Repairing a packraft: patching holes and tears

Also: patching a packraft, repairing a hole, repairing a tear

Step by step: how to find and patch a hole or tear in your packraft, on the go with self-adhesive patches and permanently at home with two-component glue.

Nothing is indestructible, not even a packraft. The good news: packrafts are made of tear-resistant, coated nylon, holes are rare, and according to Anfibio a repair is less difficult than you might think at first. Here we show the methods recommended by manufacturers and experienced packrafters.

First check: is it really a hole?

If the boat goes soft in the water, it's usually not a leak but the temperature effect: the air cools in cold water and contracts. Simply top up. If it keeps losing air after that, go looking for the leak.

On the go: a quick repair in six steps

Find the leak: inflate the boat firmly, listen and feel. Then spray on very soapy water: where bubbles rise, that's the hole. Mark the spot.
Clean and dry: let the air out, wipe the spot grease-free with alcohol and let it dry completely. According to Alpacka, drying is the most important step.
Cut the patch: round or with rounded corners, at least 2.5 cm larger than the damage in every direction.
Apply: peel off the backing, put the patch on and press firmly from the centre outwards for 30 seconds so no air stays trapped.
Activate: activate tapes like Patch 'n Go by rubbing hard. In the cold, warm the patch on your body first.
Small holes: alternatively, apply a thin drop of liquid PU and let it cure overnight.

According to Anfibio, self-adhesive patches like the Anfibio LifePatch stick even in the rain or under water if necessary. According to the Packrafting Store, Patch 'n Go can be a permanent fix. For tiny holes a drop of liquid PU (Aquasure, Aquaseal, Seam Grip, Stormsure) is enough, though it needs about 12 hours to cure. Aquaseal UV cures in the sun within seconds. Duct tape is the last resort; it leaves stubborn residue.

Tip: back large tears from inside and cover them outside. According to Anfibio, floor damage is best repaired from inside on the go and additionally secured outside.

Large tear: back from inside, cover outside

1Patch outside
2Backing inside

At home: permanent repair with Helaplast

For a permanent repair you glue on a patch of original material with two-component PU glue. That's how the Anfibio blog describes it for loops, and it works the same way for patches:

Prepare: a dry, well-ventilated room at 15 to 25 °C. Clean the bonding surfaces on boat and patch with spirit, mark the outline with a waterproof pen.
Mix and apply the glue: mix Helaplast with hardener in a glass or metal cup. Brush thinly onto both surfaces, let it flash off for about 30 minutes, then apply a second coat and let it flash off for 5 to 10 minutes.
Reactivate and join: put the patch on and align it, heat thoroughly with a hair dryer and press firmly from the centre outwards.
Cure: the bond then already holds at about 80 %. After 36 hours it's fully cured and the boat is ready to go again.

On the mixing ratio: according to the Packrafting Store, the manufacturer recommends 100:5 (equivalent to 20:1); the shop advises using a bit less hardener so the bond doesn't become brittle. The shop also reports good experiences with wet bonding according to the manufacturer's instructions. So always read the instructions for your glue too.

Warning: glue and solvents are hazardous substances: only work with good ventilation, avoid skin contact, no open flames. No UV protectant spray on the boat, or nothing will stick later.

Which damage, which repair?

Pinhole: a drop of liquid PU or a small self-adhesive patch.
Tear up to about 7.5 cm: self-adhesive patch, at least 2.5 cm overlap, round corners.
Long tear: back from inside, cover outside, repair permanently at home with a TPU patch and Helaplast.
Leaking seam: thin layer of liquid PU along the seam.
Leaking valve: clean it, check the O-ring, replace the valve if necessary.
Leaking zipper: clean, close, grease; in case of hydrolysis, contact the manufacturer.

What belongs in the repair kit

For normal trips, self-adhesive patches, a piece of strong tape, a small tube of liquid PU and alcohol swabs are enough. On long wilderness trips add a spare valve, needle and thread, a multitool and more material. The details are in the entry Repair kit.

Matching gear

Advertising: This page contains affiliate links (marked with *). If you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Anfibio LifePatch* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)Patch 'n Go* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)Aquasure + FD* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)Helaplast + hardener* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)Repair patches* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)Anfibio ClearPatch* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)

Sources and further reading

Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.