Finding a leak in tender...how?

[mattnj]

I have a 4.2m inflatable sitting on a trailer in my drive, it has a very slow leak and goes down slowly, say over a 2 or 3 week period.

Is there any magic tips/tricks to find the leak or any products that can help me out?

 

[V1701]

Dousing it with very soapy water (washing up liquid) and seeing where it bubbles should show any leaks...

 

[Searush]

Simply brush the dishes water over it. Do a section (ie a tube) at a time & pay special attention to seams & any visible marks or creases. Oh, and start with the bloody valves, 8 times out of ten the valves need tightening.

Do it at a quiet time when you can listen, just putting your ear near the valves will often let you hear a slight hiss, any water will make it louder & soapy water makes it visible.

 

[Kilter]

As above but do check the valves, in fact do that first and it may save a lot of time!

 

[Searush]

Yeah, Robin's right, just in case you didn't get the message;

it's usually the valves wot does it!

 

[Kilter]

OTOH you could just check the valves!

 

[rickym]

Salt crud in the valves???

 

[smth448]

I don't know if anyone has suggested checking the valves first.

Although if it takes a couple of weeks to deflate then it is a very slow leak so may be hard to find wherever it is.

 

[Lakesailor]

It could be a very slow valve leak.

 

[haydude]

Clearly you never had a bicycle right? Soapy water isn't even necessary just inflate it with good air pressure, wet it with a hose at low pressure (just run the water on the tubes without spraying it) and look around for bubbles.

 

[sarabande]

and look around for bubbles.

Oh dear, Lakey, you're slipping (which is more than can be said for her baubles, err, bubbles.... Your mind must be on wooden boats.


Apparently, for life photography there is a special bubble mixture which does not slip revealingly away. All technical information gratefully received

 

[mattnj]

right, i am off to check the valve (only 1 of the tubes is leaking)

 

[Pleiades]

Leak stopper

If the leak is that little I would not worry too much about it - but provided the tubes are not full of water you could pour in some inflatable boat repair sealant - takes a few days of turning the boat over to distribute it properly but may do the job:-
linky here -
http://www.ibs-boats.com/download/ibs-spares-catalogue-08.pdf
no connection but have had fantastic service from this company.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[haydude]

Hey how are you doing?

As I said better with just plain water!

 

[Thresher]

I tried this stuff in my inflatable, a great idea but it didn't work for me.

 

[oldharry]

Has anyone mentioned the valves? - Oh.

 

[Downsman]

Wish I was that candle..Now, what was the question?..

 

[DanTribe]

Oh dear, Lakey, you're slipping (which is more than can be said for her baubles, err, bubbles.... Your mind must be on wooden boats.


Apparently, for life photography there is a special bubble mixture which does not slip revealingly away. All technical information gratefully received

Crikey, she must be very leaky, look at all those bubbles. Best check her valves first.
I bet she goes down fast.