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Fixing a dent

How to remove a dent from your kayak - with a hair dryer.


If you for some reason get a dent in your favorite kayak - don't fret - even if the dent is huge or deep and the kayak looks like it is never going to get into shape again. If you have a hair dryer (and preferably an outlet) you can fix it in no time.


Dents happen. Its the nature of the material, especially on 1-layer plastic kayaks. 3-layer kayaks can also be dented, but the dents tend to be shallower and are fixed by the same procedure. Most common dents are the ones left behind from a roof rack (if you don't use kayak holders). It lies on the roof all day in the hot sun and heats up while you are on your way to your favorite paddling spot. As you love your Point65 kayak, you don't want to loose it on the road, so you tighten it reeeally well. This usually results in dents on the bow or aft (or both).

Or you can do what Joe did - Use his well toned 220lb body of pure Rugby muscles and jump on the kayak a few times to create a huge and ugly dent (imagining it to be the guy who trampled him in the last match).

Luckily Joe brought his hair dryer and is able to rectify his act of vandalism. As Polyethylene has a built in "memory" in the molecules it is actually striving to get back into shape and just needs a little bit of heat and love to get there.

Start the repairing by heating up the dented area with the hair dryer, don't put it to close or you will get it too hot. When the plastic is heated you can start to apply pressure so that the plastic will get into its former shape. You will still have to use the dryer while doing it, so you might need some help from a friend.

The plastic should never become too hot to touch or start melting (which is why we recommend a hair dryer as opposed to a heat gun usually used for scraping paint etc).
After 10-20 minutes you should have succeeded in putting your kayak back into its original shape and get back into the water.

We recommend that you to store the kayak out of the sun (you can cover it with a tarp), use kayak holders for transport - and not to jump on your kayak.

Fler tips: