Constant use of paddles makes them chip off, or even break with time. In the following article, we are going to discuss on ways in which you can repair a broken kayak paddle.
What materials do you need?
- Hacksaw
- Fiberglass
- Graphite
- Adhesives
- Coatings
The repair procedure
For the wooden paddles:
Mostly, the wooden paddles do get chipped off at the edges. To repair them, you just have to sand them using sandpaper till they become smooth. After sanding them, apply a coating of polyurethane or marine varnish. It is advisable to apply numerous coats.
If the tip is chipped off or broken, then you ought to sand it first, then apply a fiberglass cloth for reinforcing it.
Composite paddle blades
They are commonly made out of graphite of fiberglass. To repair them, you need to first sand them equally so that you can attain a uniform balance on both of them.
If it is the fiberglass blade that is broken or chipped, make a tape dam at the back edge of the blade that is chipped off, then fill the chipped space with epoxy. Alternatively, you can use graphite powder to fill the gap. Once it is hardened, sand it to uniformity.
For the broken paddle shaft
The first thing to do in a paddle shaft repair, you make sure you have properly cleaned the two ends that are broken. But before cleaning, get a hack saw and cut perpendicularly to the shaft. Do not worry if the paddle will reduce by three centimeters.
After cleaning the two sides, sand them to have uniformity using a sand paper. You can make some holes of approximately 5mm at the spigot so as to increase the glue bonding once it is applied.
It is better to use epoxy glue as it bonds strongly and quickly.
Tape the glued paddle and leave it to harden for about 20 minutes. Repeat the application of another layer of epoxy to for a sure seal and for it to be water proof.
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