Repairs to Tubes using 'Inner tubes'

[hardcore diver]

Thinking of repairing our leaking tubes by fitting 'inner tubes' inside of the original tubes. Has anyone any experience of this method good or bad. Or has anyone ever heard of the technique before. need some advice and or endorsment either way before we take the plunge

cheers

Ian P.

[codprawn]

On Salvage squad they did exactly this to a hovercraft they were restoring - worked fine. Didn't realise a hovercraft is really just a RIB underneath!!!

[columbiachop]

i recently aquired a "fixer upper" with a nylon cover over rubber bladders. so some engineer at some point in time thought it would work. i'd sure rather have hypalon or similar myself though. you'll need to have a way to access the inner tubes in the future as they may crack and need repair down the road sometime. mine just slide out when you remove the nylon shell. and yes, they've cracked in spots over time. mostly from being left deflated for years.
good luck.
andy

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by hardcore diver

Thinking of repairing our leaking tubes by fitting 'inner tubes' inside of the original tubes. Has anyone any experience of this method good or bad. Or has anyone ever heard of the technique before. need some advice and or endorsment either way before we take the plunge

cheers

Ian P.

Have a look at this Des

[Rodan]

On my old 4m Zodiac SIB (which was very old and tatty) I just pumped a several tins of the emergeny puncture repair stuff you get in garages in through the valves, inflated the boat quite hard and rolled it up and down the garden for half an hour. Sounds silly but it cured the problem and to finish off I painted the boat in inflatable boat paint. It looked quite good for a couple of years.

[paul tilley]

VERY BIASED REPLY there used to be an american company who made tubes this way but it never caught on .Fletchers tried to do the same but also gave up with the idea .the MOD had some tubes fitted with emergency bladders inside ready to inflate in the case of a puncture but these were made of pu film not pvc ,pu being a more flexible material than pvc . i could quote you for pu liners and explain the best way to fit them but it would be more expensive than pvc , it would not add to the value of the rib either whereas a nice new set of hypalon tubes from me would certainly be better .if you want more info call me on 01803833309 or 07815144269

[oxboy]

I have fitted Gemini inner tubes to a Tornado rib.
If you follow the instructions they are reletavely easy to fit.
The only problem is that it does not state on the instructions that when they are inflated they MUST be very, very hard.

After I hade fitted them and used it for the first time they split near the transom, Gemini explained that as they were not hard enough they rubbed against the inside of the tubes, they took them back and repaired them, when I got them back I fitted them.
When you think you have put enough air in, just put more in until they are absolutely solid, this way they will not move inside.

[Jono]

What's the cost versus a professional retube from Paul/Chris/Ed taking into account the difference in value should you come to sell the boat? Will the inner tubes last as long as a new set of tubes if you’re keeping the boat for a while and it’s going to see some hard/enthusiastic use?

[oxboy]

I think it cost abour £400 for the set, they are ok but it is always in the back of your mind if they are going to deflate again.
I am sure it will affect second hand price as most people will not like the inner tubes.
If you are looking to sell on in the near future or are worried then a new set of tubes will be better.

[columbiachop]

i agree. i'm sure using inner tubes doesn't help resale value much. what about performance though? i'm considering haveing new tubes installed to replace my rubber "bladder" system. do you guys know if there is any performance drawbacks to using inner tubes?

the cost of re-tubeing my 14' boat -$5,600. ouch.