Thanks Steve I suspected this might work but when I saw you confirm it, I went right out in the garage and did my whole bottom and sides. This ones only 14 feet so it didnt take more than about an hour to do the whole boat and made a giant differense. Like you said, the ground in dirt is now part of my Carolina and I think its cool absorb some natural patina so people will know we actually use the boat. The boat really came to me with all the scratches and gouges but so what. It will paddle well when the weather clears enough to get back out in it. Thanks again, good on ya
I suppose one could scrub out the sand before ironing if you don’t want to iron the sand and dirt into the plastic. Also, I think a heat gun would bring back some luster to the kayak; either after the iron or the sanding.
I haven't... I just got back from a 7-day kayak-camping-spearfishing trip around islands in the Sea of Cortes... now my kayak bottom REALLY needs a good ironing.
Im thinking it might work to do as in the video, then melt wax on the surface. Likely not too durable for scratches, but might be nice for a finer finish.
I did not see that particular video, but it seems to me that a heat gun could conceivably soften the kayak enough to smooth out scratches using other tools, however, by itself, I do not see any advantage in using a heat gun. A heated flat iron does the job easier and in one step.
Looks like a good idea if done right but everything you said in the beginning was bordering on BS. "How the pros do it".. Just say this is how I do it and it works for me.
You are the one out of your REALM. This is how many of the kayak racers do it..land scratches do slow the kayak down…but you would have no idea because your SLOTH SLOW right ?
Does the heat cause a molecular change to the plastic? Does it change the strength?
Wow, I was just wondering the old iron. I had to look well seems I'm not the first. Thanks for the demo.
Good video....Wouldn’t hurt to clean those deep scratches with a wire brush first
Definitely
Thanks Steve I suspected this might work but when I saw you confirm it, I went right out in the garage and did my whole bottom and sides. This ones only 14 feet so it didnt take more than about an hour to do the whole boat and made a giant differense. Like you said, the ground in dirt is now part of my Carolina and I think its cool absorb some natural patina so people will know we actually use the boat. The boat really came to me with all the scratches and gouges but so what. It will paddle well when the weather clears enough to get back out in it. Thanks again, good on ya
I wonder if you can use non stick cooking spray on the iron itslef to keep it from sticking.
Maybe spray could help, but it could also be a problem because the stickiness tells you when the heat is getting to be too much.
Greaseproof paper over the parts you are ironing might help the from sticking
I suppose one could scrub out the sand before ironing if you don’t want to iron the sand and dirt into the plastic.
Also, I think a heat gun would bring back some luster to the kayak; either after the iron or the sanding.
Right and right
Great tips, thanks... my 2 kayaks need this treatment now!
Billder Inbaja have you done it yet?
I haven't... I just got back from a 7-day kayak-camping-spearfishing trip around islands in the Sea of Cortes... now my kayak bottom REALLY needs a good ironing.
Billder Inbaja let me know how it goes.i have a plastic kayak and I want to do the same thing but I don't think it's messed up enough to do it.
Bit like p tex ski base repair, many thanks.
Im thinking it might work to do as in the video, then melt wax on the surface. Likely not too durable for scratches, but might be nice for a finer finish.
Makes perfect sense to me.
Hello, I saw another man used a heat gun to just heat up the kayak. What is your opinion on it?
I did not see that particular video, but it seems to me that a heat gun could conceivably soften the kayak enough to smooth out scratches using other tools, however, by itself, I do not see any advantage in using a heat gun. A heated flat iron does the job easier and in one step.
Looks like a good idea if done right but everything you said in the beginning was bordering on BS. "How the pros do it".. Just say this is how I do it and it works for me.
You are the one out of your REALM. This is how many of the kayak racers do it..land scratches do slow the kayak down…but you would have no idea because your SLOTH SLOW right ?
Didn’t even clean the boat first.....