DIY POLYETHYLENE REPAIR TO WILDERNESS SYSTEM TARPON 160i KAYAK USING AN OLD RAIN X BOTTLE
Kayak 12 years ago 159,315 views
I WAS OFFERED A FREE KAYAK THAT WAS ON ITS WAY TO THE DUMP.....IT HAD BEEN STRIPPED OF ALL ITS HATCH COVERS,SOME RUDDER PARTS,FOOT PEGS...AND YEAH IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT HOLE IN IT.THIS REPAIR USES A RAIN X BOTTLE FOR REPAIR MATERIAL....THE KAYAK IS A TARPON DIY 160i.....CONFLUENCE WHO OWNS WILDERNESS SYSTEMS KAYAKS WAS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL WITH AQUIRING REPAIR MATERIAL...I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK IN THE PAST WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE...I HAVE OWNED 6 OF THEIR KAYAKS AND AM DISSAPPOINTED WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEIR LEAKY NEW HATCH COVERS.
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Good job. Thumbs up
10. comment for DIY POLYETHYLENE REPAIR TO WILDERNESS SYSTEM TARPON 160i KAYAK USING AN OLD RAIN X BOTTLE
Most important. Find out if your kayak is cross linked or linear poly pro. Linear is relatively easy and cross linked is hard if not impossible to weld. I have tried for years with no success on cross linked. The good news is that most kayaks, especially low cost kayaks, are linear.
Dont work on your kayak after just this video. Watch several more, and if you have a name brand, call their customer support. Mine is an 21 year old Ocean Kayak, and their tech support is fantastic. They told me how to do it, and what materials. You guys with discount store cheapies……I hope you speak Chinese. If I had one, I would level with a major producer, and ask for their help. The folks I talked to would probably help. Their tech support is one of their big selling points. Good luck
BTW, how is it holding so far (if you still have it)?
20. comment for DIY POLYETHYLENE REPAIR TO WILDERNESS SYSTEM TARPON 160i KAYAK USING AN OLD RAIN X BOTTLE
Another thing, the heating of the area with a heat gun is pointless and in the end will only permanently turn the High density polyethylene into lower density/non aligned molecules that will be less rigid/hard. Even more of a reason to keep the heat isolated to the crack lines themselves.
30. comment for DIY POLYETHYLENE REPAIR TO WILDERNESS SYSTEM TARPON 160i KAYAK USING AN OLD RAIN X BOTTLE
One thing I wondered about was, if the hole size allowed, take the chunk out and mount a flush mount rod holder there. The repair would be a lot less labor intensive and structurally should be fine.
Good video though.
50. comment for DIY POLYETHYLENE REPAIR TO WILDERNESS SYSTEM TARPON 160i KAYAK USING AN OLD RAIN X BOTTLE