This tear was more than 1.1 metres long and from 4 to 6 centimetres wide. It started on one side of the cockpit and went completely around the kayak to the other side of the cockpit. It had been repaired in 1965 with nailed cardboard and plasticine. However, since then, the tear has widened while in storage because of changes in environmental conditions of the storage area (humidity, temperature).