FlexSeal end cones??

[ChilliSpoons]

A few years ago I bought a 10’ Hypalon Zodiac for super cheap. It needed some general clean up but served me well for multiple small lake fly fishing trips. The zodiac now leaks through the end cones where the rubber appears to became porous. Now I don’t want to spend a whole lot of time or money on this boat but I thought I’d give FlexSeal a shot at stopping or slowing the leak. I really don’t have much to lose.

Anyone have any experience or advice before I give this a try?

 

[km1125]

It's leaking air or water?? If it's air, don't both trying, as it won't work.

Are you sure that's where it's leaking?

 

[ChilliSpoons]

It leaks air out through the rubber. The leak isn’t confined to one pin hole but more like the rubber has become dry and porous allowing the air out of multiple cracks.

I used some green slime in the chamber and stood the zodiac up on it’s end cones. This worked for a trip or two but then the slow leaks resurfaced. I thought if I did the green slime treatment again I could then treat the rubber cones with the brush on FlexSeal.

I have low expectations but feel like I have nothing to lose. This is an old beat up boat which I have very little invested into. I’m just curious if the FlexSeal will be flexible enough to deflate and fold up the boat back into the storage bag??

 

[Scott Danforth]

I doubt it will work, however, give it a try

 

[Sea Rider]

Would be much better to remove the end cone from the aft tube and seal the inside for a much stronger and long lasting repair, once fixed glue it back on tube..

Happy Boating

 

[km1125]

Would be much better to remove the end cone from the aft tube and seal the inside for a much stronger and long lasting repair, once fixed glue it back on tube..

Happy Boating

Yes, if it's the joint then I agree with this. I have done this on a 1994 RIB just recently and it worked great, as long as it's the joints that are leaking. You could also add a layer over the joint if that made you feel better.

 

[ChilliSpoons]

It’s not the joint that’s leaking. The air permeates through the rubber end cone. The rubber appears to be full of cracks from drying out.

I’m not looking for a permanent fix or something to invest a ton of time into. I can’t imagine replacing the end cones, it’s more than I’d want to dig into.

 

[Sea Rider]

It’s not the joint that’s leaking. The air permeates through the rubber end cone. The rubber appears to be full of cracks from drying out.

Sorry but the air should not permeate through the cone end, the cone it's placed there to protect the tube's fabric end, seals nothing, least air. Seems there's 2 issues going on, an air leak somewhere the fabric seam of the pointy end that's housed inside the plastic/rubber end cone and the cone being porous due to sun/elements natural degradation.



If don't want to inflate the Sib to it's working pressure each time will be used and re inflate it back once on water change both end cones for new ones along checking their seams condition before gluing them on. You got that Sib cheap so repair it cheap and have excellent boating fun now that summer is around the corner. Inquire Iboats, West Marine for them. Good Luck !!

Happy Boating

 

[ChilliSpoons]

Ok, I didn’t realize that the end cones were just there to protect the tube’s fabric. Interesting. So clearly there is a seam leak somewhere under the end cones that needs to be addressed. Those rubber end cones are so dry and cracked that any leak from underneath would easily pass through.

I’ll have to do a YouTube search to see what it takes to replace those end cones. This Zodiac isn’t my only small craft but it would be good to get it to where there are no more leaks.

This sounds like a great winter project when I find time between painting and selling fishing lures.

Thanks,
ChilliSpoons

 

[Sea Rider]

Talked to my Zodiac techie, the fixing procedure is as follows : must remove the round patch fabric located at both cone ends, must unglue part of the tube seam adjacent to the cone body to fully expose the old cone, remove it and glue the new one in, glue back both seams along both round patches in place. Use 2 part Hypalon glue, all pre gluing surfaces must be immaculate cleaned with Mek solvent.

For the moment could apply several thin layers of black undercoating material used to protect cars, let dry each layer before applying the next one. Be aware that everything is glued together so may have some hard times ungluing all the mentioned parts.

Happy Boating

 

[ChilliSpoons]

The removal of the end cones seems like it would be the biggest challenge. This Zodiac has goofy oarlocks and a buddy gave me a different style with oars. I looked at taking the old ones off and decided that the oars will be used as paddles if necessary, lol.

 

[Black Rat]

Where's a good source to find 2 part Hypalon glue[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] and the [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]MEK Solvent? Not seeing any in Iboats?[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Sea Rider]

Where's a good source to find 2 part Hypalon glue[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] and the [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]MEK Solvent? Not seeing any in Iboats?[/FONT][/FONT]

If Iboats "doesn't sell" that stuff, check west marine or defender which also sells Zodiac parts. It's a must to always carry a set of oars and a small anchor with long rope, when boating it's better to be extremely cautious just in case...

Happy Boating

 

[ChilliSpoons]

I have a set of oars but were brought along to be used as paddles in an emergency situation. The Zodiac was only used on small lakes that I could easily get to shore if my electric motor failed.

If I go down the path of end cone replacement then I’ll put the effort in to correct the oarlock issues. The problem is that the existing oarlocks are firmly attached. I played with some MEK to trying to soften the glue with no success. Not a ton of time was spent on this but it sure seems to be a rather large job.

It would be easier if I could find a proper set of oarlocks to thread into the existing mounts. I ordered a set of oarlocks that I seemed to be correct but they did not fit. They need to have a threaded end to attach to the mounts.

 

[Reelnice]

A few years ago I bought a 10’ Hypalon Zodiac for super cheap. It needed some general clean up but served me well for multiple small lake fly fishing trips. The zodiac now leaks through the end cones where the rubber appears to became porous. Now I don’t want to spend a whole lot of time or money on this boat but I thought I’d give FlexSeal a shot at stopping or slowing the leak. I really don’t have much to lose.

Anyone have any experience or advice before I give this a try?

I've used FlexSeal to fix a leaky gutter and it worked well, but I don't think I'd trust it to fix a leak on my boat. That's my 2 cents.