How To Seal Kayak Bulkhead?

To fix a leaky kayak, follow these steps:

1. Clean the area with soap and water and let it dry.

2. Leave the old sealant in place unless it is pulling away from the boat or bulkhead.

3. Lay down a thin bead of sealant and smooth it with a gloved finger.

4. Inspect the area to ensure it is air-tight.

5. If the bulkhead is separated or unglued on your Thermoformed ABS kayak, clean, clean, clean the surfaces to be glued.

6. Roughen up the hull where the bulkhead has detached using 60-80 grit sandpaper. Jam the tip of the tube or glue.

7. Remove the old seal and lay down the new seal one side at a time, using the old seal on the backside of the panel as a stabilizer.

8. Reseal the bulkhead by cleaning the area with soap and water and leaving it in place unless it is pulling away from the boat.

9. Attach the rear hatch’s neoprene cover tightly and forcefully press down on it.

10. If there is a leak in the bulkhead where it meets the boat, spray out the kayak with a hose and remove all sand and grit. Peel off any loose bulkheads.

11. Use PU sealant to reseal the bulkheads by cleaning the area with acetone and allowing it to air dry. Flame treat the area using a blue flame.

In summary, repairing a leaky kayak requires proper inspection, preparation, repair, and sealing of the foam bulkhead.