Inflatable leaks

[driver0606]

Hello,

I have a 2.2 metre Zodiac RIB used as a tender and one of the tubes has a leak where the tube joins the GRP floor inside, where it is impossible to access. It goes soft in about a day. I have seen Polymarine Seaflex and Slime mentioned on the forum, has anybody used it on a PVC rather than Hyperlon infatable, please?

Thank you for all replies.

 

[simonfraser]

some one reached it in the first place to stick it down ?

deflate the whole tube / boat and you should be able to pull the tube back to expose ???

 

[Border Terrier]

We don't inflate them on Tyneside. Just liberal quantities of
animal excreta and recycled Brown Ale.

 

[TQA]

Slime worked for me.

 

[Paddingtonbear]

I use Slime in my bike tyres very sucessfully but where do you get it in sufficient quantity to suit an inflateable? I have a 2.8 hypalon with 'mystery' leaks of a similar nature.

 

[TQA]

I use Slime in my bike tyres very sucessfully but where do you get it in sufficient quantity to suit an inflateable? I have a 2.8 hypalon with 'mystery' leaks of a similar nature.

It is available by the gallon. Try a truck tire place.

 

[theoldsalt]

It is available by the gallon. Try a truck tire place.

Available on ebay....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SLIME-Tyr..._Cycling_Bike_Lights&var=&hash=item564bfaea8c

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Slime-Pun...sure_Cycling_BikeLocks_SR&hash=item20ec18504a

 

[gordmac]

How do you get it to distribute round the tube to the leak?

 

[landlockedpirate]

Yep used the IBS PVC version, works well on pin prick holes.

 

[TQA]

How do you get it to distribute round the tube to the leak?

Well I rolled mine over a few times to distribute the Slime and left it propped up so the Slime would flow into the worst area.

 

[mudkipper]

Slime for tyres, being rubber,
does it work on PVC dinghies without damaging the PVC fabric?
I also have a leak on an Avon Typhoon at the junction of the floor and side tube, very difficult to get to.

 

[driver0606]

I did not see an IBS PVC version of slime, only mower, dirt bike and alltyres versions. Is it one of these for PVC, please?

 

[Kendal]

I used Polymarine Sealflex a couple of years ago when my Zodiac fastroller (pvc) was losing air and I couldn't find the leak. It worked really well and the inflatable now holds air all year round.

 

[BobnLesley]

I fixed the front chamber of our 2.6m AB Rib with PVA wood-glue just over a year ago and it's still sealed:

Dilute 1 pint of wood-glue with half a pint of water, inject past the valve and into the chamber, pump-up as hard as possible, then shake, turn around/over/loop the loop to spread it about and suspend so that where you think the hole(s) are is at or as near as you can get to the low-point. Leave it hanging, but give it another shake/swing from time to time and every couple of hours, deflate and re-pump as hard as you can manage (I'm told this improves/speeds-up the glue's curing) We shook/re-inflated ours about four or five times before getting bored and going to the pub, but we left it hanging for another 12 - 18 hours, since when we've used it 'as normal' and it's held air fine. One proviso perhaps: We did this in the Caribbean when it was nice and hot, it probably wouldn't work as well if you're trying to do the job outside, in the UK in November.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Slime for tyres, being rubber,
does it work on PVC dinghies without damaging the PVC fabric?
I also have a leak on an Avon Typhoon at the junction of the floor and side tube, very difficult to get to.

I had the same dinghy with the same problem. Polymarine sealfix (I think that's what it was called) worked well, just need to keep rotating the dinghy until it stops coming out of the leaking area.

 

[mudkipper]

I had the same dinghy with the same problem. Polymarine sealfix (I think that's what it was called) worked well, just need to keep rotating the dinghy until it stops coming out of the leaking area.

Thanks Long John Silver I'll give it a try.