Inflatable Boat Repairs

A Few Simple Repairs and Your Boat is as Good as New!

The one disadvantage that inflatable boats have when compared with the wooden or aluminum type is the fact that they do develop holes, rips, and tears from time to time. These damages can be caused by obstacles in the water or just from the erosion that is normal with the passing of time. There are several different repair kits available to keep your inflatable boat afloat for a long time to come.

The simplest repair kit to use is a patch kit. This kit includes a cleaning solution, a bonding agent, and a piece of cloth that you can use to make a patch.  You first measure the piece of cloth up against the hole to determine how big of patch that you will need, cutting away any excess material. Then you need to clean the area around the hole or tear with the cleaning solution, making sure that all foreign particles are removed. You can then apply the bonding to the area surrounding the tear and press the patch firmly in place over it. Make sure that you read the instructions to determine how long you must wait before you can get the area wet. This will prevent you from putting your boat back into the water before the bonding compound is completely set.

Another type of repair kit that is available for inflatable boats is a seam-repair kit. This kit is especially designed to repair rips and holes along the seams and air valves of your inflatable boat. You simply pull the sides of the ripped seam together and spread the bonding compound across the area. As it dries, this compound forms a new seam to replace the old one. Again, you need to read the kit instructions to ensure that you do not get the repaired area wet before the compound has set.

There is also a sealant repair kit available that is especially useful for slight leaks that cannot easily be traced to their source. These kits are blown into the air valve and seal your inflatable boat from the inside. When using these types of repair kits, you are usually able to put your boat into the water almost immediately.

If your boat has developed a leak or a hole in an area that has PVC material, you may need to purchase a PVC repair kit. These kits consist of a heat-activated solution that enables you to make lasting repairs to your inflatable boat. While the kit may come with glue and accelerator as well as material to make a patch, you may need to purchase a cleaning solution such as MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) and a Scotch Brite pad for buffing.

The first step that you need to do is to thoroughly clean the area with the MEK while buffing it smooth with the pad. You should let the boat sit to enable the dust from buffing to settle and to also allow any water vapor to evaporate. You then need to make your heat-activated solution by mixing 98% glue with 2% accelerator.  You apply this solution to both the area around the hole and the patch. You wait for approximately fifteen minutes and apply a second coat to both areas. You need to allow this second coat to dry completely. You then press the patch over the hole and place a pan of hot water on a section of it to heat activate the solution. You hold the pan in place for approximately two minutes, after which you move the pan to the next section of the patch. You repeat this process until the whole patch has been activated. In emergency situations, the solution is 80% cured within a few hours which will enable you to get back in the water to get home. Otherwise, you should leave the boat sit for about one week, at which time the solution will be 100% cured.

Another option for fixing small pinholes is adhesive paint. This paint is applied with a brush and fills in holes that you may not have realized that your boat had. Before you place the boat back into the water, make sure that the paint is completely dry. The instructions can give you a good idea of how long this process will take, although you may need to take into consideration the heat and humidity in the area where you are painting.

By using the proper repair kit to repair any damages that your boat may have, you can be assured of giving your inflatable boat a longer life.

See Also: Inflatable Canoes

About The Author:
Cara Kelley is a successful author and regular contributor to best-inflatable-boats.com.