Inflatable Repair - Best Adhesives?

[tbwaterdog]

Just brought my Sea Eagle out of the attic after many years of storage and it looks like the seams have given out. I was able to slide my finger between the sections into the air storage cylinders. Also, the oar locks and side handles appear to be coming loose.

So it looks like the years of storage (and attic heat) have not been kind to my little inflatable. My question is what type of adhesive is best for repair? Two-part epoxy, rubber cement, tire repair glue, Elmers , etc? I still have the repair kit from Sea Eagle, but of course the repair materials are as old as the boat.

The inflatable is repairable, right?

Thanks.

 

[tbwaterdog]

Re: Inflatable Repair - Best Adhesives?

Just brought my Sea Eagle out of the attic after many years of storage and it looks like the seams have given out. I was able to slide my finger between the sections into the air storage cylinders. Also, the oar locks and side handles appear to be coming loose.

So it looks like the years of storage (and attic heat) have not been kind to my little inflatable. My question is what type of adhesive is best for repair? Two-part epoxy, rubber cement, tire repair glue, Elmers , etc? I still have the repair kit from Sea Eagle, but of course the repair materials are as old as the boat.

The inflatable is repairable, right?

Thanks.

Sorry. I was so freaked finding the boat would not hold air I just posted immediately. I've searched other threads now and it looks like Stabond is a good two-part adhesive recommended here. I'll make a trip to my local West Marine and get some.

I inflated this raft about two weeks ago to see if it was sea-worthy and I swear everything inflated and held. Now after buying a trailer for it I find that it leaks! I guess the repacking of it was the last straw that caused the seams to give out. The boat is perfect other than that (ha!). Hopefully the Stabond will do the trick as this thing looks like it just arrived from Sea Eagle.

 

[Peter_C]

Re: Inflatable Repair - Best Adhesives?

Does your attic get hot? Heat kills glue.

The reality is the boat is probably not worth fixing. Aren't those seams thermo welded? Most PVC boats are. There shouldn't be any glue there.

NRS Web sells Stabond.

Post a clean close-up photo of the leaking area.