Need Someone To Fix My Canoe

[hank franklin]

I have a Coleman 17' Marine canoe, 1977 model, plastic hull. I have a hole on the bottom of the boat and one in the stern. Tried a fiberglass patch, didn't work. Put some epoxy and some superglue on the inside and gets me by but would like someone to put a more permanent fix on it. Will bring it to you if you're not too far away.

Thanks

Hank

Photo here is of my solution earlier today. Didn't last very long as you might guess.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

If I remember correctly, you can go to an auto parts store (like O'Rileys) and ask for Corvette fiberglass repair kit.

That'll have instructions on how to do a do-it-yourself patch up.

Good luck - Brian

[hank franklin]

Yeah, a couple years back I bought a fiberglass repair kit from an auto parts store. It seemed like a pretty good patch after I finished but my first trip on the river it pretty much broke off. I tried it again with even more care and attention to the work but again, it didn't hold. It's possible I didn't do it right but I really don't think so. The patch held okay on the sides of the boat but directly on the keel it just cracked off.

[Bird Watcher]

Hank,

I have one that needs patched too. I tried to fix it like you did, and it didn't hold. I was pointed towards this repair kit.

http://www.bullseyetradingpost.com/canoe-repair.html

I have also heard that buying a bumper repair kit from the auto parts store will work if you swiss cheese areas around the hole with a 1/4" bit so that the epaxy bonds to itself.

Another search turned up a patch using the adhesive that windshields are put in with.

I guess the problem is that the polyethylene (sic) is petroleum based and therefore is always in a "semi-solid" state. Since it is not a true solid, it expands and contracts at a different rate than whatever material you patch it with.

I have also heard that you can have someone plastic weld it, but that for the price of the repair, you could just buy another canoe

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[hank franklin]

Thanks for the link. Did that repair kit from bullseye trading post work for you?

[Flysmallie]

My buddy has a plastic welder I think. He repairs small auto damage and bumpers and knows what he's doing. I will check with him and see if he would be interested if you are around Springfield.

The problem you have with fiberglass and epoxy is that your are using a rigid repair material on a flexible substrate. Plus since the substrate is petroleum based its basically oozing oils and mold release agents. It's like trying to stick a bandaid on my greasy forehead (yeah i know....it's gross). It will never stick unless you get it good and clean.

If you really want it to hold up you might look at some of the kevlar strips that protect the ends of a canoe. Those are really tough.

[Al Agnew]

The plastic that Coleman canoes are made from is notorious for being almost impossible to repair. Nothing sticks to it well. It doesn't weld well. Other (more expensive) canoe plastics are MUCH easier to repair. If you find something that really works, there are a lot of Coleman owners who'd probably love to hear about it.

[bobber]

you need to use a torch to heat the plastic first (like you do for old towns canoe repairs).then sand the surfaces ( really good ), this will make the patch have a bite . tape off the area around your working spot .make your patch just a little larger than the repair area . i recommend you use a product called G-FLEX.. an epoxy adhesive.... first on the inside, cover the hole with duct tape . on the outside, then lay a wet patch of the g-flex over the damage area, then lay some fiberglass cloth, or Kevlar cloth, then another wet patch over that, then cover the patch with glad wrap and roll all the air bubbles out . 40 minutes you sand it smooth and repeat if the hole is larger than your open hand. ....we just got finished with 85 canoes. 19 more to go ... the G-FLEX is a "west systems" product. two part epoxy ... just make sure you use equal parts ....... hope this helps!

[ollie]

I have two words for this solution ; Hippo patch. Wait, it might be one with a hyphen, but either way I have had it on my kayak for over two years and haven't had a problem with it. I am not a gentle person with my yak either.

[hoglaw]

I have a hole about the diameter of an eraser in the bottom middle of the keel of my Coleman Ram-X. My solution is to stuff a sock underneath the support bar and pull it through with pliars on the other side. Shows you how much confidence I have in patching on that stuff.