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Craftsmen's Corner / Re: Hull Protection
« on: Today at 08:02:19 AM »
TLDR: I'm just gonna use the clear gorilla tape for now. If it comes off again, I'm breaking out the rivets.
Goodness, you guys are making it seem like I am drilling gigantic holes without a plan to plug them.
I am only considering this because the other solutions all fall flat. I am looking for a permanent solution - to last the life of this kayak. I am not interested in replacing this every season. I think for a permanent solution, I need a mechanical fastener, and rivets seme the best choice there, for a host of reasons.
My biggest concern is a pinhole leak, but honestly, I am confident I can get it 100% watertight. Waterproof rivets with silicon goop around the edge of the plate and the front and back of the rivets. It would seal up super tight, for sure.
But, I totally understand it might not exactly be prudent to drill holes below the water line. I think I'm gonna try the 3m double sided glue tape stuff. I've seen it action before - it does create a very tight bond on a lot of surfaces. I just hope it bonds to HDPE the way that it bonds to the walls in my house. Will run a bead of goop along the outside edge to hopefully keep water out to help the tape hold up. Not holding my breath tho, gotta be honest.
To be fair, the biggest question really should be why we need to bother with this at all. Why don't more kayaks come with removable and replaceable skid plates? Do they only expect them to last a few seasons? Also, let me be clear: I'm not exactly hard on my kayak. I don't drag it across the pavement. The wear on my hull is entirely from loading, unloading, and launching. Kinda ridiculous that kayak makers leave us to find our own solution to something that should have been engineered in.
Goodness, you guys are making it seem like I am drilling gigantic holes without a plan to plug them.
I am only considering this because the other solutions all fall flat. I am looking for a permanent solution - to last the life of this kayak. I am not interested in replacing this every season. I think for a permanent solution, I need a mechanical fastener, and rivets seme the best choice there, for a host of reasons.
My biggest concern is a pinhole leak, but honestly, I am confident I can get it 100% watertight. Waterproof rivets with silicon goop around the edge of the plate and the front and back of the rivets. It would seal up super tight, for sure.
But, I totally understand it might not exactly be prudent to drill holes below the water line. I think I'm gonna try the 3m double sided glue tape stuff. I've seen it action before - it does create a very tight bond on a lot of surfaces. I just hope it bonds to HDPE the way that it bonds to the walls in my house. Will run a bead of goop along the outside edge to hopefully keep water out to help the tape hold up. Not holding my breath tho, gotta be honest.
To be fair, the biggest question really should be why we need to bother with this at all. Why don't more kayaks come with removable and replaceable skid plates? Do they only expect them to last a few seasons? Also, let me be clear: I'm not exactly hard on my kayak. I don't drag it across the pavement. The wear on my hull is entirely from loading, unloading, and launching. Kinda ridiculous that kayak makers leave us to find our own solution to something that should have been engineered in.