My father and his brother bought a canoe together way back when... Probably in the late forties or nineteen fifties. Herter's. Fiberglass.

This thing has been patched with fiberglass and epoxy more times than you can imagine. No one cares what it looks like, it just needs to float. Dad paints it whenever he has red paint left from something and the paint may or may not be marine quality.

The canoe is now in its retirement home with my father on a lake in Missouri. It leads a very peaceful life and usually sits along shore and watches the wildlife go by. Occasionally, it goes on a mission to rescue a snagged fishing lure or a piece of trash nearby.

Recently in a storm something dented one of the gunwales. My brother is there with my father right now and they set about to fix the damage.

I think they have straightened the gunwale, but my brother says there are SEVERAL cracks leaking.

Not looking for the best option, just a QUICK one. My brother is there one more week.

Is there a tape that would work? Buy more fiberglass (they have bits, but this is systemic)? Dad is 85 and I'd like to know he's not going to sink next time he paddles out to rescue something in the lake. Clearly some damage is not recent. Might as well tackle those too.

Thanks for any ideas!

since there isn't time to order some marine epoxy...your brother can probably do a good enough fix with some 5-minute epoxy that can be found at any hardware store. Fiberglass cloth should also be available at a hardware store if he needs more. A combo of the two should work. Although, I've never used the 5-minute on my boats, I have it on some trips for emergencies.

Are there some cases where a hairline crack can just be addressed with epoxy? Or do you always use cloth too, no matter how small?

Local hardware could get this in time. Anyone used it?

Pc-11 product

Or this is available 30 minutes away.

Tiny amount, but maybe OK.

Jb weld marine epoxy

Pow-R Patch is a great patch kit

BWPaddler: "Or this is available 30 minutes away.


Tiny amount, but maybe OK.


Jb weld marine epoxy "

Your link goes to a 3-minute trumpline video

Canoearoo: "

BWPaddler: "Or this is available 30 minutes away.



Tiny amount, but maybe OK.



Jb weld marine epoxy "

Your link goes to a 3-minute trumpline video"

Oops! Thanks.

Gorilla tape makes a waterproof tape. The roll I bought is 4" wide and seems perfect for your crack (maybe do both sides). I've used regular clear Gorilla tape to cover boo-boos on paddles and it lasts forever so in your situation I'd just buy the waterproof stuff.

justpaddlin: "Gorilla tape makes a waterproof tape. The roll I bought is 4" wide and seems perfect for your crack (maybe do both sides). I've used regular clear Gorilla tape to cover boo-boos on paddles and it lasts forever so in your situation I'd just buy the waterproof stuff."

Good to know. I do worry the seal wouldn't be so good on that rough surface, but maybe sanding first could help. Otherwise I have other projects where this might come in handy. I will pick some up!

I think I'm late to the party on this fix, but I can confirm gorilla tape is the best thing out there for a lot of jobs.

I fixed my ex gfs kayak that had been dragged on the asphalt or whatever that had a 1/2" split at least 6" long in the bow, wore thru the hull, left a hollow gap, not so smart. We went fishing one time and it totally filled with water. She almost sunk, dang...

Put it on the horses, jammed the crack totally tight with gorilla glue first, then spread the glue on the boat and made a gorilla glue skid plate that I know will never fail, even if someone (not so smart), drags it across the ground again. It might scrape off the tape, which is possible I guess, but water is not getting past the glue jammed in there. If they make a clear waterproof gorilla tape that is pure genius. One thing I can say is I use stuff like this, and gorilla stuff is the best, there is nothing better.

Yes, you are going to have to do prep work on that, looks like a bit of scraping and sanding. Even gorilla tape isn't going to seal it as is.

Good luck! scat

Thanks scat.

That fix sounds like it was a sight to see.

I had Amazon deliver the 4 inch clear waterproof gorilla tape, so my dad will have it on hand.

Now to get a roll for myself!!