slight air leak

[Lewy]

just blew up my newly purchased 2nd hand Yamaha 360S the other day and heard a buzzing noise like a bee!
Turns out there's a small air leak from the bow tube on one of the seams on the inside of the boat. i may have slightly over pressurized it the first time and after awhile the air sound seemed to go but i have noticed since that the tube, whilst by no means hugely deflated, has lost some air to a level i would probably need to top up on a regular basis.
Does anyone have a good solution to carrying out a repair under the seam?
Use to use Sikaflex on my old rib with pretty good results.

cheers guys

Lewy

[Fenlander]

I've carried out a few decent quality DIY older PVC SIB repairs and probably the biggest problem has been cleaning up previous failed repairs where other than proper glue has been used... so any type of sealant is not for me.

Seams are more of a fiddle than a puncture hole but I'd prep and two-part glue it with a neat reinforcing patch over... making sure the seam itself held air with the over-patch just for strength.

[office888]

Originally Posted by Lewy

just blew up my newly purchased 2nd hand Yamaha 360S the other day and heard a buzzing noise like a bee!
Turns out there's a small air leak from the bow tube on one of the seams on the inside of the boat. i may have slightly over pressurized it the first time and after awhile the air sound seemed to go but i have noticed since that the tube, whilst by no means hugely deflated, has lost some air to a level i would probably need to top up on a regular basis.
Does anyone have a good solution to carrying out a repair under the seam?
Use to use Sikaflex on my old rib with pretty good results.

cheers guys

Lewy

I doubt it, more than likely the glue is getting old and weak, and finally chose to let go.

Seams are "fun"...they tend to get worse as you try to repair them.

[Wightdiver]

Originally Posted by Lewy

just blew up my newly purchased 2nd hand Yamaha 360S the other day and heard a buzzing noise like a bee!
Turns out there's a small air leak from the bow tube on one of the seams on the inside of the boat. i may have slightly over pressurized it the first time and after awhile the air sound seemed to go but i have noticed since that the tube, whilst by no means hugely deflated, has lost some air to a level i would probably need to top up on a regular basis.
Does anyone have a good solution to carrying out a repair under the seam?
Use to use Sikaflex on my old rib with pretty good results.

cheers guys

Lewy

Don't know the actual boat but I assume that it is a SIB?

If so you can get some internal latex based sealer. Squirt it in through the valve, inflate and roll the boat over so they the pressure pushes the liquid into the leak, I have used it and it works.

Cant remember the name but Rib Shop sell it.

Good Luck

Andy

[office888]

Originally Posted by Wightdiver

Don't know the actual boat but I assume that it is a SIB?

If so you can get some internal latex based sealer. Squirt it in through the valve, inflate and roll the boat over so they the pressure pushes the liquid into the leak, I have used it and it works.

Cant remember the name but Rib Shop sell it.

Good Luck

Andy

Sealant should only be used for weepage. It will not fix weak seam ungluing on PVC boats.