LEAKS
How to repair leaks in your kayak:
Unless your kayak has a crack, leaks primarily occur in the
following areas: seams, ends, hatch rims, bulkheads, skeg
housings or fittings. Eddyline kayaks are all water tested before
leaving the factory. However over time, leaks can develop from
various sorts of stresses including freezing and thawing, shock,
etc... Most leaks are easy to fix, the trick is finding them. Here
are some suggestions.
WATERTEST:
On a dry day on the lawn or on sawhorses, put 3-5 gallons of
water in each compartment (one at a time). Watching carefully,
roll or lift the kayak to force the water over any suspect area
and watch for where it runs or drips out. It is surprising how
much water accumulates in a few hours with a drip. Also watch
for the transfer of water from one compartment to another. This
would indicate a bulkhead leak. Remember, the bulkheads are
vented with a tiny hole in the center.
REPAIR:
Since a leak rarely means a structural problem, simple sealants
are quite adequate for stopping them. Once you have identified
a leak, press a very small amount of sealant into the area with
a finger or rag. Be sure to wipe off the excess, you just want
to seal the pore that is allowing water to pass. We prefer to do
the sealing on the inside when you can reach the problem,
otherwise apply the seal to the outside or both sides.
Recommended sealants:
3M 5200 Fast Cure or any other
marine grade polyurethane sealant. Silicone may be used,
however, once you use silicone in an area, nothing else will
stick to it in the future. This may cause problems if you need
to do further repairs.
HATCH RIMS:
If your hatch rims leak, it is best to seal them from the underside.
Spread a small amount of sealant into the gap between the rim
edge and the kayak deck edge. This is an easy area to reach
and will not affect the appearance of the kayak. Wipe off the
excess.
SKEG HOUSINGS:
Seal the skeg housing from the outside of the kayak. Just inside
the opening of the housing is the joint between the housing
and the kayak hull. If you are unable to locate the specific area
of the leak, seal around the perimeter of the housing by pressing
into the joint. Pay particular attention to the ends. Wipe off any
excess.
Summary of Contents for Carbolite 2000
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