4.5 Boat repair

A range of methods have been developed over the years to repair sea kayaks whilst on trips. If things go badly wrong, it can be important to carry out an initial repair at sea before being able to return to land for a more permanent fix. Howard Jeffs is considered something of an expert, and his Youtube channel is a useful resource.

Having tried a number of the traditional approaches, and a few new ones, I’ve found that ‘Flex Tape’, a strong, wide tape with a rubber adhesive, is the best approach to tackling most kayak damage. If you’ve not seen them before, the marketing videos with the inimitable ‘Phil Swift’ are worth watching.