Leaky Dinkie

[Ski in NC]

My old inflatable Bombard dink leaks. Not air, but water. Right where the skin of the bottom meets the transom and also meets the pontoon. A three way joint. It has been patched there before, and none have sealed it up. It is old and crusty and some of the skin is starting to peel, so I doubt the regular patch kit will work. Also a flat patch does not want to follow the contour of the three way joint.

Kind of tired of wet feet. Get in dink, feet get wet. Water cold? Cold wet feet. Shoes on? Wet shoes. Grrr.

Since this thing is 14yrs old and probably not long for this world, I'm thinking of a redneck 5200 glue fest. As long as it does not attack the skin, I guess there is no harm in trying. Worst case is wet feet, which I am used to.

Anyone tried 5200 on dink skin?? Will it eat through and then I have a fatal air leak?

 

[healhustler]

5200 is a heck of an adhesive, but hardly flexible. If you're gonna 5200 it, it won't be able to move much without eventually cracking. It's a tough call, Ski, but like you said, it may be ready for the deep six anyway. Lifeline Products in Miami are specialists in dinghy repair. Might try to contact them.

 

[Ski in NC]

The problem 3-way corner does not have much motion or flex there, so flex would not be a big issue. I'll look up Lifeline.

 

[hmason]

Ski, are you a sailor?

 

[HopCar]

hmason, are you implying that Ski is cheap?
I once repaired an inflatable dive vest with 5200 and a piece of cloth.

 

[hmason]

Who me??

 

[healhustler]

hmason, are you implying that Ski is cheap?
I once repaired an inflatable dive vest with 5200 and a piece of cloth.

True. If there isn't much flex in that corner, a layer of 5200, then fiberglass window screen, then another layer of 5200 might do it.

 

[N4712]

Only real men use 5200! That stuff Is my version of duct tape.

 

[Ski in NC]

Ski, are you a sailor?

No, capable of grandma level sailing, that's it. So not a sailboater til fuel gets to what, 8 bucks a gal?? But I am TOO CHEAP to buy a new dink. Not yet. Same DNA I guess.

Gots me some glue, though!!!

Will report on results.

 

[hmason]

Go for it. Make sure the glue holds before you go into water above 3 feet.

 

[Capt.Bill11]

I've use 5200 on hypalon many times and it works great.

 

[FlyWright]

5200 seems like overkill. Have you considered 4200 for better flexibility?

I like the fiberglass screen idea!!

 

[Forkliftt]

I've use 5200 on hypalon many times and it works great.

Ditto. On a few rub rail tears it did great. Hypalon dink.


1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's

 

[cafesport]

Listen to flywright and use the fast cure 4200. Used it many times to make knee pads patch boots etc on old dry suits. It flexible strong waterproof and adheres to anything including the trilaminate materials with nylon and gortex out.


Via iPhone.

 

[psneeld]

How a out that spray on stuff they advertise by putting a screen door in a boat and spraying it?

Supposed to be very flexible and stick to anything......

Anyone ever use it?

Bad news may be if it doesn't work.....it may be hard to remove.

 

[Capt.Bill11]

Interesting thought.

 

[Pack Mule]

Ski there was a story I think in an old Latitudes and Attitudes magazine about a guy that repaired his with 5200 . He got so much of on this hands that he had handprints all around his repair . So he just went with that scheme all over the dinghy thinking nobody gonna want to steal this one . I think his repair worked fine .5200 is a lot cheaper than 4200 . I guess it's the cure time .

 

[rardoin]

How a out that spray on stuff they advertise by putting a screen door in a boat and spraying it?

Supposed to be very flexible and stick to anything......

Yeah...FLEXSEAL... you'll get two cans for price of one (if you order in the next five minutes!)....oh...plus a little inflated S/H charge on the second can, but wait!!! They will also throw in a ShamWOW!

But seriously...it sounds like your dink is nearing its useful life so what do you have to lose? May not be pretty but it might work.