Hello from Seattle WA

Hey all,

I moved out to Seattle from NC this past June and picked up a cheap craigslist kayak shortly after the move. I managed to get into a good number of pink, coho, and chinook salmon this past season, and look forward to continuing that trend and also getting into bottom fishing. I have about 15 years of kayak fishing experience, mostly surf launching and fishing just beyond the breakers on the east coast.

I'm on NWKA under the same name, and decided to also join NCKA in hopes of expanding my information base. I have an upcoming project - to patch the scuppers of a first generation Hobie Adventure Island. There isn't much information about this procedure online, so I'm hoping to document my process and post it here, as a means of adding a datapoint for folks in the future.

I have an upcoming project - to patch the scuppers of a first generation Hobie Adventure Island. There isn't much information about this procedure online, so I'm hoping to document my process and post it here, as a means of adding a datapoint for folks in the future.

That sounds like a challenging project, given the stress that an AI has to endure. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, and hoping that I'll never need to do anything similar to my 2014 AI...

Welcome bY!

<snipped> I have an upcoming project - to patch the scuppers of a first generation Hobie Adventure Island. There isn't much information about this procedure online, so I'm hoping to document my process and post it here, as a means of adding a datapoint for folks in the future.

If the info is not easy to find, does that mean it’s a rare occurrence or is due to the craft’s age?  Have you looked for info/help directly from the mfr?

That sounds like a challenging project, given the stress that an AI has to endure.

Yeah - I blundered into this project. I knew the scuppers were cracked when I bought the boat. Figured it wouldn't be too hard to fix... I half regret my optimism. Fortunately I didn't pay too much, and if the hull is a loss, I think I'll still come out on top.

Right now I'm thinking that the patch will involve:
(1) bevel the edges of the cracks
(2) sand the cracks
(3) heat w/ torch
(4) hit with g/flex on inside and outside

Given the location of the cracks (in the rear scuppers), I'm thinking that the execution of all of these steps will require some creativity.

I just need to do some more research to convince myself that this is the best approach. Worst comes to worst, I'll just fill the scupper holes in.. I don't plan on doing many surf launches, so I don't think those scupper holes are too important to me.

Fisherman X: I think this is a fairly well documented issue in the older hobies. I see posts indicating that folks have fixed these scupper cracks, but haven't found many posts detailing how they were fixed. I do plan on reaching out to Hobie to see if they can recommend an adhesive (I read one post on the hobie forum indicating that Hobie does advise the use of g/flex, but have ready many more posts indicating that g/flex is my best option).

     Hope you have complete victory in your "adventure"...funny, I've been curious about plastic welding masters, or noobs,  on youtube,, and learn a lot by wasting, or strangely absorbing education about this skill, watching videos about plastic welding and not sacrificing integrity of plastic as you go...drilling holes, adding plastic, creating grooves to receive new plastic, proper heat,...do it!  Have that bilge pump at the ready with that pfd, and you're good to go...please post your progress...I have one kayak and intend to fish it for a new decade by DIY options...catch some fish while you're at it and post NW pics for us addicts...thanks and welcome...  

Good luck with the repair and be mindful that this will always be a problem area.
Load the inside of the kayak with pool noodles. That way if there is an epic failure while OTW you won't be clinging to a submerged heap of plastic.