Well, slowly.

Seems like the used kayak I bought (Tarpon 140) has a leak in it. I can paddle for a couple of hours no problem but water definitely gets inside.

When I put the kayak onto the truck after being on the lake for an hour, there seemed to be some water draining from the left foot scupper hole. No evidence of water anywhere else on the car.

1) How do I fix this? Can I just use some PVC glue or epoxy and put a layer over the external wall of the scupper hole (in particular, the joint)? Or do I need to take the kayak somewhere to be fixed?

2) Do I really need the scupper holes? If I'm not really taking on water from the sides, can I just plug all the scupper holes? Just unplug them when I take the kayak onto the ocean (waves) but otherwise don't really need them on calm lakes and rivers?

What is it made of? I'm sure it can be patched. Just need to find where the water is coming in.

Get some polyethylene plastic and a propane torch and weld the damaged area. You can also find polyethylene weld kits that have everything you need.

Is the leak inside the scupper hole? If so, that's going to be a tough spot to patch. You can probably find the hole by using soapy water. Wet the area you think the leak is with soapy water. Put some pressure on the kayak so that air will be forced out of the leak. You should see bubbles blowing where the leak is.

The scuppers are there to let water drain out of the cockpit. If you plug them, you'll be sitting in a pool of water.

PVC glue or epoxy won't work on polyethylene. Like others have mention, melting polyethylene into the hole is the way to go. I believe milk jugs are high density polyethylene (HDPE) and maybe you could use a soldering iron for heat.

Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Gino-De...=plastic+welding+kit

https://www.amazon.com/POLYETH...JHJTE1282XZDBMP65QTW

Milk jugs are okay to use as material?
I suspect the leak is inside the scupper hole and probably at what seems like a seam where the top and bottom of the kayak are merged together? I'll try to find the hole with soap.

I'm only getting water in the cockpit through the scupper hole (from under the boat). I'm not getting any water in the boat from over the sides. Is this okay to plug the scuppers? If I'm in a situation (waves) where water is coming over the sides, then unplug the scuppers?

Any chance it came from Dick’s?

Pair sues Dicks Sporting Goods for $450K after kayaks sank on North Santiam River

I was going to link the "impressive" video of the guy sawing the jon boat in half then reattaching it with Flex Seal tape, but I just got home from a business trip of 6 days in Chicago, and I'm really tired (and yeah, I drove both ways, because I'm stubborn)...

FLEX SEAL of course

It is likely made of linear HDPE. If so, and you can locate the crack, it should be easy enough to weld. I find a heat gun to be the easiest way to heat both the boat and the hdpe you are welding with. There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to weld HDPE.

See here:

https://www.wildernesssystems....plastic-repair-guide

-Rob

Do not use milk jugs to repair it.

West marine sells the proper repair stuff, it usually comes in a stick.

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
FLEX SEAL of course

I was surprised this wasn't the first and only required reply.

Your kayak is one piece, not a top and bottom joined together. What looks like a seem is a result of the molding process. Here is a video that shows the process: LINK

Here is a link for DIY kayak repairs: LINK

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Do not use milk jugs to repair it.

West marine sells the proper repair stuff, it usually comes in a stick.

How about a link to that proper stick shape material West Marine sells?

Here is a Link for Wilderness System kayak repair rods, in any color you need no less. I’ve bought things from Austinkayak.com before, great store.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Gino-De...=plastic+welding+kit

https://www.amazon.com/POLYETH...JHJTE1282XZDBMP65QTW

Milk jugs are okay to use as material?
I suspect the leak is inside the scupper hole and probably at what seems like a seam where the top and bottom of the kayak are merged together? I'll try to find the hole with soap.

I'm only getting water in the cockpit through the scupper hole (from under the boat). I'm not getting any water in the boat from over the sides. Is this okay to plug the scuppers? If I'm in a situation (waves) where water is coming over the sides, then unplug the scuppers?

I've never used the type of iron in the first link but I guess it would work fine. I would use a micro propane torch if you have one but anything that will get the plastic up to melting will work. A hot enough heat gun will work. You are not melting the plastic to a liquid state, just softening it up enough to be able to flow in new material and shape it.

As for the scuppers, many people plug them. WS makes plugs for them Link to plugs but most people just use small foam balls or a piece of pool noodle. The original Tarpons were known for being a wet ride from water coming up the 2 scuppers under the seat so people would plug those 2 up but newer Tarpons are usually a dry ride. I'm 250 lbs and my Tarpon 140 is a dry ride with no plugs.


ETA: the link that BurtonRW posted is good info.

You can try filling it with water and look for water. Leak in reverse.

Other than hull punctures, scupper holes are usually where the crack, for a few reasons.

e-6000 of course
https://www.walmart.com/ip/E60...524121&wl13=&veh=sem

( for the tenth time)

Austin Kayak has a repair kit welding rod in the colors for wilderness system kayaks

Thanks guys. Appreciate the info. I think I can fix it with the above info (little concerned that I don't really have the skills and I'll make the condition worse) but I'm still trying to find the leak. Soapy water didn't yield anything yet. I'll keep trying.

If I still can't find anything, I'll try to partition the inside into 3 sections and try to narrow down while in the water. Also, maybe plug the scuppers from below and fill the cup.

I'm off now to see about Rhino Pioneer roof racks.