need help - Crack in plastic

[bassraider]

I have a bass raider 8' boat with a leak. What kind of patching can i use? Really dont have the money for a new boat. Can anyone help?

 

[capt sam]

Re: need help

Re: need help

I don't know what a Bass Raider is, aluminum or fiberglass? Big hole, crack, what?

 

[bassraider]

Re: need help

Re: need help

fiberglass and the crack at its biggest is maybe an 8th of an inch.

 

[capt sam]

Re: need help

Re: need help

ever work with fiberglass or resin?

 

[bassraider]

Re: need help

Re: need help

No i sure havnt. But will find away if your telling me that would fix it.

 

[capt sam]

Re: need help

Re: need help

pics would help, there's quick fixes and good fixes, can you post a pic?

 

[bassraider]

Re: need help

Re: need help

Ill try but im looking for a good fix. Not quick i need something that will last me another year or two untill i have saved enough for another boat.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: need help

Re: need help

I adjusted the title in the thread

We have the best people for advice on xxxxxxxxxxx PLASTIC repair!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: need help

Re: need help

Wait! That boat is not fiberglass. It's some form of plastic called RAM-X. Don't start trying to fix it with fiberglass. Instead, contact the manufacturer about how to repair it.

It's a polyethylene plastic. Fiberglass resins won't stick to it properly. You need a repair kit made especially for that material.

Check with Pelican customer service and see what they recommend. They will have a kit for making repairs.

Another option is to look for a polyethylene repair kit elsewhere.

Don't use either epoxy or polyurethane resins. They won't stick.

 

[bassraider]

Re: need help - Crack in fiberglass

Re: need help - Crack in fiberglass

Thanks, I need the help. Would like to get it done this weekend if possible

 

[capt sam]

Re: need help

Re: need help

Wait! That boat is not fiberglass. It's some form of plastic called RAM-X. Don't start trying to fix it with fiberglass. Instead, contact the manufacturer about how to repair it.

It's a polyethylene plastic. Fiberglass resins won't stick to it properly. You need a repair kit made especially for that material.

Check with Pelican customer service and see what they recommend. They will have a kit for making repairs.

Another option is to look for a polypropylene repair kit elsewhere.

Don't use either epoxy or polyurethane resins. They won't stick.

dang, that's some serious help right there.

 

[bassraider]

Re: need help - Crack in fiberglass

Re: need help - Crack in fiberglass

I did contact them no reply. Sent four emails over two weeks. I gave up on them.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: need help

Re: need help

I have heard but have no first hand knowledge..... http://www.charloma.com has plastic repairs and read this thread

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=60309&highlight=plastic+repair

 

[CATransplant]

Re: need help - Crack in fiberglass

Re: need help - Crack in fiberglass

Google Polyethylene Repair. Try a shop that sells either Coleman Canoes or kayaks made of that same material. There are kits to repair them available. Some use sticks of the same material that you melt with a torch, sort of like welding.

That material tends to weaken with exposure to ultraviolet light, like sunshine. At some point they get beyond repair, I'm afraid. I had a kayak made of the stuff, and fixed it with the polyethylene welding sticks. It just cracked in another place.

Good luck!

 

[bassraider]

Re: need help - Crack in plastic

Thanks for all the help. Keep it coming if anything new comes up. First time on this forum and the best so far.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: need help - Crack in plastic

Here's a link to a kit:

http://oakorchardcanoe.com/detail.php?product=2440

 

[bassraider]

Re: need help - Crack in plastic

I didnt finish my though keep the help coming if anything comes up. Thanks CATransplant

 

[CATransplant]

Re: need help - Crack in plastic

No problem. I hope it all works out for you. I've run out of information, but keep searching the web, and you'll find lots more info on repairing that boat. Don't get discouraged by the bad stuff, and when you do the repair, repair beyond the current crack to make sure you get even stuff you can't see that might crack later. Overdo it is my advice. Don't worry about looks so much, but get lots of the repair stuff on there.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: need help - Crack in plastic

Do a google search for "plastic welding". Maybe someone in your area. There is a guy in town here that does all kinds of plastic welding, commercial, industrial, household etc.