So I managed to crack my burn this weekend and was lookin for some advice.

I have about a 3" crack in the bottom of the boat and was hoping I would be able to weld it up.

Are you able to weld the burns?

anybody have a method that has worked well for them?

just some general tips on how not to melt my boat into a puddle?

I was thinking a soddering iron with a chunk of plastic from the cockpit ring.

http://liquidlogickayaks.com/liquidTV/welding.swf

You can weld pyranhas.

This video is from the liquid logic site, but it's the same technique. My recommendation is to get a heat gun that has a fine point nozzle just like the one on the video. My heat gun's fine point tip is still pretty wide and heats up too much of the surface area on the hull and gets the whole area pretty gooey. With that said, speed is key other wise you can melt a big hole right in the hull.

Hope it helps.

Hey Peelie, just read Leif's email. Ive always used the liquid logic method, works great. I use a heat gun and make sure you take it slow. Don't rush. My most recent welds on the Nomad will outlast the boat. Go buy yourself a good scraper too. If I lived on that side I'd walk you through it. Valuable skill fo sho.

Jed, met you camping a couple of weeks ago on the east side. If I see you out you're welcome to take my nomad for a spin.

I've heard that a plastic welder works really well.
I've had good success with a heat gun. Like others said, take your time and don't get the plastic too hot. It shouldn't starts smoking or discolor. Surprisingly, it's really not that difficult. Before your first weld practice on some spare plastic. I usually fill in the crack from the outside and then weld a big piece on the inside.
I've got red and green pyrahna plastic if you need a bit. For a long time I used Wavesport plastic on a Pyranha but recently discovered that matching plastics works way better.

Hey All thanks for all the good info.

That's what my boat said!

Seriously: a crucial step that will help you yeild superior results is to put your boat in an enclosed space and heat the whole thing up to 75 or 80 degrees before you weld it. In this way you will reduce the difference of temperture between the focused area you are heating up and the surrounding area. The plastic will yeild more readily to your heat gun or other tool and will tend to smoke/ blacken less. Try it.

I'm pretty sure you can't weld jackson boats.

Linear can be welded, Cross-link can not.
I think they offered both in 2010....not sure though.
Seriously though, I'd call JK....they'll most likely help you out.

Edited by brig - 10 May 2012 at 3:29pm