Tricky inflatable dinghy repair

[chris-s]

We’ve put up with a slow leak on our dinghy for too long now and I finally decided to track it down to what is probably one of the worst points where there are two seam tapes crossing and previous experience at repairing leaks around seams is not great.

I’m thinking of either…
1. Patch adhered with sika/ct1
2. Lift the edges and re-glue with pvc glue
3. It _might_ be within reach of the valve so an internal patch might be possible.



Any other suggestions?

 

[stephen_h]

I have had similar and put a patch along the seam to build it up to the same thickness and
then a large patch over the top.

 

[Plum]

We’ve put up with a slow leak on our dinghy for too long now and I finally decided to track it down to what is probably one of the worst points where there are two seam tapes crossing and previous experience at repairing leaks around seams is not great.

I’m thinking of either…
1. Patch adhered with sika/ct1
2. Lift the edges and re-glue with pvc glue
3. It _might_ be within reach of the valve so an internal patch might be possible.

View attachment 190880

Any other suggestions?

There is an article in the May 2025 PBO on patching inside and out.

 

[LiftyK]

Stormsure works well on vinyl. It’s very easy to apply. Have a look at their website to learn more.

 

[ylop]

I have had similar and put a patch along the seam to build it up to the same thickness and
then a large patch over the top.

Yes I've done that. You want to make sure you have a patch material that is as close as possible to the seam tape thickness. First make sure the seam tape is really well stuck down - you are about to bury it so don't want to hide the problem. Then cut a 1/4 circle* out of this material and patch the corner being just as rigorous with your prep as you would if this was where the leak actually was. Now get the patch as tight as you can into the tapes. Work some excess glue into any gap between the patch and the tape. Let it go off them prep another patch to cross the tape and the 1/4 circle. If possible dremmel (or sand) the edge of the tape where it crosses the other tape so it is more tapered and you don't have a step. Thoroughly apply this patch over this joint.

However as a much quicker fix I've used Tear-Aid repair tape on a paddleboard when I discovered the "proper glue" in the repair kit had gone off 3 years ago and my plan to "fix it properly" when that failed has not been needed - and that is a much higher pressure that a dinghy tube, but whilst the patch is over a seam the hole was a puncture beside the seam. I recently bought some clear gorrila tape in B&Q which reminded me a lot of the Tear Aid stuff but not used for an inflatable.

 

[jwilson]

I have used CT1 in grey: not to glue a patch on but first I masking taped a square around the leak, then smoothed some CT1 over to the edges of the masked patch, then peeled off masking tape and left to set. Similar edge of seam leak, what was done 3 years ago is still fine, and a thin 3 or 4 cm square of under a mm thick grey CT1 is a lot less obtrusive than a patch. CT1 is now my go to fix for small dinghy leaks rather than patches. Have the inflation pressure eased when doing this.

 

[chris-s]

Thanks for the replies, plenty of things to try.