Hypalon or pvc?????

jameszzz · 20 September 2011, 09:51

I have just bought an ex mod Sib. I was told it was pvc but a couple of people seem to think because it is an ex mod boat it would have been built to a commercial spec and is more than likely hypalon. I have looked it up on the internet and there seems to be plenty of them about, its a gemini / grey in colour and just over 14ft long, there is no ID plate or anything as far as I know. Can anyone tell me if it is pvc or hypalon? I could do with finding out as it has a slow leak that needs patching.

THanks,

James

m3mm0s rib · 24 September 2011, 06:45

I have a friend who has a gemini. I KNOW THAT IS CERTAINLY pvs because he had problems.

prairie tuber · 25 September 2011, 00:39

I'm pretty sure those ex mod ones are hypalon.

m3mmOs, what are the particulars of your friend's boat - what model? Is it possible that you are confusing the South African Gemini that builds overspec military boats with the British Gemini (completely different companies) that sells econo kits to build do it yourself PVC boats?

m3mm0s rib · 25 September 2011, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

I'm pretty sure those ex mod ones are hypalon.

m3mmOs, what are the particulars of your friend's boat - what model? Is it possible that you are confusing the South African Gemini that builds overspec military boats with the British Gemini (completely different companies) that sells econo kits to build do it yourself PVC boats?

Gemini GRP RIB 340 PVC (BG340RIBPVC)

prairie tuber · 25 September 2011, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3mm0s rib

Gemini GRP RIB 340 PVC (BG340RIBPVC)

Those are asian made knock offs of African built Geminis. Not sure about the particulars of the history but Global Force Marine is an Australian outfit that at one time carried the real Gemini's, but has recently been getting asian made stuff and branding it as 'Gemini' using the same logo.

Here is the link to the real Gemini (South Africa) site:

Gemini Marine

jameszzz · 05 October 2011, 07:15

Thanks for the replies,

I now know that my boat is a south african built gimini so its almost certainly hypalon. Thanks again for your help and sorry I took so long to reply, Had a few problems with my internet connection,

Thanks,

James

sinner · 08 October 2011, 00:40

I have a bombard commando C3 that upon an internet search I found conflicting info on whether on not it was hypalon or pvc. What I finally found out that it the seems are butted to on another with a seam-strip over it, it is most likely PVC. If the seams are overlapped it is probably hypalon. Your best bet is to take it to a knowledgable shop that either repairs or sells repair supplies.

headdamage · 08 October 2011, 01:16

The C3 in my tread on the C3 vs. the MkII is PVC and it is a 1992. The material is one of the reasons I decided to keep the MkII and sell the C3.

m3mm0s rib · 08 October 2011, 07:43

How a boat is important in terms of price. Now what is best. Hypalon or PVC. We all know that Zodiac uses a kind of pvc tubes that last much longer than the Hypalon

prairie tuber · 08 October 2011, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3mm0s rib

We all know that Zodiac uses a kind of pvc tubes that last much longer than the Hypalon

Where are you getting this information?

headdamage · 08 October 2011, 16:27

Typo on my part... The MkII is Hypalon and the C3 is PVC.

m3mm0s rib · 08 October 2011, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Where are you getting this information?

I got this information from the same vessel, while it was parked in the sun 10 years is in very good condition.

prairie tuber · 08 October 2011, 20:10

Zodiac's strongan PVC is decent PVC fabric, but still is PVC nonetheless. A good PVC fabric might last longer than some of the cheap chinese 'hypalon' that is out there, but will have nowhere close to the life expectancy of proper hypalon such as that from Dupont, Pennell (Orca), Achilles etc...

m3mm0s rib · 09 October 2011, 06:22

I did not say something different

sinner · 09 October 2011, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Zodiac's strongan PVC is decent PVC fabric, but still is PVC nonetheless. A good PVC fabric might last longer than some of the cheap chinese 'hypalon' that is out there, but will have nowhere close to the life expectancy of proper hypalon such as that from Dupont, Pennell (Orca), Achilles etc...

That is probably very well true. After owning an achilles and a dynous hypalon boat I greatly prefer my pvc C3. It's almost 20yrs old and in great shape! However, I don't think that's the original intent of this thread. I believe it was to determine what material his particular boat was made of.

wet-foot · 21 January 2012, 02:04

sinner - pump it up, leave it out in the sun for 2 years. If it falls apart it is PVC. If it explodes it is hypalon without pressure release valves. The only time you have problems with quality hypalon is if the glue happened to come from a bad batch. The only reason Zodiac uses PVC is it costs 80% less than hypalon. 90% of their boats see very little use so warranty is not an issue. For the 10% having issues they simply repair until warranty expires. Even Wing was forced to go back to hypalon for their small inflatables. Too tough to field repair polyurethane.

ncp · 21 January 2012, 05:08

Is Wing still making the hypalon IB-530? I couldn't find it on the website (but found the pdf spec sheet through a google search).

wet-foot · 21 January 2012, 05:18

Sure Bill Wing will make you anything you want.

sinner · 21 January 2012, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by wet-foot

sinner - pump it up, leave it out in the sun for 2 years. If it falls apart it is PVC. If it explodes it is hypalon without pressure release valves. The only time you have problems with quality hypalon is if the glue happened to come from a bad batch. The only reason Zodiac uses PVC is it costs 80% less than hypalon. 90% of their boats see very little use so warranty is not an issue. For the 10% having issues they simply repair until warranty expires. Even Wing was forced to go back to hypalon for their small inflatables. Too tough to field repair polyurethane.

Polyurethane is NOT PVC. Pvc is NOt hard to repair in the field. Anyone who pumps up an inflatable boat and leaves it out in the sun for two years is an idiot. A quality pvc inflatable, properly taken care of will last a life-time. People who say quality pvc boats are trash are speaking with ignorance.

jameszzz · 21 January 2012, 08:58

Thanks for all the replies I really do appreciate it, I eventually found out the boat is made of Hypalon and that it is a South African built Gemini, I have now repaired the leak, repaired the aluminium beam that supports the floor and made some major modifications to the trailer. I took the boat out a few weeks ago on the river trent and im very pleased with it, It seems pretty quick even with a 20hp mariner

Thanks again for all the replies,

James