new kayak care
laura
should know to keep my new baby happy? I've read about 303 for my
boat, I've heard about people waxing their boat... anyone have
suggestions for good kayak maintenance?
It has a drop skeg - should I be doing any upkeep on that?
Also, what tools to people take on trips with them in case they need
to do any repair while they're away from home.
I've already made my first (and second...) scratches on her, so she's
being well used!
thanks,
laura
Michael Daly
> I am now the proud owner of a Valley Pintail. Is there anything that I
> should know to keep my new baby happy?
If you're happy, you baby will be happy - paddle it a lot! If you can't, you
can give it to me and I'll take care of it for you :-)
> I've read about 303 for my
> boat, I've heard about people waxing their boat... anyone have
> suggestions for good kayak maintenance?
Apply 303 to the hatch covers (inside and out) and to the plastic fiddly bits
on the deck. VCP hatch covers are notorious for their short life (compared
to Kayaksport and others). Watch them for cracks and replace before they
fail.
Consider replacing the bungies and lines every few years before they wear out.
The lines should be polyester, not nylon, as nylon tends to stretch when wet.
Waxing is only necessary every couple of years or so (more often if you use
it a lot or store it outdors). What you want is a polish that will remove oxidation
from the deck. These polishes usually contain wax. Any marine supply can
provide this. Waxing the hull for speed is a fiction that persists - ignore folks
that suggest it.
>
> It has a drop skeg - should I be doing any upkeep on that?
>
Periodically remove the skeg and clean any sand or grit out of the workings.
If the skeg is badly scratched to the point of having a really rough leading edge,
you can scrape and sand it to a smooth surface. If you have a slider control,
check the wire for kinks, wear or corrosion. If you have the line&cleat, replace the
bungies and line every few years or as required.
> Also, what tools to people take on trips with them in case they need
> to do any repair while they're away from home.
I found a neat little screwdriver that is sold for snowboarders. It is T shaped,
small and takes standard driver bits. I bring that with a bit for every screw/bolt on
the kayak. Also a Leatherman as a wrench/pliers/wire cutter/knife etc. (Don't use
a leatherman or pliers for routine maintenance - use an open ended wrench of the
correct size. The Pintail may be metric). I also bring some spare screws/bolts and
nuts, plastic wire ties, spare line and cables, 5min epoxy and lots of duct tape.
>
> I've already made my first (and second...) scratches on her, so she's
> being well used!
>
Don't be afraid to fix the scratches every couple of years. Gel coat repair is easy.
You can buy good gel coat at a marine supply and the dyes to tint it to match the
kayak (that's the hardest part for me - I'm color blind). Smooth it over the scratches
and nicks and cover with a stiff plastic film (heavier than household food wrap - it
wrinkles too much). This will provide a relatively smooth finish. When cured, sand
with increasingly finer grit (start with 300 move up to 600, 1200 then 2000) and once
it's near perfect, polish with rubbing compound. If you do it right, the repair is invisible!
Mike