How to Repair a Dry Storage Seal in a Kayak

The dry storage in a kayak is protected in several locations, and each of these locations may produce a leak: A bulkhead serves as the primary seal between the kayak's cockpit and the storage; to protect the kayak from the outside, a hatch cover seals the hatch opening; and in the stern of the kayak, silicone forms seals around skeg- or rudder-control lines as they pass through the bulkhead. Each of these locations must be sealed to avoid leaks.

Things You'll Need

  • Water
  • Marine silicone sealant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the storage area with water and watch for leaks. Once you determine where the leak is, mark it. Drain and dry the kayak before moving on.

    • 2

      Repair a leak in the bulkhead by running a bead of marine silicone sealant on the leak. If it's a big leak, pry the foam bulkhead up to squirt sealant under the foam. On the inside of the storage compartment, run a full bead of silicone around the bulkhead.

    • 3

      Repair a leaky hatch cover rim by resealing it. Usually, the rims are bolted to the kayak. Just remove the bolts, clean the old sealant off and run a new bead of silicone sealant on the rim. Then bolt it back to the kayak.

    • 4

      Fix a leaky hatch cover by ordering a new cover from the manufacturer. A ripped, warped or torn rubber cover is impossible to permanently fix, so it requires a replacement.

    • 5

      Stop leaking around cables by running a bead of silicone sealant around the cables on both sides of the bulkhead.