Is it worth trying to get a small inflatable tender repaired?

Zen Zero

Zen Zero

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It was quite comical really. The floor fell out of my tender while I was rowing my mum over to see the sea caves, and I fell through. 80 yr old mum skipped nimbly back onto the swimdeck. 2 thirds of the seam that joins the black floor to the grey tubes has become unglued, literally, there is no black on the grey and no grey on the black.

The tender is a Bombard (cheaper sister of Zodiac) AX2 2.2 m aerodeck. It's about 15 years old.

Is it worth trying to get it fixed? Has anyone had experience of the reliability of such repairs? Or is it better to spend the munny and get a new one?

Thanks

PS there's a praying mantis on my fridge!
 
If your tender is made of PVC - most Zodiacs are, so I guess your Bombard is the same - use Bostik 3206 adhesive; if it's made of Hypalon, like most Avon inflatables, use Bostik 2402. In either case, thoroughly de-grease both surfaces you want to stick together, then apply adhesive to both surfaces and allow it to become tacky - then clamp both surfaces firmly together and leave for 24 hours. Much cheaper than a new tender!
 
Zen Zero said:
It was quite comical really. The floor fell out of my tender while I was rowing my mum over to see the sea caves, and I fell through. 80 yr old mum skipped nimbly back onto the swimdeck. 2 thirds of the seam that joins the black floor to the grey tubes has become unglued, literally, there is no black on the grey and no grey on the black.

The tender is a Bombard (cheaper sister of Zodiac) AX2 2.2 m aerodeck. It's about 15 years old.

Is it worth trying to get it fixed? Has anyone had experience of the reliability of such repairs? Or is it better to spend the munny and get a new one?

Thanks

PS there's a praying mantis on my fridge!
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The glue i have been told when new lasts 8 years ish. Depending on care etc. we have a 10 ft Zodiac 1999 which had the same problem almost but instead of the floor giving way in style like yours did :-) the bow lip parted so it was like driving around looking like a whale. We took it to Zodiac in Portugal and for 200 euro the whole floor was taken off cleaned and reglued with 2 part. We were told expect 1-2 years out of it. We are on the second year as of last week. The floor in the corner which was not repaired sprung a little whole last week when a fat man jumped in the boat to move it. I was there saw what happened but he tried to blame me for it. I have now done a small repair on it but honestly i would buy a new one or a rigid hull, the latter probably more durable.
 
VicMallows said:
If you mean PAYING someone to fix it, almost certainly no. Even to do a proper job yourself, the materials will come to £50 or so plus MANY hours of work. New inflatables seem to be at an all time low price right now.
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For an extra 100 quid get it repaired. Dnt attempt it yourself unless you have previous experience top rate.
 
I think it depends on how it's spent its life and why it failed.
If the rest of it is also about to fail because it's been in the sun too much, get a new one.
If the floor has failed through overloading or something, it can be fixed.
In between, difficult call.
But £15 of glue and some material might be worth a try?
My AX-3 is older and still going strong, but only gets used a few weeks a year.
 
Well I showed it to Ilias, my Greek boat-minder, and he took it away and brought it back reglued. It looks like a really bad job, but we'll see!

The tender was in really good condition, looks very smart and almost new, but it's always been a bottom wetter and now I think I know why!

I think I will get a new tender this year though. I liked the AX2 except for its bottom-wetting attribute. It seemed the right size for my 30ft boat. I'd welcome suggestions for its replacement.
 
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