Inflatable repair

[kilkerr1]

Hey all

I posted a little while ago about getting our rat-ravaged Narwhal inflatable repaired by someone. Got a couple of suggestions but haven't yet been able to find anywhere which will do it. Have now found a place online where they sell PVC and Hypalon in large quantities - our hole is about 20 cm x 10cm and in one of the tubes, the little buggers - and we're now thinking of repairing the thing ourselves. What I wanted to know was whether this is advisable and how best to go about it (Andrew thinks a patch inside and a whopping great big one wrapping around the whole tube and overlapping on either side by a large margin, then a matching one on t'other side for aesthetic purposes). I also need to know what the tube is, erm, made from, PVC or Hypalon...daft question probably, but I really don't know how to tell. Are all the coloured bits of an inflatable PVC and the black sort of rip-stop floors Hypalon? Sorry for being such a twit.

Cheers ears.

Just


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://kilkerr.members.easyspace.com/santateresa_pics.htm>Santa Teresa and other t'ings</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by kilkerr1 on 27/07/2004 11:23 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[StephenSails]

You will probably have to make patterns up if you make large patches. Patching from the inside is good but it is not easy. Your boat will all most certainly be PVC. If you need any further help please contact me through www.inflatable-repairs.co.uk website.

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[ex-Gladys]

The Narwhal's are PVC. You may want to consider the experience we had with a Narwhal that was well looked after. Inflated it at the start of this season to check and one of the main side seams let go. Our view was this made the dinghy a liability,as one can only guess what will let go next and when.

All of a sudden our ancient Avon looks like a good piece of kit.

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

On the contrary our Narwhal which must be pushing 16 years old is still seemingly going strong, touch wood.

I have heard a lot about the seams giving way, but for a small patch where we punctured it on a slipway last year the dinghy has given excellent performance.

Is the one you have one of the new breeds of Narwhal or the old type. Narwhal went out of business in the 80's. A Spanish company resurrected the name and started to build new boats in the late 90's I think.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[towlerg]

Hi

I have repaired a three foot rip in a tinker tramp (hyperlon). I used 2 part adhesive (vital!! don't waste time with one part). I put a series of small patches on the inside of the tube at about six inch centers then progressivley filled in the gaps with six inch patches butted together and starting and finishing at the small internal patches. Finished the thing off with one big peice of hyperlon over the whole area. Its not pretty, but it works (for two seasons) and is still working fine. If you find you lose pressure over a few days, there's some latex gunk that does the trick.

Rgds George


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[kilkerr1]

Thanks for all suggestions, chaps.

Jools - dunno how old it is - bought it second hand last year, but seems in pretty good nick.

Will try a last ditch attempt at getting it repaired professionally I think, thanks StephenSails.


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[kilkerr1]

Wow, sounds fiddly! Might try it if we find we can't afford to get it repaired professionally though...

Cheers!

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[onenyala]

I have repaired my PVC Zodiac using Bostick General Purpose contact adhesive. The secret is, after putting the adhesive on the patch and the fabric (three applications allowing to become touch dry each time) to get two pieces of wood greater in area than the patch and arrange the fabric so that the patch can be placed between the pieces of wood like a sandwich and then use G cramps to press the patch and fabric together. Leave it for not les than 12 hours and the patch welds itself to the fabric.
It is wise to place newspaper between the wood and fabric in case any excess adhesive welds the patch or the fabric to the wood.
I guess that using G cramps would apply to patching Hypalon as well.
Stuart Jones

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