So...last year was the first year I towed my sled behind a snowmobile. Before last year I always walked to my spots and being a younger guy I thought that getting a snowmobile meant I could get on fish faster! Although this may be true, towing a sled behind a snowmobile does not come with a instruction manual. Because I didn't know much about what I was doing I ended up thrashing my 1 man flip up shanty pretty good with slush and snow. In my un-infinite wisdom I decided to put it in the wind break mode with the flap up to keep the ice out of the shanty. Predictiably (now) this ended up putting two pretty large holes in the bottom of the canvas. These holes were so large I almost tossed the thing, but I thought better of it and repaired the canvas today, I thought I would post in case people are wondering what has worked for people in the past. I have done this method on my pop-up canvas camp trailer and it worked like a charm.
So here's what I was left with at the end of the slush fest 2014 two tears on the front of the sled:
First you have to find some patch material, I have some waterproof canvas that I have laying around from fixing my tent trailer. But any canvas will work especially if the tear is not in a place where water will seep through to your head. The canvas grocery bags from your local store would work well also and are generally pretty cheap. Cut a template of the canvas over the tear by at least 1" past the tear. Make sure you make another piece from the other piece as a template, we will use the second piece later on.
Pin the template over the tear in the location with 1" overlaps. Now stitch the new canvas over the tear with a sewing awl. I use an EZ stitch awl but any sewing awl will do the job. I use 40lb power pro fishing line as the stitch line in the sewing awl, it's lightly waxed and leaves a small hole when closing. Plus who of us doesn't have some braided line lying around? Leave any tear material that is inside the tear there, for example leave all the filaments of canvas in the middle of the tear, this will give more support in later steps. Sew a complete basic stitch around the new canvas and meet at your starting point.
After you have stitched all holes shut, lay the material on a bench with the tear facing up and the tear visible. In this step we are going to reinforce the tear while providing extra support from the back side. Get yourself some contact cement, I'm not sure what the best contact cement for this is, but I have had really good luck with touchdown brand as pictured below, it's usually used in outdoor carpeting and can probably be purchased where you purchase any outdoor carpet. Apply the contact cement to the tear and all filaments within the tear, don't be bashful, put a healthy layer on. Take the second new canvas piece you cut in the first step and sandwich the rubber cement between the two new pieces of canvas. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and do this in a well ventilated area that stuff is potent.
Let the contact cement dry overnight or longer, this is usually done in winter so of course the garage is not the best temperature for quick set up. After the contact cement has cured, take a small pair of scissors and clean up the edges of both sides of the new canvas. Cutting to the cement and not passed the stitches will help reduce the amount of accidental tears from the new tabs.
It's not going to look pretty, but it will be stronger than the original canvas. I haven't had any problems with this method on my tent trailer repairs and I don't expect to have any on the ice sled. I hope this helps people and remember to set your drag!
