Removing a dinghy towing eye

[robmcg]

Our PVC dinghy needs a new towing eye as the metal eye has worn through the reinforced pvc. I have a new one, but was wondering what the best way was to remove the old eye and its associated patch. I was thinking of a hot air gun to melt the glue but don't want to melt the front of the dinghy in the process. Any foolproof methods out there?

 

[Martin_J]

I had success with a hair dryer when removing an oar stowage patch (original fit on a pvc Zodiac) in order to fit a snap davit pad...

Finger tips got rather hot in the process..

Patience is the important part.. don't rush.. just a millimeter at a time...

I think a hot air gun would be rather too hot even on lowest setting.

 

[ctva]

Yes, hot air gun at low setting (raise until effective) and use a walpaper scraper ('cos its blunt) to push in at the edges to lift it.