A new Project! Old half dead Zodiac SIB.

[Mr-d]

Right, I seem to have "aquired" a old 5.5M Zodiac which is full of punctures, and is missing one valve, all of this for the amazing price of: NOTHING!

So far i have spent 6 Quid on it (Calmac ferry charges getting it to the mainland from The Isle Of Rum.)

The boat has been used as a tender/Mobile platform for painting bigger boats by the looks of it.

There are more patches on it than i have fingers so far as i can see.. half of the patches are alright, the other half seem to have been glued on with paint or something similar, i ripped a patch off today which i could pull off with two fingers, and it had so much gunk on the otherside it could never be airtight.... the gunk is sanded away now. New patch is applied and it is drying at the moment

It has a rather major puncture next to the transom underneath everything, and the floor needs to be detached to gain access...

So my question is.. has anyone ever converted a SIB to RIB?
I am VERY tempted to have a go at it, since this boat has cost me nothing really.... I already have spent about 10 quid on Bostik stuff and IBS PVC.

I'll post some pictures later

Ta ta.

Daniel..

[Nick Hearne]

Sounds like a lot of work, to end up with some nackered old tubes on a hull
But I bet you would learn a hell of a lot doing it!
Nick

[Seaharrier]

Transformation of an old Zodiac MK2 1974.

http://alexandre.coste.free.fr/modifYOYO/modif.htm

Have fun!

[Mr-d]

Wow, thanks for that link, I'll have to stick Babelfish onto it i think.
That boat is the identical of mine, but it looks a bit worse!
The tubes seem to hold air, and are in quite good shape, except for the patches... There are no abrasions and huge scratches going down the the reinforcing in the PVC. Its just those holes!

Im going to have to order myself some Marine Ply and Fiberglass (if i can get the tubes airtight first..)

Thanks,
Daniel.

[Seaharrier]

It took them almost half a year. I think the owner’s email is coste_alexandre@yahoo.fr

On www.pneuboat.com they have good information on different rib related topics.

Paul

[Mr-d]

Thanks for the link,

I really wish i spoke french!!!

Also i dont presume they worked on that boat every day, they must have had jobs, well.. guess what, i dont! At least not until august when school starts..

[Seaharrier]

They only worked during the weekends with 2 sometimes 3 or 4 people

If there are some words you don't understand, send me a mail.

[Mr-d]

Right, my patch failed miserably. It leaked out the side for some reason, so i got furious, started trashing the boat etc, ripped the transom out, tore the front deck off. (in the process i found another hole, at the side of the transom...)

Anyway, time for pictures
1. Nice side view of the magnificent dinghy.
2. Lovely picture of the professionally patched hole (with the patch removed.)
3. View from the front with the still intact front deck thingy.
4. Still going, with transom and half the floor removed.

I'll post some more lateron.

As for the website, I dont speak/read French at all. Would be best if it was in an understandable language like English.

Thanks for the offer

[Seaharrier]

Send me a PM with your e-mail. I made the translation via a very handy web-site. But it's too big (800kb) to upload it on this forum.

[prairie tuber]

Mr D,

What year is that boat (it looks early-late 70s)? It should say on the transom plate (if it is still there). I am pretty certain that the fabric of that boat is hypalon, not PVC, therefore hypalon fabric and hypalon glue must be used for repairs.