Boat Repairs in the Field?

I asked TJ a question about the repairs he made to his boat after an accident he had on the way to the river, but this got me thinking, does anyone besides Larry carry epoxy and extra wood along with them to make in the field repairs? I know that obviously most repairs are best made in the shop at home, but what happens if you poke a hole in your boat on a multi day trip like the Rogue or Middle Fork? If you carry repair materials, what do you carry and why? Even better, if you've had to make an on the river repair tell us your story.

Thanks,

Mike

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Permalink Reply by TJ Weiss on March 4, 2009 at 5:14pm
I grew up on a farm and my father always told me to carry duct tape and baling wire.
His theory was that if it can't be fixed with duct tape and/or baling wire - it just can't be fixed!
I think I'll add 2 part epoxy to the list...
;o)
Permalink Reply by Dave Z on March 4, 2009 at 5:57pm
Some serious dory runners in the Grand Canyon carry alot of repair tools- From solar cells to inverters to power drills, charge batteries, plywood, kevalr, a quart of epoxy, hardware, etc.

I have a 50cal ammo box with screws, nails, multi tool, 2 part epoxy, duct tape, a few small pieces of plywood., some scraps of glass in a baggie. and a hammer head. yes, just the head. you can make a handle on the river with a stick, or use it as is.

Spare oarlock is a must, extra drain plug and a lighter.

Never needed any of it, but Its always there.
Permalink Reply by Jesse Ronnow on March 5, 2009 at 10:32pm
Are you sure your name isn't MacGyver? I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin.

:)
Jesse
Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on March 4, 2009 at 6:19pm
Tj ,

I hear ya on the duct tape, its in all my boats at all times.

Dave,

That's a pretty good assortment of stuff. Larry who's a grand canyon dory boatman said in my other thread he's shore fixed his boat before so I look forward to hearing his story.

My fix was to buy an aluminum boat:D

But, I am starting to miss the wood boat since joining this site and will be using it way more when the weather gets nicer.

Mike
Permalink Reply by lhedrick on March 6, 2009 at 7:05am
Mike,

While on the river I have not had to make repairs to my boat. I have been lucky so far. But I have been on 3 trips where others have had to repair damage. I won't repeat the list of items again since others on this have thread have mostly covered everything. It all comes down to having what you need to make the hull water tight so you can get it down river. I always have tools and materials for myself and others should they need them.

Anyone here who builds a boat will be able to put together a repair kit. Just ask you self this question. What do I need to have in materials and tools to fix a hole the size of a softball if I hit a rock? Admit to yourself that anyone no matter how good a boatman can hit a rock.

For those who are not builders seek out those who are and ask them to help you put together a basic repair kit. It will fit in ammo can and it will make the difference between get down river easily or having to leave a boat behind which could take another few days to repair.

Just think about the hassle of having a boat 125 miles down the Colorado river with another 100 miles to go and you don't have what you need to fix a hole or a broken gunwale. Your boat may get a helicopter ride. Insanely expensive no matter who is paying. Another point, if you plan for 2 weeks, pack food, arrange shuttles, drive 250 miles to a put in your launch could be denied because you don't have reasonable repair kit. Repair kits are a requirement.

It won't always be the same. If I am fishing the Green River at most I have a 5 mile walk back to the put in or take out and someone will always float by.

L
Permalink Reply by David Jensen on March 4, 2009 at 9:18pm
I had a bad hole on the Owyhee, Three Forks to Rome section, about 30 years ago. We turned the boat over on top of a fire to dry the plywood . The hole, and egg shell fracture, was at the chine. We duct taped it up, both inside and out, and replaced daily. I finished the trip. On Middle Fork trips with wood boats, there has always been a patch kit which had plywood, a saw, screws, and glue. Fortunately on these Middle Fork trips I have been on, we never needed to use the kit. Other problems ( an ear ripped off, a raft stuck in rocks with a paraplegic oarsman) have been more an issue. Stuff happens!
Permalink Reply by Jim Rubino on March 5, 2009 at 4:30am
Howdy folks, I've made 5 private dory trips down the grand and been on several other dory trips down the Yampa, Green, Salmon, upper Colorado, Platte, Snake and others and used to take wood, screws, saws, epoxy etc., And that's a great idea for a catastrophic wreck. However, most river repairs I've done were with marine epoxy sticks. You just pinch off a few inches and knead it together, sort of putty it into the damaged area and it's ready to go back into the water in 30 minutes. When I get home then, I'll take a few minutes and grind out most of the putty, make sure the wood's dry, then implement a more professional job with fiberglass, epoxy and wood flour or whatever it takes. It keeps your repair kit down to a few sticks, and always bring duct tape for whatever.
Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on March 6, 2009 at 6:36am
David,

We might run that section of the Owyhee this year water permitting, since it looks like we bombed on getting middle fork permits yet again.

Jim,
Where are you getting the stick epoxy? Is this like the stuff they use to repair leaks in gas tanks? I would have never thought of this before seems like a really good idea.

Mike
Permalink Reply by Jim Rubino on March 8, 2009 at 6:23am
Mike,

I buy those epoxy sticks thru West Marine. You can google em and get their online catalogue or phone number. Looks like an early spring for us here in Wyoming. Happy boating.

Jim
Permalink Reply by Den on March 19, 2009 at 12:00pm
what size oars do you use on your Briggs dory?

Den
Permalink Reply by Jim Rubino on March 20, 2009 at 4:28am
10 footers. I've seen a commercials in the Grand Canyon with 10.5. I use smoker drifters.

Jim
Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on March 6, 2009 at 7:16am
Larry,

I think what I was looking for was just a general idea of what everybody carries in there boat for repairs and hoping to get some good tips or tricks like what Jim said below about the stick epoxy, but all info is appreciated.
Good stuff here gentlemen, thanks!

Mike

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