: Hello,

: I just bought a kevlar CD kayak and discovered that it has two small areas
: that have been softened due to transportation on a car rack. These are
: pretty much where the hull would rest on the rack, on the hull sides in
: the middle/front of the cockpit area.

: Question is, would you use some E-glass or would you go for Carbon or
: something else to stiffen this area? The actual damage is contained in a
: small 5" diameter oval so a patch slightly bigger than that would
: work. I thought of using the opportunity and add a stripe on each side and
: may be even across the entire hull - perhaps 15" wide going from seam
: to seam on the inside of the hull.

: Would one layer of cloth be enough?

: Also, what epoxy would you use for this?

: Lastly, would you end the patch below, at or above the seam? If I cover the
: hull to deck seam that would make it stronger I suppose but not sure if
: all this is needed and I just would want to have a smaller patch covering
: the affected areas and not much more...

: Thanks!

First I'd check with Current Designs and see if it's Kevlar all the way thru and if not on which side it's on. You can not sand Kevlar it turns to fuzz that resists sanding. Most of the time there's a layer of glass added one one side or the other and that's the side you'll want to patch. You have to abrade the surface for the patch to stick btw. Personally if I had a choice I'd do the patching on the inside where it wouldn't show.

You'll need that info first, then come back and ask more

Bill H.