Bombard needs a medic

Brucelightyear · 04 September 2016, 20:50

Hi. Sorry if this has been posted before but I can find no help on the issue so I thought that I would ask the forum myself. I have a Bombard Explorer DB550, (1989 I think) and it needs a bit of repair. It seems that you have to get a glue to match the material. Problem is I am unsure whether it is hypalon or pvc. I know it seems trivial but i really could do with the help. Only owned my own boat for 2 months. Thanks in advance guys and gals. Bruce

office888 · 05 September 2016, 01:58

Could be either for that era.

Post a few pictures of the seams.

jeffstevens763@g · 05 September 2016, 08:11

poly marine has info on how to find out which material cheers

Brucelightyear · 05 September 2016, 16:51

Hi. Thanks for the responses. Here are some pictures as attachments.

Jeff. Thanks for the heads up.
Regards
Bruce

spartacus · 05 September 2016, 19:37

Looks like PVC. Anything late 80s until relatively recently, especially for leisure European market is likely to be PVC. Probably Strongan Duotex (PVC) used exclusively on Zodiac, which is parent company of Bombard.

jeffstevens763@g · 05 September 2016, 20:16

Hypalon I thought was grey one side always so that would be PVC as said finger test should prove

office888 · 05 September 2016, 21:41

It's PVC.

There's a little melted ridge of plastic just outside of the seam tape from the thermobonding process.

In the late 80s, Zodiac/Bombard was experimenting a lot with plastomers. There are boats from that era with CSM/Hypalon tubes and PVC floors or PVC transom attachments...

Brucelightyear · 06 September 2016, 21:50

Thanks for the replies guys. So would I be correct in thinking that normal pvc rib glue would be what I need? Thanks. Bruce.

office888 · 07 September 2016, 00:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucelightyear

Thanks for the replies guys. So would I be correct in thinking that normal pvc rib glue would be what I need? Thanks. Bruce.

Yep. And lots of MEK. You want to scrub off all of the glue.

I'd start with a heavy scrub with a moderate degreaser such as Simple Green to remove any dirt and pollutants.

Then use MEK to remove the old glue, plasticizers that have migrated to the surface, as well as to chemically abrade the material. You'll go through a lot of MEK and rags. You want to wipe in one direction then flip the rag. After a few flips, dispose of the rag.

Brucelightyear · 09 September 2016, 18:05

Thanks Office. I will give that a try. I will post back when i am done.