Raft Repair in Moab
A slow leak found the night before a Cataract launch. A frame weld that let go on the drive down. Rafts take a beating on these rivers, and Moab is a well equipped river town, so most of it can be sorted locally if you know what you are asking for. Drysuits, frames and the rest of your kit too.
Raft patching, valve work and frame welding are all available in and around Moab through outfitters and gear shops, along with drysuit gasket replacement. Sort repairs before your launch date rather than after, because permit dates do not move and shops get busy in season.
Raft Problems and What They Involve
| Problem | What is involved |
|---|---|
| Slow air leak | Usually a valve or a seam rather than a puncture. Soapy water brushed over the tube finds it. Valve issues are often a quick fix; seam work is a proper repair. |
| Puncture or tear | Patchable, but the glue system has to match the fabric. PVC and Hypalon need different adhesives, and using the wrong one wastes the patch, the material and the time. |
| Failed valve | Often the culprit behind a boat that will not hold pressure overnight. Valve wrenches and spare parts are worth owning if you run your own raft. |
| Frame damage | Bent or cracked tubing, failed welds. Aluminium welding is a specialist job and not something to improvise before a big-water trip. |
| Floor and thwart wear | Drop-stitch floors and thwart attachment points take load and abrasion. Worth inspecting before a multi-day trip, when a failure means rowing a compromised boat for days. |
PVC and Hypalon are not interchangeable and neither are their glues. If you do not know which your boat is, ask the manufacturer or a shop before buying a repair kit. Most failed field patches on these rivers come down to the wrong adhesive or poor surface preparation.
Other River Gear
| Item | What is involved |
|---|---|
| Drysuit gaskets | Latex gaskets perish and split, usually at the worst moment. Replacement is routine work for a shop that does it regularly. |
| Drysuit zips | Expensive and worth professional attention. Keep them waxed and they last considerably longer. |
| Pumps | Simple to fix and easy to forget. Carry a spare hose and gasket, because a dead pump on the beach stops the trip before it starts. |
| Oars and paddles | Blades and shafts crack. Carry a spare on remote multi-day sections rather than planning to repair one. |
| PFDs | Not repaired. Damaged webbing, failed buckles or compressed flotation means replacement. |
PFDs are the one item where a field repair is not acceptable. Damaged webbing, a failed buckle or compressed flotation means replacement. Coast Guard approval depends on the jacket being intact, and flotation is not something to gamble on.
Where to Get It Fixed
Moab supports a substantial commercial river industry, which means the skills and materials exist here even when there is no shop with "raft repair" on the sign. Where to ask:
- Local outfitters. They maintain their own fleets and often help private boaters, particularly outside peak season. Usually the best first call for raft and frame work.
- Gear and rental shops in town. Rental operations patch boats constantly and stock the right adhesives for the fabrics they run.
- Welding shops for frame work. Aluminium is the question to ask about specifically.
- Manufacturer service for drysuits and technical gear, if you have time to ship.
Shops open, close and change hands, and a stale list sends people to a locked door. Ask at any river outfitter in town and you will be pointed at whoever is currently doing the work. That answer stays current in a way a webpage does not.
Field Repairs
Most raft repairs happen on a beach rather than a workbench. What holds true:
- Surfaces must be clean and dry. Most failed field patches failed because of preparation, not glue.
- Match the adhesive to the fabric. Carry the right one for your boat, not a generic tube.
- Heat matters. Adhesives cure differently in desert heat than the instructions assume. Shade the repair.
- Give it time. A patch rushed back onto the water usually comes off.
- Duct tape is a bridge, not a fix. It gets you to the take-out, then the real repair happens.
- Deflate the chamber before patching. Working a patch onto a pressurised tube is how you get a bond that lifts at the edges.
What to Carry
- Patch material and the correct adhesive for your boat fabric.
- Valve wrench and spare valve parts.
- A pump you can actually use, plus a repair for the pump.
- Spare oar or paddle. On remote multi-day sections this is not optional.
- Straps, cord and a multi-tool. Most frame problems become manageable with enough strapping.
- Sandpaper or abrasive pad, and a solvent for surface prep.
- Duct tape, for the bridge repairs.
Permit dates do not move. Inflate a week out and leave it overnight to find slow leaks. Inspect frames, straps, floors and gaskets while there is still time to get work done. Shops are busiest exactly when everyone else is launching too. See the permits guide for how little flexibility most of these dates carry.
Raft Repair FAQ
Can I get a raft repaired in Moab?
Yes. Local outfitters and rental shops patch boats routinely and stock the right adhesives. Ask at any river outfitter in town and you will be pointed at whoever is currently doing the work.
How do I find a slow leak in a raft?
Inflate fully and brush soapy water over seams and valves. Bubbles show the leak. Valves are the most common culprit and often the easiest fix.
What glue do I need for a raft patch?
It depends on the fabric. PVC and Hypalon need different adhesives and they are not interchangeable. If you do not know which your boat is, ask before buying a kit.
Can a raft frame be welded in Moab?
Aluminium welding is a specialist job. Ask outfitters or welding shops in town, and allow time rather than leaving it to the day before a launch.
Can drysuit gaskets be replaced locally?
Gasket replacement is routine work for shops that handle river gear. Allow time, particularly in season.
Should I repair a damaged life jacket?
No. Replace it. Coast Guard approval depends on the jacket being intact.
What repair kit should I carry on the river?
Patch material and the correct adhesive for your fabric, valve tools, a working pump, a spare oar or paddle on remote sections, and plenty of strapping.
Last reviewed: July 30, 2026. Shops and services change. Ask locally for whoever is currently doing the work, and if something here is wrong, tell us.