliars112]

Have a children's slide that is cracked at the top where it is screwed down at the very top with machine screws. How might I repair the small areas that have cracked near the bolts. This is not in the holes where the bolts are but rather near the bolts, thanks!

[@river86012]

Great Video...new subscriber.

[@jacobhornberger4613]

How has that weld held up after 2 years ?

[@morganghetti]

Truly ridiculous how many cracked Hobie's you see considering their price.

[@thiodorchalkias8906]

Thin and wick material...

[@pdxfisher1]

That was another great video. I only ever plugged a drill hole in a kayak (as easy as possible). I can't imagine a tougher spot to on a kayak to fix a crack than the one you tackled. I have watched a few easy repairs but what you did was over the top! I had one question if you don't mind. Would it be helpful to support underneath (if possible) while doing the weld to sort of close the crack? Probably not possible where you were working, and maybe not necessary, but I would love to hear your opinion.

[@spiltmilt]

I tried shoving some foam/cardboard up underneath but didn't seem to make much difference. I do think it would help.

[@pdxfisher1]

@@spiltmilt Thanks!

[@patrickspehnkouch2345]

@@spiltmilt has your repair held up through now? i have a small crack in my hobie near the scupper, on the topside of the tankwell. just wanted to ask about longevity.

[@dovybar]

Nice! Thank you. I'm gonna try doing that with the hot gun

[@charliepiland3285]

I assume the mesh is stainless…but even with that, shouldn’t it a,l be completely embedded within the plastic repair media so as to eliminate any chance of swell/tarnish/rust. Stainless isn’t truly impervious to staining , especially in a saltwater environment.

[@LovingIdaho]

I used to use a propane torch and milk jugs to repair crack in the bottom of my hull . You had to be careful and watch the glossy look to happen as you heated it up .

[@kayakdream9864]

Acetone would remove the tape residue and any other impurities that could affect the repair.

[@dovybar]

What kind of plastic Rod should I buy? ABS, PVC, PP, PE?

[@wcsa3311]

Please go there to buy this kind of soldering iron

[@danm1319]

Thanks man

[@scotland1988ful]

Is the plastic you repaired with same as the kayak. I think polyurethane

[@spiltmilt]

Same plastic. HDPE

[@BENJAMIN-zi4gv]

Where do you get the mesh. Is that stainless mesh?

[@spiltmilt]

The mesh came with the kit but can be ordered separately. Yes it's stainless

[@TexasBarnRats]

So, did the repair hold up?

[@spiltmilt]

For two years until I sold it

[@TexasBarnRats]

Awesome...thanks for the reply!@@spiltmilt

[@tokay999]

Where did you get that welder ? For plastic ?

[@spiltmilt]

Link in the bio

[@mikeoneill81]

I had no idea there was plastic welding. Welp, I assume Hobie isn’t going to replace my kayak when they can just weld it

[@vulcanez]

Do you store your kayaks outside ?

[@spiltmilt]

Only my Oasis since we only use it a dozen times a year. Even then I store it on its side out of sunlight

[@davidcrowson4745]

Say no to crack😀

[@wattsdronewilltravel3881]

Old school welding tip… If it’s now worth the time to clean it, it’s not worth the time to weld it.

[@spiltmilt]

That is very unhelpful thank you.