Repair time!

Scarlet-Jester · 12 July 2011, 20:12

Did a water test tonight and found 3 leaks around the transom. One on the keel and one at each on the elbows. Two I was already aware of but the third (the keel) was a new one. In addition two of the floor straps need re-fastening, one of which has come off altogether. The 4th photo shows a hole that will be very tricky to fix and any input on how to fill that gap will be greatly appreciated! You can see the tube through the gap so any water in the boat will go into here. I removed a rather large chunk of silicone from in the hole before I took the photo.

Any input on the hole and the keel repair would be greatly appreciated!

ribraff · 12 July 2011, 20:16

These can be tricky to repair and it is hard to see what needs repairing from the pic's but I think this stuff is going to be your best friend
Stormsure Repair Adhesives Online Shop

Scarlet-Jester · 12 July 2011, 20:17

The two elbow patches are poorly secured and are the leak sources. Plan is to take them off, re-glue any lose areas, cut new elbow pieces and glue them back on hopefully to cure the leaks! Now removed and you can see a lot of dirt and sand in there as well as some lose fabric. Next step is to clean it all up and glue down the lose fabric, cut 2 new elbows from some new material and glue on. I shall update as soon as I have this done with more photos.

Max... · 12 July 2011, 22:56

Whatever you do, make a neater job than this guy:

ZODIAC YACHT LINE 10FT INFLATABLE BOAT RIB WITH TRAILER | eBay UK

jyasaki · 13 July 2011, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max...

Whatever you do, make a neater job than this guy:

Quote:

BOAT DOES HAVE A FEW PATCHES ON IT THESE HAVE BEEN PUT ON TO DO THE JOB NOT TO LOOK PRETTY

That's a good thing, considering how the repairs came out...

jky

Scarlet-Jester · 14 July 2011, 08:18

Stage one of the repairs is done - sorted the back of the floor out. Went pretty smoothly for the first time repairing a PVC SIB floor. Followed these instructions http://www.shipstore.com/SS/HTML/INFO/INFOGLUE.html exactly as written and the results were good. A few lessons learnt to apply to the next area. The next section to tackle on the floor is the front under the webbing. I have decided to take the plunge with some seam sealer SureSeal XXX. Given that these holes are very small and that it will be very awkward to get to, I thought I would give this a try to see if it is any good, if not I will apply a patch.

Next job will be a little trickier - tackling the repairs on the hull!!

renegade · 14 July 2011, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribraff

These can be tricky to repair and it is hard to see what needs repairing from the pic's but I think this stuff is going to be your best friend
Stormsure Repair Adhesives Online Shop

1 part glue ? thought that was a no no for long term repairs .

have always use the two part myself sets fast and last,s years
Bostik Hypalon 2-Part Adhesive Glue RIB Inflatable Boat | eBay

Patrik · 14 July 2011, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by renegade

have always use the two part myself sets fast and last,s years
Bostik Hypalon 2-Part Adhesive Glue RIB Inflatable Boat | eBay

Would you use this on the PVC floor too, even though it's for Hypalon?

Scarlet-Jester · 14 July 2011, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrik

Would you use this on the PVC floor too, even though it's for Hypalon?

No - the 2 part PVC equivalent. I think the point he is trying to make is that 1 part glue should not be used for repairs.

Patrik · 14 July 2011, 15:45

Oh okay, so how about the difference between Bostik and Zodiac's own glue? What should I choose? I'd like it not to be brownish yellow if I get any outside the patch... Heard that the Zodiac glue is good.

Scarlet-Jester · 14 July 2011, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrik

Oh okay, so how about the difference between Bostik and Zodiac's own glue? What should I choose? I'd like it not to be brownish yellow if I get any outside the patch... Heard that the Zodiac glue is good.

Making sure you mark out the patch area is important and will help in not getting too much glue outside the area the patch will cover. Cleaning up well after you patch is important too. You can use the solvent to take off excess glue after you have applied and firmed down the patch. This worked well for me but I learnt last night to make a bigger effort in marking the boat/area with the patch outline. Not only does it help in knowing where to apply the glue, it also helps you get the patch in exactly the right place as once the two surfaces come together they are stuck!! The glue I used came from a recommendation on here which I bought of eBay here is the kit for hypalon HYPALON FABRIC Inflatable Rib Boat Repair Kit Glue GREY | eBay I cannot comment on whether Zodiac or Bostick is better as I do not have any experience of them. Suffice to say the glue I bought was easy to use and it sticks very well!!

Dino89 · 14 July 2011, 16:27

thought you had to use pvc 2 part glue that link is for hypalon glue!

Patrik · 14 July 2011, 17:08

Yikes!

Just took a better look at my floor and noticed this... Must be some membranes or something inside of it that's gone bust? Will this make the floor pop like a balloon?

Looks like a calzone or something back there

Dino89 · 14 July 2011, 17:12

that looks terminal:-(
is that at the full 11psi?

Patrik · 14 July 2011, 17:22

Not sure, havent got a measure thing for air pressure. But it's pretty hard pumped.

Max... · 14 July 2011, 17:34

I should think Bostik being huuuugge in glue that any 'Zodiac' glue is re-branded Bostik. Regardless I think Bostik is the industry norm. Any excess outside the patch can be cleaned off with the correct solvent. The website that S-J linked to in post #6 gives superb step by step instructions.

Patrik · 14 July 2011, 17:46

Did the soap test and sprayed the whole floor with water/dishwashing soap.

Only one leak that I can find, pretty easily located but just close to that big balloon... NO GOOD!

Any one else seen a balloon like this?

renegade · 14 July 2011, 18:04

no how are they constructed inside those floors are they chambers or that thousands of fibres type like this http://www.affordableinflatable.com/...-Structure.jpg supose if it is like the link then if a space of fibres was to come lose in some way could cause a bubble ?

renegade · 14 July 2011, 18:06

also heres a little video on patching pvc rib
‪How to repair punctures in PVC inflatable boat, raft or kayak.‬&rlm; - YouTube

Patrik · 14 July 2011, 18:19

Thanks!
I wish I had an X-ray machine for these times... I wonder if that is the case, perhaps that inner part with the fibers has loosened from the outer layer of PVC... But I can't imagine what would make it come loose, if that was the case I guess the bubble would be only on one side?
So it's more likely, in that case, that the fibers has been torn off in that section... But that's also weird... Would love to see a "cut through" image of exactly this model!