Patching holes and tears, glues, tapes and patches compared, plus care and storage.
29 terms in this topic
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.
Read the guide: Repairing a packraft: patching holes and tears
Three times decide whether a bond is good: how long the glue needs to dry, how long the mix stays workable and when the bond can take load.
Abrasion happens when the boat drags over stones or rubs against a backpack or bike. It weakens the coating before a hole appears.
Aquaseal UV cures within seconds under UV light. That's ideal for emergency repairs, but the bond is less durable than regular Aquaseal.
Liquid polyurethane seals small holes, scratches and seams. It stays flexible but takes many hours to cure.
The ClearPatch is a transparent self-adhesive patch for temporary, quick repairs on inflatable products.
A triangular or L-shaped tear often comes from sharp rocks or branches. The flap is folded back, backed and then covered.
For permanent repairs you glue on a patch of the original material with two-component PU glue.
Duct tape is the classic emergency fix: it holds surprisingly well but leaves stubborn residue.
Helaplast is a PU contact cement mixed with a hardener. It is used to permanently glue on patches, loops and fin mounts.
No patch sticks to dirt, grease or moisture. Cleaning and drying is the most important step of every repair.
In contact bonding, the glue dries on both surfaces and is then reactivated with heat. Only then do the parts stick.
Store your packraft clean, dry, loosely rolled, with the valves open and out of direct sunlight.
Before you patch, you have to find the leak. Soapy water shows the spot most reliably with bubbles.
The LifePatch is a self-adhesive fabric patch from Anfibio for quick repairs on the go, according to Anfibio even in the rain or under water.
Lösit is an MEK-based solvent. It is used to clean bonding surfaces and to thin Helaplast.
A pinhole is a tiny hole, for example from a thorn. You fix it with a drop of liquid PU or a small patch.
If a seam leaks, a thin line of liquid PU along the leaking spot usually helps.
Patch 'n Go is a transparent special tape that sticks so well to urethane that a field repair can become a permanent fix.
A packraft needs little care: rinse it after the trip, dry it and store it in the dark. Sand belongs neither in the valve nor in zippers.
Airtight zippers on packrafts and dry suits need a little care: keep them clean, dry them and grease the outside.
A small repair kit saves the trip if the packraft gets a hole. It belongs in every boat.
Small tears can be closed on the go with self-adhesive patches. Large tears are backed from inside and covered on the outside.
Boats packed away damp start to smell and can go mouldy. That does little harm to the fabric, but a lot to zippers.
Tenacious Tape is a self-adhesive repair tape from Gear Aid. It holds very well on uncoated nylon, less so on the smooth TPU outer side.
Tyvek tape is a construction tape that many packrafters stick on the outside of the tube as a quick field repair.
If a boat loses air at the valve, it's usually due to sand, a missing or cracked O-ring or worn threads.
Some vinyl tapes even stick to wet surfaces. Luc Mehl includes them in his minimal repair kit.
Larger repairs, new zippers or glued-on fittings can also be left to a workshop.
