Badger's Tip of the Week - Impromptu Kayak/Canoe Repairs

Badger Paddles' Tip of the Week includes information on paddling, camping, portaging, boat transport, and maintenance tips, as well as any other information that we may find to be useful around our sett.

While we hope you don't ever find yourself having to use these specific tips, we do believe the following information for emergency boat repairs is extremely useful to know.... because, well... you just never know!

Minor impromptu fibreglass/kevlar canoe or kayak repairs can be done while on a trip, even if you didn't bring a proper repair kit with you. For a minor crack or leak, repair the area by carefully burning/melting some polypropylene rope and then dripping the liquid into the crack. Let cool.

Polypropylene can fix a small leak when
brought to it's melting point.

For a larger hole or damaged area, seek out and respectfully harvest some Birch bark and Balsam sap from the surrounding forest.  Use a thin piece of Birch bark as a temporary emergency patch held in place with some gum from a Balsam tree. (If you do not have these specific species available to you, research your local flora and fauna to become familiar with substitute materials for those specified in this week's tip.)

Use the "gum" from a Balsam tree as a sticky adhesive.

Use the bark from a Birch tree as a temporary patch.

These are all meant as temporary repairs, of course. We would always recommend repairing your canoe properly as soon as your trip has ended, but in an emergency, these quick fix tips could possibly get you back to civilization with much less worry. And, if you end up getting all that sticky sap on your hands, just grab some rubbing alcohol or on-the-go hand sanitizer from your first aid kit, apply to the sticky area and rub vigorously. The alcohol should dissolve the resin.

Do you have any tips to share? Send us your tips and paddling advice - and if your tip is featured here - we will send you a free Badger Paddles sticker!!! All you have to do is email us your suggestions.

Childhood Paddling Influences - From Mickey to Snoopy to G.I. Joe

There are many influences in our life that help to shape who we become, but none so fondly remembered as our childhood friends - that is to say - our beloved cartoons. And as it turns out, many of our favourite  imaginary personalities happen to paddle too! Check it out and see if your favourite characters are amongst the paddling cartoon elite... starting with the Smurfs.

Canoeing has been a tradition
amongst the Smurfs for centuries.

Somehow the gang at Sesame Street in New York City is able to get out on the water much more then one would expect for an urban crew.

It's part of our heritage - even Oscar looks happy about that!

"Blue Lake and Rocky Shore" sings a crew of
paddlers from Sesame Street. (Hope they brought
lots of cookies for cookie monster!!)

Looks like Bert from Sesame Street
is waiting for his best friend, Ernie,
to bring him a paddle and his PFD!

The newer cartoon personalities, Dora the Explore and Go Diego Go characters , spend lots of time in the outdoors so getting out in a canoe on the river is practically an everyday activity for them.

Dora and Boots like to explore rivers.

Diego gets out on the water a lot.

Hanna Barbara used to take their popular characters onto the water and into a canoe as well.

Hey, Boo Boo! Yogi likes to paddle too!

Hucklebury Hound enjoys a quiet evening in a canoe.

Even Scooby Doo and Shaggy know how to read a river (we hope!).

The Peanuts got in on some paddling action in their day as well.  Snoopy was not only a dog-house-pilot but was an experienced kayaker too. And Charlie Brown was... well... good grief... he was just Charlie Brown!

Snoopy is a kayaker! I wonder if he calls his kayak "The Red Baron".

Charlie Brown never makes anything look easy.

Sometimes there were even some paddlers in your mainstream Sunday Newspaper comic strip or cartoon section, usually showing the "lighter side" of canoeing or camping.

For Better Or For Worse detailed a canoeing miss-hap for the Dad.

Marmaduke tried to bring a canoe into the kiddie pool.

Who could forget our old friend, Ziggy?

Calvin and Hobbes, a very popular comic, pokes fun
at canoeing and it's entertainment value for active young boys.

You also may have fond memories of short children's stories from your very own bookshelves... or perhaps even a short novella or two (when you got a bit older).

Uncle Wiggly should have brought some life jackets!

The Berenstain Bears love a padding adventure!
(Except for Poppa Bear!)

This old illustration quotes:
PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE

Perhaps as you grew older, you read a few novels too. 

Not surprisingly, even some of our favourite video game characters have been known to pick up a paddle now and then.

The Mario Brothers have a long journey ahead on this river.

A kayaking fashionista!

Even Reader Rabbit knows how to
use a canoe to teach reading and math!

Disney has always had a special place in it's heart for paddling. As you can see, many of our favourite Disney characters have been canoeing and kayaking for years. It is also been a long standing Disney Tradition to hold Canoe Races. And, they even have a couple of Stand Up Paddlers (SUP) by way of Lilo and Stitch!

An antique Donald Duck figurine with a canoe.

Even the original Mickey Mouse enjoyed canoeing.

Pocahontas, a child of the forest, paddles
her dug out in this classic Disney film.

Mickey later switches to a double bladed paddle canoeing experience.

This mouse loves canoeing so much he even
gets his friends in on the paddling action!

Lilo and Stitch can SUP

Why it's Winnie the Pooh and Tiger too!
With Piglet and the honey in the stern.

You may even have come across some sort of padding adventure in one of the comic books your parents gave you... 

This is Canada's History Magazine comic
book for kids (from The Beaver).

This one is for the girls... No outdoor girl's Barbie collection was complete without her very own sit-on-top kayak (in lipstick red) with all the accessories to go with it.

Barbie Kayaking Set - it's a sit-on-top!

And this one is for the boys... who were all well aware that G.I. Joe had THE BADDEST boat in town -  appropriately named THE STALKER. Oh yeah!!

G.I. Joe, a real American paddling hero.

G.I. Joe's kayak - "The Stalker"

It would be very naughty to forget our all around childhood favourite guy.  Santa Claus paddles too - everyone knows that, right?!!

And who could forget The Muppets?!! While Kermit, it seems, is more of a rower, he is obviously still a strong supporter of the power of self propulsion. 

"Kermie" and the power of "pig" propulsion.

One of the most famous of watermen ever, Popeye the Sailor Man, always looks comfortable in a boat. A simple man, 'twas old Popeye.

Another rower, Popeye can paddle with the best of 'em.
(Especially when he has eaten his spinach!)

Some prefer the water ---- even if they have the ability to fly,  like Casper the friendly rowing ghost.  Regardless if it's a leaky vessel or not!

Casper is also a fan of the power of self-propulsion.

Finally.... our gallery of the paddling cartoon elite would just NOT be complete without the most famous (or is that infamous) illustrated family of all time... as The Simpsons never back down from an adventure... never... EVER.

Another Simpson's family vacation comes off without a hitch!

So, who knew this many illustrated characters have picked up a paddle? No doubt this proves how much paddling is part of our culture and is a good example of art imitating life... or maybe... it's the other way around?!! Who cares... obviously it's the thing to do, whether you are a real live person or just "drawn this way".






Image sources include the following: www.dallasvintagetoys.com, ebay.com, www.thedearsurprise.com, http://1.bp.blogspot.com, www.mushroomvillage.com, http://stamp-search.com/, clipartheaven.com, Photobucket Album-Mellotone, www.games2rule.com, www.timelesstrinkets.com, amazon.com, www.wallpaperist.com, shoptoit.ca, http://sabiansymbols.typepad.com, comics101.com, toplessrobot.com, www.littlesmarties.com, http://tc.education.pitt.edu, www.teddys.com.au, www.fborbw.com, muppet.wikia.com, www.cutandpaste.com, www.comicartfans.com, canadianmags.blogspot.com, http://vivalaresolucion.com, www.collectpeanuts.com, seanbyron.com, www,gasolinealleyantiques.com, www.scoobydoogamesland.com, www.clampettstudio.com (if we missed you as a source, let us know via email please!)

Canoe, Kayak, Skiff & Boat Repairs in Huntsville, Ontario

Looking for Canoe or Kayak repair help?  Have an issue with your laminate or gelcoat?  Want to protect your canoe with new Kevlar skid plates... how about damaged gunwales or seats?  Or maybe you have an aluminum boat that needs some welding... then talk to John Gall.


For almost 2 decades, John (of Johnny's Boat Repairs in Huntsville Ontario), has been working intimately with fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon fiber, Royalex and aluminum, even specializing in thin laminate construction and repair.  From canoes to kayaks, to rowing shells, sailboats and skiffs; you can trust John to fix it!


Located in part of Ontario's cottage country, Johnny's Canoe & Kayak Repair Centre is the one stop boat repair place for when you are at the lake, the cottage or touring beautiful Muskoka.  You can't get any more convenient then that!

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John is also a canoe builder so he understands the makings of watercraft intimately.  He also understands that some of us don't have the time to do our best at maintenance.  That is why John offers the convenient service of "Annual Maintenance" and "Fleet Maintenance".

We all know properly maintained gear lasts the longest and if you want the job done right - sometimes it pays to invest in a professional.  And, it always pays to head off any slight damage with a repair before it gets serious.


After knowing John for many years now, we can vouch for his quality of work and experience.  His friendly personal service and special expertise will have you recommending him to your friends too!

For more information call

705-783-7141

or visit www.johnnysboatshop.com