How to Fix a Hole in a Canoe

Dangerous rapids and whitewater aren't the only obstacles for a canoe. Many canoes get damaged on their way to the water, usually by falling off a car top. Small holes and leaky seams can easily be fixed by using a variety of methods that work equally well on wood, plastic or aluminum canoes.

Things You'll Need

  • Pine Pitch
  • Duct Tape
  • Fiberglass Resin And Hardener
  • Scissors
  • Sharp Knife
  • Paper Cup
  • Fiberglass Cloth
  • Wood Strips
  • Small Stick
  • 100-, 220- and 400-grit sandpaper
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Instructions

  1. Field repairs

    • 1

      Locate the hole. If it isn't obvious, dry off the canoe bottom, put water in the canoe and watch to see where the water escapes.

    • 2

      Small holes can be temporarily patched with duct tape. For the best adhesion, make sure the repair area and the tape are warm.

    • 3

      For a leaky seam, try a favorite old-timer's trick: Using a small stick, apply pine pitch along the leak. Pine pitch, the sticky gum found on pine trees, is extremely durable and waterproof.

    Permanent repairs

    • 4

      Dry the canoe thoroughly.

    • 5

      Remove any dents around the damaged area if possible. Dents in plastic or aluminum canoes are sometimes pushed out from the inside.

    • 6

      Using a pair of scissors, cut a piece of fiberglass cloth slightly larger than the repair area.

    • 7

      Mix fiberglass resin and hardener in a paper cup according to the manufacturer's directions. Stir well with a wood strip such as an ice-pop stick.

    • 8

      Coat the repair area with the resin mixture. Place the fiberglass cloth over the repair area. Saturate the cloth with the mixture. Smooth the cloth with a wood strip to remove any air bubbles caught underneath it.

    • 9

      Watch for the resin mixture to become firm. Be prepared to trim any excess cloth or mixture with a sharp knife before the repair is fully hardened.

    • 10

      Smooth the repair with sandpaper once the mixture has hardened completely. Start with 100-grit paper to remove the roughest sections, then use 220-grit and finally finish with 400-grit.