Zodiac Hurricane - Cherokee 4800

[solos60]

I have just acquired a Zodiac Cherokee and it's fiberglass hull appears to be in good shape and from the serial number it was built in 1990.
However the sponsons are not that good. The forward port chamber has no patches and holds air , the starboard has patches and a slow leak which I have been unable to locate, both the stern chambers have patches and leaks.
I had a quote over the telephone to replace the sponsons of $10,0000. wow
I'm not sure on the best way to proceed and wonder has anyone any suggestions on ways of avoiding the replacement cost ?
Has anyone used a marine foam to fill the sponsons ?
Thanks

[Tomas]

You're not the first to have that idea (filling the tubes with foam). I've read discussions on this forum and elsewhere and its use is questionable at best. This link is for a foam supplier but the material has to be poured and I can't quite get my head around how one would pour a tube full of foam.

http://www.jgreer.com/Foam%20Page.htm

Unless the Hypalon is just gone and or all the seams have given it up, bubble checking for leaks and properly applying patches is probably worth a shot.

Tubes dem ain't cheap!

T

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by Tomas

Unless the Hypalon is just gone and or all the seams have given it up, bubble checking for leaks and properly applying patches is probably worth a shot.

I don't think the Cherokee toobs are hypalon though. I friend had a Cherokee and I believe they were Strongon on some other welded material. I don't recall him ever needing a patch, but it's probably trickier than patching Hypalon. He sold the boat to another friend, and I suspect it's about the same vintage as this one, and still running strong...

[prairie tuber]

'Strongan' is Zodiac's euphemism er - trade name for PVC. I'm pretty sure all Cherokees came with PVC tubes that have thermobonded seams. I'm not sure what can be done with thermobonded seams once they start to leak.

Who quoted you $ 10,000 for a set of replacement PVC tubes?

Have you tried Inflatable Boat Sales in Delta?

I'm sure Guy over at Polaris Inflatable Boats in Langley could make you a set of proper (ie. hypalon) custom tubes to fit your cherokee for waaaay less than 10 grand - or he might have some other economical recommendations for you.

Good luck - let us know how things go.

[OceanEco]

Check out Open Ocean Inflatables in Sidney on Vancouver Island. Keith does good work and could make you a set of tubes.

[columbiachop]

Wing out of california quoted me 6k for custom tubes. still pretty steep but they make good tubes.

[jyasaki]

Seems to me that drastic measures would precede replacement (depending on how eager you are to throw money at the problem, of course.)

There's a couple of products that seal from the inside (or supposedly do, anyway); alternatively, locating the leak using the spray bottle/soapy water method, and gooping on some urethane adhesive (along the lines of Sikaflex or Aquaseal; after proper surface prep) would be a hell of a lot cheaper, and may take care of the problem.

Prior to spending $10K for a set of tubes, definitely talk to Guy at Polaris. I'd also talk to other RIB manufacturers and see what they'll do; the price you were quoted seems awfully steep.

Luck;

jky

[solos60]

I've checked out all your suggestions which were gratefully received and will post some photo's after the work is done in late Sept/ early Oct. I got better job quotes by having the work scheduled for the end of the season.

[prairie tuber]

So what route/outfit did you decide on?

[solos60]

I received the best reception at Polaris in Langley, and the arrangement is that I'm to take the Zodiac out to them in late September when things hopefully will be starting to slow down a bit and they will assess the job and make their recommendations. I'm leaning towards replacing the sponsons with Hypalon. I'm not in a rush and they can have the Zodiac for as long as they want as I do have another inflatable to use ( 12 ft. Polaris). I will post how things work out....