The Aire caterafts have an inner bladder system that makes disasters like this one manageable. Fresh Water Rafters repair kits located in the red dry bag includes several needles especially designed for sewing rafts, sewing thread to be used to sew the ripped shell back together again as well as a special Teflon tape to be used should the inner bladder get a tear in it. The inner bladder is hardly ever damaged however, if it is the repair is simple and takes only a few minutes. You will find repair instructions in the Aire repair kit. A roll of duck tape, also include in the repair kit, can be placed over the sewn portion of the outer bladder to prevent rocks and sand from entering the shell of the raft and potentially damage the inner bladder. The raft must be dissembled and the pontoons deflated, unzipped and repaired, but in no time at all you are back under way with no glue to wait for drying or any special treatment necessary to repair the craft. Remember too keep an eye on the duck tape, be sure it does not lift up and afford an opportunity to damage the inner bladder. In most cases, rips like this one are caused by dragging the raft through low water conditions. It is a good idea to check the stress of the bottom of the raft periodically, to alleviate any agitation from a field repair. You won’t be charged for damage such as this type, but you won’t be compensated for your inconvenience either, so it’s best to avoid the situation altogether and avoid delays in your trip!