Nice Job Marty, it is far easier however to warm the yak and the filler rods with a hot air gun, then use the blow torch to heat up a paint scraper or putty knife, use the hot tool to blend the filler material into the kayak, you can tool it over into a good finish and the filler doesnt end up sitting on the surface as much.
I check it every time I'm heading out. Aside from have some scratches (like the rest of the bottom of the kayak) and being a different color, it's holding up great. No leaks to speak of.
I like that you just dove right in and gave it a shot. Too few people do that these days in our 'throw away society'. Best part is: "It Worked!" Good on ya.
Totally agree! I have become a HUGE fan of Marty's due to the fact that we he does not hesitate to try and solve any problem he encounters with his yak. I share this "broke man's engineering" concept with him. I am teaching my kids to do the same, we come from a broke Polish family that you had to make do with what you had! Great work Marty!
I'm sure it is going to be a hell of a lot stronger now! Pretty cool idea! I'm sure that'll come in handy for me someday! Those oyster beds are no match for your kayak now!! You really do some cool stuff!!
Hey marty, i finally found this launch spot. it makes it really easy to get bait to fish at that sheepshead hole. its literally right down the road! i really hope to see ya sometime!
They have stuff at automotive shops that cost like $7.00 called q-bond that works perfect for things like this and it dries stronger then the plastic you put it on.
Cool stuff, mrhulot! The metal plate is a good idea as long as I melt the plastic of the yak over the sides so the anchor line and my fishing line wont get snagged on it. I so enjoy the input of creative people! Thanks for posting :)
I had a Scupper blow through.Cut a diamond shaped plastic patch. I used wax paper and a electric clothes iron to heat the hull then the patch on the hull. It fused really nice. But be careful not to get it too hot.
awsome work man just another though for back up, you can go buy some of that plastic weld putty and if you have a way to access the inside of your yak past some on there just for extra protection.... awsome videos
First your channel is inspiring! DIY All The Way, just good research, patience, and safety. HDPE for your application would be to use a heat gun and with a wide putty knife heating the HDPE until it's soft with a shine. Heat a spare strip of HDPE until it melts into crack not as a liquid. Note: open flame on HDPE isn't safe after heavy or long exposure.
kayak makers should install a recessed wheel in the stern where it drags. I think the walker bay dinghy has one. Melting the plastic was a good idea, we used to melt little green army men when i was a kid and let it drip and harden. I have also made ssmall plastic repairs by heating a stainless butter knife on a stove and use it to seal cracks and even replaced a fan blade that broke off. maybe you can add a piece of aluminum sheet metal over your repair and stick it on with 3M5200
nice work. One thing to consider when welding plastic with a torch is to heat very gently and slooooooowly. Plastic does not conduct heat well so it takes time to penetrate and it also burns easily. When polyethylene overheats it breaks down into a weaker waxy substance similar to paraffin. You can smell it. And you will get a weak (and ugly) weld. Best to use a heatgun or plastic welder.
Bubble, bubble..lol! Seriously that was no picnic, fair play you did the business! Kayak stabilisers are a nice touch. For what its worth- I use a soldering iron for delicate work. ie...my wife's car bumper, kids toys. it actually sealed a vessel that contained water. I found this flexible adhesive/sealant TEC7 brilliant. Don't know if it's much use to you? I used it for many applications for fishing at the sea. Keep up the fine work, ATB!
i'm thinking now that it's repaired, why not form a metal, brass or aluminum plate to the shape and apoxy it in place. maybe even longer like 18 inches or so, to shield the keel. just an idea. second thought full length keel shield 4 or 6inches wide
Discover "Shoe Goo". They sell it at Walmart and Walgreen's. It grabs on and seals these plastic kayaks better than anything I've ever used. If you use Shoe Goo to mount a piece of PVC to the side of a kayak as a fishing rod holder, a fish will flip your boat before the PVC comes off. I've repaired a HOLE in the area you repaired that was 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long using only Shoe Goo and it's still water tight after a year. Check it out. You won't regret it.
I have a red Emotion spitfire looks very similar. I used torch and cut up plastic laundry detergent bottles and a metal putty knife to work the melted plastic. The repairs have held for a few years but are still susceptible to dragging damage. Would like to find some kind of skid plate.
whatever works bro. thats ART right there. unique... anyways thanks for this awesome instructional video lol! i gotta try that tarp method from the post down below. it seems to be legit and my yak is scratched pretty bad.
I use Keel Eazy to reinforce the bow keel. Once you seal that crack, I would get a section of this and bond it to that area, as it looks thin due to wear.
Awesome video. I'm curious now that the patch is on and sealed, maybe getting a cheap clothes iron from a flea market/thrift store would work for smoothing over all the scratches and even the patch? Creativity is the key!
Next time ... heat up a putty knife with your torch and use it like a plastic soldered, might be faster and easier... either way nice repair and ty for sharing.
wow . i think you are related to mcgyver(almost the same hair style too) ..watched all ur video.. very creative ..can wait to see what you'll come up with next..cheers
this might be a dumb question but wouldn't a fibreglass patch have been a lot easier and neater or can't you fibreglass over plastic? I've never tried to fibreglass so just asking. I have to say thought you did a damn good job with the materials you had laying around.
Hey marty, check out kamweld it's a portable welding kit that uses a small compressor and heating element in a handle that accepts hdpe welding rod though a tip while blowing hot air and applying the hdpe welding rod
I wish I had a creative comment for you but it seems you have thought through just about everything. I really appreciate how your components fit so well together. It shows you dont rush into the decision. I do have a question however, is there an online site where you purchase your foam? Great videos and thanks for all the tips.
very nice. great view of the scupper holes. gives me a little more confidence with my Spitfire 9. What is the buoy you are using on you fish grabber? the smallest I can find is 5" x 3" for my anchor rope.
Hey Zoffinger, just wondering how that repair worked out. The only things I would have done differently was to find some plastic of the same color. Folgers makes a red plastic coffee container and pepboys sells red buckets . Both number 2 hdpe.
This is a really neat fix. I've just been trolling your videos for the past 5 hours or so, thought i'd speak up. You can find this plastic anywhere on beaches, sadly. Conveniently, if you bust your boat, a small beach fire and a hot knife, you can fix it. Super cool. have you thought about reenforcing the length of the keel like this? and how has it held up for you for the past year and a half?
I think a better solution would have been to use a heat gun to heat both the kayak and the patch material to get a better bond, but it looks as if it worked. Worse case scenario spray some flex seal on it, that guys screen door boat floats! LOL
I wonder if you can't get yourself a melting pot and melt a batch of the plastic in it and then trowel the melted plastic on the bottom of the boat with a drywall taping knife. www.amazon.com/Do-It-Molds-1892-Hot-Pot-2/dp/B002QG3H9M/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1434353543&sr=8-15&keywords=melting+pot
Ha man why don't you try this take a red bucket cut a 12 inches pice and take the propane torch and lay the red plastic pieses on the kayak and metal it and take some silicone to finch the job it will seal everthing on it
Ha man why don't you try this take a red bucket cut a 12 inches pice and take the propane torch and lay the red plastic pieses on the kayak and metal it and take some silicone to finch the job it will seal everthing on it
