3 Tips for Examining the Damage on Your Cedar Strip Kayak

If you have a cedar strip kayak or want to buy one secondhand, it is important to know how to properly examine the potential existing damage in order to decide whether the repair or the purchase are worth it.

As with any other products you can find both a well built cedar strip kayak as well as not so well-built kayaks and especially if you are on a budget, you must make sure that you will not be required to make expensive repairs before throwing your kayak in the water.

First, you should understand the difference between cosmetic and structural damage. A simple scratch or series of scrapes on the outer surface of a cedar strip kayak can be just that: a scratch, that is a non-structural blemish. If it is superficial, it will not impair the kayak`s function, so you should not worry about it.

If you notice some localized sign of wear and tear that looks a bit deeper, you can easily test the resistance of the area by pressing it with your palms and compare it with the resistance you feel by pressing other similar intact areas. In some cases, this type of damage maybe a bit more than aesthetic, so pay attention to it.

On the other hand, if a cedar strip kayak has localized and extensive slits and cuts, or even holes – most likely caused by collisions with rocks – it will require repairs before you will be allowed to use it, so be cautious and make sure that you can handle it.