Leaky Flubber

[Stemar]

I have one of those "PVC disposable" inflatables - a 3-D tender, bought principally for its light weight. Since having to drag it across a concrete scrubbing grid, one of the side tubes has developed a slow leak - it's noticeably softer after 24 hrs and after a couple of days, it needs blowing up before I want to use it. I've tried to find the leak using dish soap and water, but no visible bubbles. Is there any better way to find a leak?

I've heard of goops similar to what passes for a spare wheel in a car I wouldn't be buying. Do they work, or are they just going to make my situation worse?

Thanks in advance

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Could be that in dragging it across the concrete you have abraded the plastic surface and it has now become porous.

 

[LittleSister]

If it's only 'noticeably soft' after 24 hours, and doesn't actually need pumping up for a couple of days, it is a very tiny leak.

Try searching again with soapy water but this time with someone sitting on the tube (or some other significant weight on it), to increase the pressure and therefore the flow rate out of the leak, making it easier to find.

 

[Refueler]

The 'goop' that you pour in to fix leaks - yes it can work - BUT you need to be careful of dinghys material and its glue used.

I had a Narwhal dinghy that developed a leak ... poured in the 'goop' .... next day sections of seam had 'unglued' .... took it to a repair shop and they determined that the 'goop' and original seam glues were incompatible.

But I have used 'goop' in my Avon ... its helped - but still suffers slow deflation ... its ancient and obviously porous. I have a tin of special paint that is supposed to not only colour the dinghy - but also help to seal porosity externally .. adding to any 'goop' internally.
You can slap soapy water all over my Avon and you will not find where ... but it still goes down !!

 

[LittleSister]

And also -

You have assumed the leak is in the fabric because you'd dragged it over the concrete scrubbing grid, but it could still be a leaky valve, so don't forget to check that/them with your soapy water if you haven't already.

 

[Boathook]

Put some wheels on the transom, assuming it is a solid one, so you don't drag it across the concrete any more.

 

[KevinV]

Good point above about not missing valves or other damage.

If it is the bottom, I've found leak detection spray can do a bit better than washing up liquid for finding pinholes - the bubbles seem to hold longer

This sort of stuff: https://www.screwfix.com/p/rothenberger-leak-detection-fluid-250ml/53559

 

[Ribtecer]

I've had great success with this product.

We have two paddle boards, I look after both exactly the same, one keeps getting leaks around the seems, this stuff works and is easy to use.

Inflatable Sealant RIB SIB Tender Dinghy SUP Paddleboard repair Hypalon, & PVC | eBay UK

 

[Stemar]

I've had great success with this product.

We have two paddle boards, I look after both exactly the same, one keeps getting leaks around the seems, this stuff works and is easy to use.

Inflatable Sealant RIB SIB Tender Dinghy SUP Paddleboard repair Hypalon, & PVC | eBay UK

Thanks for that - It looks like just what I need. I've emailed the maker to ask what they recommend, so I'll see if they bother to reply before ordering.

 

[Refueler]

Thanks for that - It looks like just what I need. I've emailed the maker to ask what they recommend, so I'll see if they bother to reply before ordering.

Plenty of brands of pour in sealant ... but prices vary widely ...

 

[Stemar]

I ordered the stuff Ribtecer suggested and put it in a couple of days ago. I haven't used it in the water yet, but it's holding pressure perfectly

Thanks all

 

[toothless]

I think the sealant suggested was probably just liquid latex. I used latex to fix a rib with porous tubes and it worked fine, costs about a tenner a litre on amazon.

 

[webcraft]

Get a rechargeable SUP pump. It will repressure your flabby flubber effortlessly in a few seconds.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Always avoid leaky rubbers. Can have unfortunate consequences.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I think the sealant suggested was probably just liquid latex. I used latex to fix a rib with porous tubes and it worked fine, costs about a tenner a litre on amazon.

Do you have a link to the product you used as I have a rib with porous tubes that I need to fix

 

[Stemar]

Get a rechargeable SUP pump. It will repressure your flabby flubber effortlessly in a few seconds.

I have one, that I got when I was recovering from open-heart surgery. I wouldn't be without it, but it does make one lazy!

We used to have inside storage that meant I had to deflate the dinghy to put it away. We now have a toast-rack storage where it stays inflated. Having fixed the leak, I went to put the dinghy to bed, and left it there while I ran the engine in a fresh water tank. Madame decided to be helpful by deflating the dinghy I stopped her, but we've now got a rather soft tube, coincidentally, the one that used to leak. No problem, we've got the electric pump and a manual backup. Erm, they're on the boat. What do we use to get to the boat? The inflatable dinghy...

 

[Boathook]

I have one, that I got when I was recovering from open-heart surgery. I wouldn't be without it, but it does make one lazy!

We used to have inside storage that meant I had to deflate the dinghy to put it away. We now have a toast-rack storage where it stays inflated. Having fixed the leak, I went to put the dinghy to bed, and left it there while I ran the engine in a fresh water tank. Madame decided to be helpful by deflating the dinghy I stopped her, but we've now got a rather soft tube, coincidentally, the one that used to leak. No problem, we've got the electric pump and a manual backup. Erm, they're on the boat. What do we use to get to the boat? The inflatable dinghy...

Buy a cheap one to keep in the car just in case it leaks or Madame decides to deflate it ......