Emergency Repair Kit

June-July 1999

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web

If you're planning a lengthy expedition, or even a short group trip, it's important you hove the ability and equipment to repair problems which arise.

• Waterproof container for storing repair supplies

• Heavy duty ziplock bags for storing and sorting items in repair kit

• Pliers for tightening crimps and loosening nuts

• Swiss army knife or similar with screw driver, awl, scissors and saw

• Waterproof sandpaper-grades 200, 400, 600 for sanding fiberglass repair area

• Denso tape, excellent for sticking to wetted surfaces for emergency on water repairs

• Neoprene patches for large wetsuit and sprayskirt holes

• Contact cement and cotton-backed tape, in combination provide excellent patch for nicks and tears in sprayskirts

• Small tube of Sikaflex marine adhesive for sealing bulkheads and small holes

• 6 cable crimps, used to make loops for attaching cable to rudder

• 12"x12" fiberglass cloth and tape for patching over the hole or wear area on the boat

• Small washers for sealing holes where the foot rest attaches to the side of the hull

• Disposable latex gloves to keep your hands clean in fiberglass repair

• 8 oz. acetone to clean the damaged fiberglass area

• Cordage for repairing broken backstraps and lashing broken paddle shahs

• Small roll duct tape for general repair of anything

• One tube 5 minute epoxy and hardener

• 6-10' stainless steel wire

• Leatherman-type tool

• 6" candle

• Small can WD-40

• Lighter

• Waterproof matches

• Sewing needles

• Pop rivet gun and rivets

• 8 oz. gelcoat to seal the fiberglass

• Rudder foot track (boat specific)

Thanks to Dave Blacoe and Mercia Sixta