How to Patch an Aluminum Canoe

If well maintained, canoes can last for years.

Canoes are one way to easily enjoy outdoor waterways. Aluminum canoes are lightweight and easy to maneuver. However, leaky canoes can lead to unwanted troubles on an outing. Fortunately, fixing a leak is a lot easier than you might expect.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper
• Marker
• Cold weld product
• Mixing bowl
• 1/2-inch putty knife

Instructions

1. Fill the canoe with water while looking for areas where water leaks out of the canoe. Then mark the leaks with the marker. Next, empty water out of the canoe and leave it to dry.

2. Sand the area around each leak on the inside of the canoe. Then wash the area around the leak to clean it from dirt and debris. After this, allow the area to dry.

3. Mix equal amounts of both parts of the cold weld mix in a mixing bowl, stirring it with a putty knife until mixed thoroughly. A cold weld kit comes in two tubes; one tube has a steel mixture in it and the other tube has a hardening mix in it. After these two are combined, they are in a paste form, but after a short time, they harden into a metallic weld.

4. 

   A leak free canoe can give you an enjoyable day on the water.

   Apply cold weld with a putty knife over the leak, smoothing it out for full coverage. Then allow it to cure for a full day for solid coverage.

References

• Northwest Canoe
• Cabela's Aluminum Boat Patch