I own a Kialoa Foti Hybrid steering blade and one of the corner blades got damaged, what would be the best type of materials to use and how do I go upon repairing it? In more detail, a corner piece of about 2"w x 4"l got bent and its flopping back and forth now.
Submitted by azpaddler on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 9:43am
azpaddler, if you have no experience in working with composite materials, take it to a person who has. But be prepared to pay up to half the cost of a new paddle for a repair of that nature, unless you can find a friend of a friend or maybe offer to do some chore in return.
Cheers Rambo
#1 Tue, 06/05/2007 - 12:42pm
The blades are composite probable carbon fiber and epoxy/hardener. The core I do not know.
These would be the materials you could use.
As Rambo points out - it is time consuming and the outcome is uncertain if you haven't done this type of work.
My guess would be that you would have to grind the whole area right and left to the crack, 3/4 inch ? down to the core and then layup the carbon fiber again; first one side, when finished the other.
after that you have to finish the surface: sanding, sanding, sanding, down to 1200 grit;
then you spray paint with a lot of sanding between layers.
That's why the repair is so expensive.
Material cost ~ US $ 40 -50, maybe even more in case you want to have some electric tools.
Hours, including reading up, decision making,: ? 20 hours.
I hope you will get other comments, maybe someone knows a good solution. It's a lot of fun to work with composite materials.
Buying a new steering blade, maybe used, would be more efficient.
#2 Sat, 06/09/2007 - 7:45pm