In Today’s Newsletter: Follow an epic 1,000-mile expedition to the Arctic, discover why the “bombproof roll” may not be sea kayaking’s ultimate lifesaving skill, get the latest on rising kayak manufacturing costs and learn how to repair a cracked kayak yourself.

The story of Jared Gentz and Niki Choo's incredible human-powered journey from the Pacific to the Arctic Ocean.

Sea kayaking's most glorified skill might not be the one that saves you.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran is causing effects far beyond the fuel pump. For the paddlesports industry, the disruption of the strategic waterway has triggered a sharp spike in the cost of the plastics vital to modern kayak manufacturing.

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A: Not all polyethylene is created equal. Most manufacturers use layered high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Alternatively, a few boats out there are made of a variation called high-density crosslinked polyethylene (HDXLPE).

Both types of poly are weldable, but HDXLPE is a lot trickier because its melting point is very close to its burning point. This makes not scorching HDXLPE more difficult for most people without professional experience and highly specialized equipment.

You can weld plastic with either a heat gun or plastic welding iron. If your boat’s manufacturer doesn’t sell poly welding sticks, they can be found at some auto or motorcycle body shops or online. And, in a pinch, there’s always the inside of the cockpit rim…

For a step-by-step, kayak repair guru Jamie Dors of Paddle Sports Repairs walks us through this approachable, but sometimes sticky, fix.

Have a question? Reply to this email to submit your paddling-related question, and we’ll do our best to answer it in an upcoming newsletter.