birch bark are for patches. Duct tape is for WARTS! No kidding, duct tape is as effective as burning them off. Who figured that out, I wonder. Seriously, I've got about 10 ft. left on a roll that I stole from my dad in 1969 that is, by far, the best DT I've ever used. I originally took it to 'fix' the rubber handle on my official Boy Scout hatchet that split badly when I threw it at a tree. Hatchets ARE for throwing, right? Anyway, I knew my dad would be pissed, so I took the tape and kept mum. That tape is STILL on the hatchet and has seen service (left out in the rain, gotten half-buried, and, yes, been thrown once or twice) on every camping trip I've been on since! I save what's left on my miracle roll for 'special needs' cases.
How about a duct tape wallet. I saw a display of them at the check-out counter of Ace Hardware recently. I laughed when I saw it and told the checker that a real man would duct tape his own. The checker also laughed and agreed.
Um… for a little more than $150 your buddy could pick up a used beater like an old school WW boat without any holes in it. Not at all hard to find for $200. It sounds like it’d do for your purposes.
As fantastic an invention as duct tape is, I’m not getting why he wouldn’t do that for further paddling.
Good Lord! Sounds like you had bigger potential problems than a hole in your boat. Doesn't anyone scout anymore?
few thoughts about that.....
the river/trip in question is 4 hours from my home. having never done it, how are we going to scout a section of river before we paddle it? maybe next time I can borrom your go-go gadjet helicopter?
it would be a long, long walk along the bank to scout the entire stretch of river.
local paddlers and outfitters and word of mout hare the only 'practical ways' in my experience local outfitters are of little to NO use. it seems that unless you are renting their boats they would rather not see or deal with you. ive inquired about simple shuttles from put in to take out for my personal boats, and was quoted over $100 by multiple places for one kayak and a 30ish mile shuttle. No thank you, I could rent one of the P.O.S. outfitter boats for less than half that. Ive called local outfitters to find out river conditions/possible obstructions and always get a very standrad canned response 'Rivers great, nothing to consider)
I do not know any paddlers local to that area, except a few fellers on here. some of them may have not paddled that stretch this spring and have no idea of ever downed tree...plus its not easy to reach folks you dont know on short notice to ask questions about every part of every river
and finally, WHAT FUN WOULD THAT BE? Half the fun for me on a new (to me) trip is the unknown around the next bend. Maybe theres a colossal movie sytle waterfall and Gov Schwartzenegger is going to swoop me up at the last second before I plummet to certain death. (well, maybe not) lol
Really though, I just live my life and do whatever whenever. No sense in worrying about the future. What happens happens. If things go south (as they have many times) I just rely on my witts and sheer AWESOMENESS to try and overcome whatever hurdles i come to.
Have a great day man (as I wander off humming the tune of the Eagles "Life in the fast lane" LOLOLOL