Boat Repair Tape: 8 Ways Boaters Use Rescue Tape

Short answer

Rescue Tape is a self fusing silicone tape that bonds to itself without adhesive, so boaters use it as a boat repair tape for leaking hoses, exhaust fittings, wiring, and other problems that show up underway. Boat repair never waits for a convenient time. A hose lets go miles from the dock. A fitting starts to weep. A connection gets soaked. Because the tape fuses to itself, it keeps working on wet, oily, and dirty surfaces where regular tape gives up. Boating magazines have recommended it for more than 20 years, and BoatU.S. Magazine called it “the big daddy of self-fusing silicone tapes.”

How to wrap silicone repair tape

Stretch the tape as you wrap, overlap each turn by about half, and extend a few inches past each side of the problem area. More layers handle more pressure. Peel the backing as you go and wrap tightly. Most complaints about silicone repair tape come down to skipping the stretch. New to the tape? Read how self fusing silicone tape works.

Quick boat repairs you can make underway

1. Hose repair: coolant and water leaks

Coolant and water hoses are the classic use. Great Lakes Boating pointed to leaks on water lines, fuel lines, and hoses. One cruising writer in the BoatU.S. advice archive took most of his spare hoses off his boat after he started carrying Rescue Tape. Boaters on Trawler Forum describe repairing a lower circulating hose, and a molded hose that failed on a coastal delivery and held for weeks until the replacement arrived. Kerry M. of Virginia blew a hose in a channel off North Carolina and said his first thought was to get the tape. Treat any fuel hose wrap as a way to get to the dock, then replace the hose.

2. Exhaust hose and fitting repair

One boater wrapped a dripping 3 inch exhaust hose and reports it is still in service three years later. Another sealed a leaking steel exhaust fitting where the hose meets the transom. The tape is rated to withstand temperatures up to 500°F.

3. Dockside water and galley plumbing repair

A BoatU.S. contributor wrapped a dockside water hose that split under 70 to 80 psi. It held through sun, abuse, and constant pressure for two years. Jay F. of Columbia, MD remembered the demo he saw at the Baltimore Boat Show when a water line on his boat started leaking. He wrapped it, and the leak stopped right away.

4. Emergency shaft log patch: a temporary fix

Capt. J.R. Allen used Rescue Tape as part of a multi-layer patch on a torn shaft log during the overnight salvage of the grounded 58 foot yacht Lofoten Spirit. His report: “The shaft did move slightly but the patch held.” A Trawler Forum member said a roll of tape eventually stopped water coming into the boat. That is an emergency measure that buys time to get home. It is not a hull repair or a replacement for a proper haul-out repair.

5. Electrical wiring repair and waterproofing

Great Lakes Boating noted that clear Rescue Tape can wrap electrical connections to waterproof them. Power Cruising added that clear tape lets you inspect a connection for corrosion or damage without unwrapping it. The tape insulates against up to 8,000 volts. Use it to protect and insulate, and replace damaged wire and terminals when you can.

6. Hydraulic and high pressure line repair

BoatU.S. reported the same wrap technique can seal even high pressure hydraulic lines in an emergency. Powerboat Magazine described a tape that “instantly bonds to itself” into an airtight, watertight seal, rated to 700 psi. Use it to get home, then replace the line.

7. Marking and whipping lines

It is not only for emergencies. Boaters use it to whip frayed line ends and to color mark lines, and cruisers use it to mark anchor rode so they know how much scope is out. It comes in seven colors, so each job gets its own.

8. Small fixes topside

One sailor wrapped a mast boot to stop rain leaks. Others wrap shackle pins and levers to keep them from snagging or working open. The photo above shows the same idea on a rigging wire and fitting.

Know the limits

Treat most Rescue Tape repairs as temporary, even when they hold for years. Replace failing parts when you can. Rescue Tape is for hoses, lines, and wiring, not for repairing a hull. On pieces in constant direct sun, some sailors prefer dedicated rigging tape, so check any topside wrap after a season.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use tape to repair a boat hose?

Yes, as a temporary repair. Silicone tape that fuses to itself can seal a leaking coolant, water, or exhaust hose long enough to reach the dock. Replace the hose as soon as you can, and do not rely on tape for fuel hoses.

Does silicone tape work on boats?

Yes. It bonds to itself, not to the surface, so it works on wet, oily, and dirty parts.

What is the best tape for boat repair?

For hoses, fittings, and wiring, boaters choose a self fusing silicone tape because it seals without adhesive. For rigging that sits in constant sun, some prefer dedicated rigging tape.

Is Rescue Tape waterproof?

Yes. Once wrapped with stretch, the layers fuse into a watertight seal.

What should be in a boat repair kit?

Hose clamps, spare belts, fuses, a multimeter, and a roll or two of repair tape.

Keep a roll in your boat repair kit

Sailing Magazine said having a few rolls aboard may get you out of a few scrapes, and Louisiana Sportsman called it “a boater’s best friend.” Put one roll in the engine room kit, one in the ditch bag, and one at the helm. It takes up almost no room, and you will be glad it is there the first time something lets go. Shop Rescue Tape.

Sources

• BoatU.S. Magazine, March 2009, “Wrap It Up”
• Great Lakes Boating, February 2009
• Power Cruising Magazine, January/February 2009
• Powerboat Magazine, June 2005, “Miracle Tape”
• Sailing Magazine, December 2007, “Magic Tape”
• Louisiana Sportsman, March 2009