What is it made off?

[Stinger]

First of all I want to say hello to everyone, and that i am very glad that I`ve found you.
I have a problem and hope that you`ll help me.

I`m planing on restauration of tubes on my rib with SRC tuff coat. The rib is BAT Italia,
4.5 meters long, fiberglass hull, produced in 1989. I need to know what is the material, the tubes are made off, because it`s not the same procedure of aplying the tuff coat on hypalon or on to PVC.
Now, what I can tell you is, that there is a patch, suporting joints, that`s little worn out and I can see the layers.
From top layer(outside), to under layers(inside):

1st. A very thin, strechy, almost like a kondom, orange layer that peels off if I pull it a bit harder.
2nd. Little thicker than first one, also orange. Can not be peeled off that easily and sticks to a cloth that`s under it.
3rd. A cloth.
4th. Like a black rubber.

I can`t be sure if there is any more layers, but that is all I can see.
From what i`ve heard, it`s a hypalon. Is it possible that it`s Pvc? I must be 100% sure, hope you guys will help me.

p.s.
I`ve send an Email to BAT Italia, but i guess they didn`t find any reason to answer me !

[ribfan]

Welcome to Rib Net.
Sounds like what you have is hypalon. The black layer is neoprene rubber. PVC would not have that.
Good luck with your project.

[9D280]

Hello and welcome!

I wonder if your #1 layer is paint? Mine was painted long ago, and in places it flakes off (like old paint on a wooden window frame), in others, it peels off in sheets, like you describe.

Have a close look at a joint / seam. if the top layer seems continuous, you probably have Hypalon paint on there. If applied properly it should fuse to the hypalon below, if not (like mine) it will probably peel off like you describe.

[Nos4r2]

Anyone seen Noddy recently? He had a BAT.

[Stinger]

I´ve checked out. The top coat is definetly not a paint job. It´s a piece of fabric.
If I start to peel it off, near the joint and continue peeling in direction of a joint, it goes in between two sections of the tubes, where they are glued.

Come on guys, I need to be 100% sure ! Post, post...

[martini]

Must be Hypalon with the usual fabric layer for strength in the middle and neoprene inside layer to keep the air in.

But if you can see all the layers I'd say you need new tubes not a coat of paint

[Stinger]

I can see layers on a piece of patch, that`s worn out. The tubes are not in that bad condition. Thanks for the answers.