Dinghi falling apart

[jfkal]

Got my newish (old but hardly ever used) Zodiac out of the locker. Put all the floor boards in and pumped away happily only to discover that after it was pumped up I could still see the grass when looking INSIDE the Dinghi. The whole bottom came off the ring tubes as easy as tearing wet newsprint. The bottom itself and the tubes are still good. Just the glue orwhatever they use to stick them together disintegrated.
Any ideas on how to fix it (glue, gue, weld, melt, vulcanize) it back together again?

 

[VicS]

You can get the correct glue from Polymarine

You should also be able to get it from any decent Chandler.

I guess your dinghy is PVC.

Probably worth cleaning the surfaces with the appropriate solvent before regluing

Just noticed that you are in Singapore. I dont know if Polymarine will export to there.

Note that for a permanent repair Polymarine recommend the use of 107 curing agent, not just the glue on its own.

 

[Lakesailor]

Buy a new dinghy.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Buy a new dinghy

[/ QUOTE ] And sell you the old one for a few pennies I suppose!

 

[pheran]

Thanks for that link. I have, fortunately, a somewhat lesser problem than the OP but that site contains a load of very useful information.

 

[AquaLibra]

We have been told to use Bostik 2402 and Bostikure D10 hardener to retape the seams on our Avon dinghy. Anyone know what ratio of glue to hardener to use?

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone know what ratio of glue to hardener to use?

[/ QUOTE ]

100 parts 2402 to 6 parts D10 by weight. Pot life 8 hours
Apply 2 thin coats to the surfaces to be joined. Allow the first 20- 30 minutes to dry before applying the second. Allow the second coat 5 - 10 minutes before bringing surfaces together with as much pressure as possible. Full strength develops in 4 -5 days.

Don't ask how you are supposed to weigh it out with that degree of precision. I've got an old chemical balance!

Also found THIS

 

[ex-Gladys]

The issue with a dinghy starting to "go"... do you know which seam will fail next? We had an old NARwhal with our previous boat, it was fine, blew it up in spring 2004 and one side seam went.

 

[jfkal]

Thanks everybody.