Dent removal - plastic ski

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10 years 11 months ago #19529 by MiniMoke
Hi,

New to SurfSki.info (and surfskiing). I'm based in Fremantle, Australia.

I have a Finn Afinnity that's developed a dent in the hull. It was caused by too tight a strap on a roof rack.

Hoping someone would know of a simple procedure to remove the dent?


Cheers,

Dave

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10 years 11 months ago #19530 by wags
Replied by wags on topic Dent removal - plastic ski
I don't believe there's an easy solution to that. Try calling Finn Kayaks direct in O'Connor just around the corner. They may be able to suggest a resolution.
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10 years 11 months ago #19531 by Dicko
Replied by Dicko on topic Dent removal - plastic ski
Try a heat gun over the area and then blow in the drain hole. If you can access the dent through the inspection port just push it out. If you don't have a heat gun, some black plastic over the dent and leave it in the sun, then push or blow it out. I have used a compressor to pump a bit more air in....just don't go overboard.
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10 years 11 months ago #19532 by richardh
Replied by richardh on topic Dent removal - plastic ski
Hi Dave.

Using boiling water over the area also works well.
Im my experience, as Dicko mentioned, being able to keep some pressure in the hull to 'blow' the dent out makes things easier.
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10 years 11 months ago #19534 by Jmuzz
Replied by Jmuzz on topic Dent removal - plastic ski
Hot water inside the ski may provide both heat and pressure to push it outwards?
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10 years 10 months ago #19539 by AR_convert
I had one that did this. I just hung the ski from the handles on hot day in the sun and the hull took its shape back.

You cant store any plastic ski or leave it in the sun upside down. If it rests on the bow and stern (due to the rockered shape) the hull will ripple as the plastic warms up and the boat sags.

I now store plastic craft on the side and haven't had this issue since.

Always looking for the next boat :)
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10 years 10 months ago - 10 years 10 months ago #19543 by Kocho
Replied by Kocho on topic Dent removal - plastic ski
Most of my plastic kayaks have had such dents develop at one point or another. You should use saddles like Yakima Mako to carry them and not tighten them much (these saddles have a rubber traction strip that makes it really unnecessary to strap hard to keep the boat in place). Still, in hot weather air just sitting there a long time the boat will dent even if not strapped. Normal. On my kayaks some careful heat gun use and some weight well distributed inside fixed them as new. Some bumps just disappeared on their own in the sun when the kayak is just left on its own. Without access to the inside to push the dent out, you might have more difficult time fixing yours.

For storage, I don't just drop the ski on a skinny wall rack or on the ground - it will dent or change rocker. Use straps to hang it from the ceiling with even weight distribution and rotate it from time to time to change the way it weights itself against the straps. This works for me in a 4-season location out of the sun, might not be good enough in a hotter place...
Last edit: 10 years 10 months ago by Kocho.
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