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Common Repair Questions Answered 1) What should I do about the scuffs and scratches on the bottom of my boat? In all honesty, you should smile and remember the adventure that caused the scratches. There really isn’t a good way to take those scuffs and scratches out, and until you wear completely through the outermost layer of your boat, there isn’t a good reason to try. Scuffs and scratches are a part of paddling. Take pride in the fact that you are out there using your boat, and when someone asks you about the wear on your hull, tell them a great story about how it happened. 2) What do I do when the gel coat on my boat cracks and falls off? If the gel coat on your boat cracks and begins to fall off, you are in need of a repair. You will first need to remove the damaged gel coat. Sometimes the gel coat will simply fall off if you pick at it with your finger, other times you may have to sand or grind the affected area. Once the old gel coat has been removed, you will need to fill in the hole with a combination of gel coat and hardener. After the new patch has been applied, it can be wet sanded to make the patch flush with the rest of the boat. For a complete overview of this process, consult the Wenonah Canoe repair video or sign up for a gel coat repair class at Rutabaga. 3) When should I put skid plates on my canoe? The best time to put skid plates on your canoe is after you have bumped into a few logs and slid over a few rocks. When putting skid plates onto your canoe, you’ll have to abrade the areas where you plan to put them. So, my thought is this: you might as well let the scuffs and scratches happen naturally, and put the skid plates on once the stems of your boat actually need them. 4) I have a roto-molded kayak with a big depression in it. How did this happen, and what can I do about it? Without seeing your boat, my guess is that it sat in the hot summer sun for a bit too long. The plastic used in constructing our roto-molded kayaks is first heated in an oven, and then molded into the appropriate shape. The boat is then cooled, so it retains its designated design. By allowing your boat to “bake” in the hot summer sun, you've allowed it to return to its original pliable state. If, at this point, you strapped your boat onto your car or set some heavy equipment on it, or sat down somewhere on the deck, you may notice a depression formed into your boat. Not to worry–this can be fixed. In order to re-form your boat, you will simply need to heat the deformed area and push the dent out. Heating the boat can be accomplished with a heat gun (most easily in colder weather) or a hair dryer on its hottest setting. 5) The wood gunwales on my canoe are dark and dirty. What can I do to make them look nice again? The first place I would start with this repair is with a piece of fine grit sandpaper. By lightly sanding the gunwales, you should be able to remove most of the discoloration. Another option if you would rather not sand your gunwales is wiping them down with mineral spirits. The mineral spirits should act as a sort of bleach for your gunwales, and take off all of that mildew. After sanding or wiping down the gunwales, you should re-coat the wood with a light layer of boiled linseed oil. This is a nice way to protect the wood without changing its color. As a nice bonus, the boiled linseed oil will allow your gunwales will dry completely, rather than maintaining the “tacky” feel that comes from stain or “Gunwale Guard." As a final thought, if you are able to store a boat with wood gunwales indoors you won't experience this same problem again. Long term exposure to the elements will quickly degrade the wood on your boat. 6) How do I go about replacing seats/thwarts/yokes in my canoe? Replacement seats, thwarts, and yokes are available for purchase at Rutabaga. Typically, all of these items are available in a size much bigger than you will need. So, in order to replace any of these items, you will need to cut off the excess material and drill a few holes to mount them back in place. Mounting procedures will vary depending on which make and model of boat you’re working with, so specific questions can be directed to Rutabaga’s repair department. 7) What should I use to clean my boat? There are a few options to take advantage of. First, you can simply use water. Clean water along with some scrubbing will take off most of the grime and crud that collects on boats. If water alone isn’t enough, you may choose to use some mild dish soap. For a quick once over and prevention of sun damage, we recommend using a UV protectant. McNett UV Tech or Aerospace 303 are the products we carry, and both seem to work very well. As a nice bonus, they’ll make your boat nice and shiny! 8) Do people ever wax the bottom of their boat? Simply put, no. Waxing isn’t going to do anything in terms of protecting your boat, and the only people who may notice a difference in performance would be those involved in racing competitions, and even they don’t notice too much of a difference. You can if you want, but it may turn out to be a waste of time. If you have a question you'd like Jim to answer in the next e-gazette, please e-mail it to him by following the link below. For more specific information about gel coat repair and skid plate installation, Rutabaga Outdoor Programs will be offering hands-on classes during the 2004 season. See the online class schedule for more information. 
Jim Fietzer Friend of the Shop ©2010, Rutabaga LLC
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