Making a temporary repair/patch on a holed canoe. 

Still think Billy is a star. He make me smile

Came for the canoe repair and stayed for the doggo.

In Canada, at least, you might have been able to provide a bit of structure over the gap by adding a layer or two of birchbark strips. At the very least, one could feel good about using a traditional material to patch a modern canoe.

Great little video, thank you for taking the time to produce it. It would be interesting to know what you take in your repair kit and how that might vary working in the UK vs a longer trip in Canada (maybe another video on repair kits!)

Loved you last video tried out the S turn you showed. It worked out great going up river. Down river not so much torpedoed in to the bank a couple times but, it was better then going through the mail current. I need alot more practice on the down river side

We had to do a patch job on a canoe that lost its self bailer on the motorway just before a big 25 mile race, we cut up a bit of Perspex and applied with some gaffer tape it held up for the entire race, day 2 we managed to get a bit of sealant 😂

I normally carry a beeswax block in my kit for dry suit zips. That should work for sealing tape edges in place of a candle.

This is pure gold. The benefit of your practical experience is unusual situations. More like this please.

Ray, always enjoy your videos. You can also rub some hand sanitizer (isopropyl alcohol) on the boat and light it.

On the drying issue: carry a small nalgeene bottle (or similar) of meths (methylated spirit/denatured alcohol). Being highly volatile it will evaporate and take the water with it. When there is only a little left on the surface flash it off by applying a lighter/flame. The remaining meths will burn off leaving a dry and warm surface (also degreased) to which the tape will happily stuck. Obviously you Don want to overdo the amount you are burning off - you arent looking to melt anything! But meths will flash off quite quickly and relatively cool. Just be aware that the flames can be more or less invisible.

Good to know !

Good ideas Ray I’ve heard of another tape brand that’s waterproof T-Rex tape looks really good. I like the idea of waxing the edges to seal it and Linda’s idea or warming it to really seal seems sound to me really makes sense. All good things to get in the tool box when on a big trip or even a local one if you’ve distance to go.

Great video Ray, though Billy doesn't seem too impressed. ;) I used the duct tape method to repair a cracked aluminum canoe after pinning it. First ever wilderness canoe trip, to say I didn't know what I was doing would be a gross understatement. We used a camp stove to dry the area since all our gear was wet (didn't know about dry bags back then). It held up long enough to get to the takeout. The whole trip is a great story about what not to do.

Thanks again for the video Ray 👏

Thanks so much, Ray - great video and so impressed you managed to fix it!

Another great information video Ray, many thanks, keep them coming mate 👍👍👍looking forward to seeing the full repair job on royalex, Take care, ☕☕❤

Great vid Ray. Useful for my FSRT/aspirant instructor students as well.

Good video Ray. These days my repair kit is just a roll of gaffer tape so I would have done exactly the same, but probably without drying the boat enough. Something else to suggest, if anyone is looking for extra stuff to carry that could bridge a massive gash like that, is epoxy putty. I used to carry it in my sea kayak repair kit, and used it quite a few times on my old beater sea kayak. It comes as a couple of different coloured sticks, you simply break equal amounts off each and knead them together a bit like plasticine until the colour is even, and then use it to plug the hole. In desperation, the stuff can even be used to plug underwater holes so a slightly damp canoe is no problem, but note that it will cure rigid so there is a chance it will pop out if the hull flexes over another rock or shingle bank. But don't sit around waiting for it to cure, tape over and carry on. In 2006 my dad parked his Wenonah 16 on the island at Grandtully on the Tay for a few seconds - I was amazed, he threw his weight onto the rock, the boat filled up and then floated off backwards down the left and he paddled it to the side the right way up. He later discovered a leak, not as big as that one, but still not ideal on day 2 of 3. He mended it with epoxy putty to fill the gap, and then for some reason decided to use superglue before a final layer of gaffer tape. That repair didn't only last the trip (to Perth), but stayed on for several years before he got round to dealing with it, I think it was still on when I borrowed his boat for my attempt at Kinlochleven to Perth, and my brothers successful attempt a fortnight later, and I'm sure you know how tough that route is on boats! As for how he ended up on the island, well let's just say he wouldn't take my advice and tried too little too late... Dad's eh?

I’m wondering: could it be, in your opinion, and I think Paul Kirtley is likely to have an opinion too, possible to fill the gap with the famous recipe of charcoal and pine pitch mix to secure the hole, and that way get something for the tape to stick too? Thanks for the videos, it is always a pleasure to watch!

I have tape of course, but I still keep a fold of flash band and inveriably have a stove on board, so...? Not sure the flash band was big enough for that gash Ray.

Another really useful video... just hope I don't need to do myself!

Ray, what is the best way to add afew floor d-rings/tiedown points on a royalex canoe(OT Tripper). these will be used only for pannier type bag stability (i use mountain bike panniers on internal walls, the bags have gunwale hooks but the bottom could use down force that a bike rack would normally give via a spring or bungee)