Dinghy patching

[Rum_Pirate]

Have an 'Achilles' LSI - 88 dinghy with three 'holes'.

One in the flat fabric floor. Straight forward.
One on the edge of then inflatable floor a 'C' type patch required around the edge (i.e. from top over edge and then to bottom)
One (two next to each other 25mm did and 12mm dia) on the inboard side of the port tube. Daily straight forward flatfish patch.

Have hypalon fabric to patch and friend has the adhesive.

1. Do you inflate the tubes or patch deflated ?

2. Do you clamp the patch (after roughening the area with sand paper and applying the glue ) in place?

 

[Poignard]

Achilles dinghies are excellent quality, well worth preserving if you can.

I patched mine with it deflated. I laid it on a table, applied the patch and then put a piece of plastic on it, followed by a piece of plywood, followed by a weight.

 

[penfold]

I've always done repairs deflated, clamping may help if it's a patch crossing an existing joint although I've only ever used weights rather than clamps as I don't own a clamp with 4' reach.