BruceK
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2011
- Messages
- 13,347
- Vessel Name
- Sojourn
- Vessel Make
- Integrity 386
My "Island Inflatables" 2.6M was leaking water in, and air out. Had it a while. Quite good quality,not a bargain basement Chinese import, no Zodiac either, not hypalon,quite large diameter tubes, and takes a 6-10hp outboard(mine is 6hp Tohatsu). Maybe time for a new one, but I figured I`d try fixing it.
To find the water leak,I put it on supports, on paving, to see underneath, and poured water in. A seeping leak appeared at the corner formed by the transom. I marked it,and drained the water. The transom drain plug fitting I had suspected tested fine.
To find the air leak I inflated it hard and went over all the seams brushing on soapy water, like testing for propane leaks.
Eventually I got a good bubble at a seam of a side tube, but the seam was part covered with a reinforcing join strip.
Using reinforced pvc material and Sika waterproof contact cement I patched the water leak. The patch, and the area to be patched, were well sanded,wiped with acetone, and brought together after 2 coats of glue were touch dry, followed by much pressing and pushing towards the edges.Then left for 24 hours.
The leaking seam was more difficult,I couldn`t see the defect, but knew where it was. I had some Sika polyurethane glue on hand, it`s supposed to require one surface to be porous, pvc rubber is not, after talking to Sika I ran the glue into the area. It is thin, runs well, and has gap filling ability. I saw air bubble through the glue. More glue, and let it set for 24 hours, weighted to allow flow towards the defect. Then sanded the glue smooth and followed the patch procedure.
The dinghy has 3 air chambers, each side and bow. The bow was deflating, to a lesser extent, with the side tube, but I found no bow defect. When I inflated the repaired side chamber the bow one went hard, I figure the loss of support pressure of the deflating side chamber allowed the bow one to slump towards it.
That or a communicating internal leak, but I doubt that.
I`m yet to test the water leak, but fairly sure it`s fixed. So I sent the Admiral a confident message "It`s rock-hard." We`ll see what happens when I drop it in the water tomorrow.
To find the water leak,I put it on supports, on paving, to see underneath, and poured water in. A seeping leak appeared at the corner formed by the transom. I marked it,and drained the water. The transom drain plug fitting I had suspected tested fine.
To find the air leak I inflated it hard and went over all the seams brushing on soapy water, like testing for propane leaks.
Eventually I got a good bubble at a seam of a side tube, but the seam was part covered with a reinforcing join strip.
Using reinforced pvc material and Sika waterproof contact cement I patched the water leak. The patch, and the area to be patched, were well sanded,wiped with acetone, and brought together after 2 coats of glue were touch dry, followed by much pressing and pushing towards the edges.Then left for 24 hours.
The leaking seam was more difficult,I couldn`t see the defect, but knew where it was. I had some Sika polyurethane glue on hand, it`s supposed to require one surface to be porous, pvc rubber is not, after talking to Sika I ran the glue into the area. It is thin, runs well, and has gap filling ability. I saw air bubble through the glue. More glue, and let it set for 24 hours, weighted to allow flow towards the defect. Then sanded the glue smooth and followed the patch procedure.
The dinghy has 3 air chambers, each side and bow. The bow was deflating, to a lesser extent, with the side tube, but I found no bow defect. When I inflated the repaired side chamber the bow one went hard, I figure the loss of support pressure of the deflating side chamber allowed the bow one to slump towards it.
That or a communicating internal leak, but I doubt that.
I`m yet to test the water leak, but fairly sure it`s fixed. So I sent the Admiral a confident message "It`s rock-hard." We`ll see what happens when I drop it in the water tomorrow.
Last edited by a moderator: