7
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Repairing your Tent
FABRIC TEARS
Watertight repairs to rips can be made with seam sealant such as McNett Freesole
™
,
Aquaseal
™
, or Seam Grip
®
. For tears shorter than about 1.5cm (1/2in.), apply duct tape
to one side and sealant to the other. On longer tears, apply duct tape to one side of the
tear and, on the other side, a patch of no-see-um netting that extends about 6-12mm
(1/4-1/2in.) beyond each edge of the tear. Use oval or circular patches (rounded edges
are less likely to peel away than sharp corners). Cover the patch thoroughly in sealant.
Once the sealant is completely dry, the duct tape can be removed from small and large
repairs alike.
For longer trips, we recommend taking an expedition sewing kit and extra nylon,
webbing, a spare pole section, and narrow-diameter (2.5mm) tent pole shockcord.
Coghlan’s Seam Saturant or the like will prevent wicking through a tent fly via seams
or webbing.
FIXING A POLE IN THE FIELD
Slip the pole repair sleeve over one pole end. Slide the sleeve along until it is centred
over the break in the pole, then wrap it into place with duct tape. Be careful not to
damage the tent fabrics when removing the damaged pole.
REPLACING A BROKEN POLE SECTION
The MEC Grip-Tip
™
pole tips are press-fitted into place. Carefully tug out the pole end tip
nearest to the broken section. Being mindful of how to retie it later, untie the end tip.
Slide pole sections off the cord until you reach the damaged section. Remove the broken
piece, being careful not to damage the shockcord. Thread on a new section of appropriate
length and diameter, followed by the other sections, then re-tie the end tip knot.
ZIPPERS
A worn slider is the cause of most zipper problems. An occasional application of 303
™
Protectant or a silicone-based lubricant will help reduce wear. Grit accelerates slider
wear. Keep zippers clean by rinsing them under water after use in windy/sandy
environments. Sometimes, carefully squeezing the top ends of the slider with a pair of
pliers will restore some life. If an inner door slider fails, run it as far as possible toward
one end of the zipper, and use only the other slider for the duration of the trip. A sewing
repair shop can replace inoperable sliders.
