YAM Inflatable Dinghy - time to replace?

[West Coast]

My YAM inflatable dinghy is now 14 years old, kept inflated most of the sailing season in a dinghy pen, deflated in garage store for winter season. I suspect it is a PVC material (it is certainly not hyperlon) and the surface is starting to feel slightly sticky to touch.

It is loosing air pressure, requiring a repump in only a few days now; I wondered if these are the valves which I could replace. But what sort of life would the team expect for this type of fabric? Have I done well for 14 years, and think about replacing it? Is the fact that the fabric surface is becoming a bit tacky trying to tell me something?!

Cheers

 

[landlockedpirate]

General feeling over on the Sib section of Rib.net is 10 years, 14 years constant use is very good. The sticky fabric is a sign of UV damage, its not worth spending money on IMHO.

Flog it on Ebay as spares or repairs with an honest description and replace it. Lots to choose from sub £300 to over £1000.

 

[davidpbo]

Before you do anything use some soapy water to try and identify where the leak is coming from.

Valves and around any joint to the fabric and any seams. Most likely unless you have punctured it somehow. This We had a problem in the summer with air leaking from where the valves joined the tubes.

Detailed here:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...nflatable-valve-leaking&p=4311625#post4311625

Our dinghy is hypalon and older than 12yrs and stored the same as o.ps. The repair cost me about £15 and meant it only required a bit of pumping every few days.

 

[West Coast]

Thanks both.

Interestingly, I am loosing small amounts of air from all the different compartments, including the airdeck floor. Hence my suspicion regarding the valves or perhaps tired fabric material.

 

[davidpbo]

I was losing air from all three compartments at about the same rate as all three seals had gone. In my case I could see a way to effect a trial repair at modest coat and effort.

At the very least it has been good for the rest of the season. If I don't think there are leaks elsewhere I may replace with the valves with ones with oversized surrounds but that will cost of the order of £ 100.

 

[West Coast]

I was losing air from all three compartments at about the same rate as all three seals had gone.

OK - good call, will try this when I get the dinghy home in the next week of so (winterising the boat shortly)

 

[l'escargot]

My Yam dinghy of a similar age developed leaks from a number of places along the inner seams. Patched a couple but I came to the conclusion it was a general degradation and went for a replacement.