Kayak Leak Detection and Repair
Hobie kayaks are made from very durable PVC but may, on occasion, require minor repairs. Repairs are easily done with your included patch kit. Read the following paragraphs for leak detection and repair tips.
Air Leak Detection
If you are losing air pressure, not caused by colder tempera- tures, check the boat for leaks, starting with the valves. A leaking valve is rare, but if you do find a leak we can send you a replacement valve. To locate a leak, we recommend mixing soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray around the valve. If you see bubbles forming, check your valve seating and base and be sure the valve insert is screwed tight. If you continue to have problems it's probably time to order new valves. Replacement of the whole valve can be done with a simple tool that comes with the replacement valve.
If the boat is losing air and all the valves are good, you prob- ably have a small puncture. Small punctures can be repaired easily and permanently. Spray around the inside and outside of the hull until air bubbles mark the position of the leak. If you do not find air bubbles, inflate the boat to maximum air pressure and try to listen to find the leak. If you can nar- row the area down, return with a spray bottle to identify the source of the leak.
Punctures less than 1/8"in size can be repaired simply with- out a patch. Deflate your boat, then clean and dry the area to be repaired. Apply a small drop of glue to cover the punc- ture, and let dry 12 hours. If you need to get on the water sooner, let dry 30 minutes and then inflate the boat, inflating the compartment with the repair only 3/4 full. This repair might not be permanent so add a drop again at a later time to make it permanent.
Small Repairs
Your boat comes with a repair kit as standard equipment. If you no longer have your repair kit, you can order a new one from your dealer. Cut a piece of repair material large enough to overlap the damaged area by approximately 1/2", and round off the edges. Apply glue to the under side of the patch and around the area to be repaired. Too much glue will inter- fere with a proper repair. Allow adhesive to become tacky for
Large or Difficult Repairs
If you have a difficult repair, give our office a call and we will advise you on the best way to repair it.
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