After a towel dry, rub the side of the tape role vigorously on the boat, right on the crack , as if sanding, and the friction and heat will dry the spot and start to melt the side of the tape and adhesive creating a dry and sticky surface to accept the tape patch. By the way, there was alot of canoeing /kayaking and boat busting going on long before this club was founded just a few 5 years ago.... so don't blame the founder for just repeating what is common knowledge for the past 40 years.