| Small repairs and the addition of small | | | | 4") so they are stiff. It must be |
| accessories may be attempted by the | | | | natural hair (i.e. OK for lacquer); |
| owner if factory gluing instructions are | | | | bound in metal not plastic; preferably |
| followed closely. | | | | with wooden or metal handle. Careful not |
| Rips or holes larger than one inch in | | | | to get glue on areas of your boat |
| the air chambers or within two inches of | | | | besides the repair area. |
| a seam should be repaired with internal | | | | Old glue must be completely removed -- |
| and external patches by a professional | | | | solvent, sandpaper, scraping, grinding |
| repair technician at a certified repair | | | | with a Dremel tool. Glue will not stick |
| facility. | | | | to old glue. Clean it off thoroughly. Be |
| A quick patch repair may solve your | | | | careful not to burn or melt the fabric |
| problem for a short period of time, but | | | | if using a Dremel tool. Constant motion |
| we recommend you have it redone by a | | | | with the tool will prevent this problem. |
| professional. | | | | If your boat has ever been protected |
| We recommend that major repairs and the | | | | with ArmorAll® or |
| addition of large accessories such as | | | | another silicone or petroleum based |
| oar locks, seating or towing rings be | | | | product, you may have great difficulty |
| done by a professional repair technician | | | | getting a bond. Wipe the repair area |
| at a certified repair facility. | | | | well with MEK, follow the gluing |
| If your boat is still under warranty and | | | | instructions closely and hope for the |
| you are experiencing a seam failure; the | | | | best. |
| wooden transom separating from the | | | | Pinhole size leaks in most Hypalonfabric |
| molded transom flanges or tubeset; or | | | | or PVC boats sometimes may be repaired |
| the fabric is turning yellow and sticky, | | | | simply by use of either Seam Seal or Air |
| call your dealer immediately. Defective | | | | Seal liquids. You might be able to avoid |
| seams or sticky fabric may result in | | | | a patch on the boat. |
| complete warranty coverage and you may | | | | To find tiny leaks, take floor boards |
| receive a new boat for free or at a | | | | out, inflate boat hard. Put some liquid |
| small prorated fee. | | | | detergent in a bucket of water and with |
| If you plan to attempt a small repair, | | | | rag or big wash brush, scrub it all over |
| please follow these instructions | | | | boat. Keep watch for elusive, tiny |
| closely: | | | | bubbles. When you find the first leak, |
| ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR USING ALL | | | | keep looking. You might as well fix them |
| GLUES | | | | all at the same time! Remember, the |
| AND ALL FABRICS | | | | number one cause of slow leaks is a |
| LOW HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL | | | | poorly seated valve. Unscrew, clean. |
| Relative humidity must be less than 70%, | | | | Make sure little rubber O-rings are |
| preferably as low as 40%. | | | | good. They are the cheapest repair |
| Temperature 64° to | | | | possible. |
| 77°F. | | | | If patching, cut patches 1 to 2 " larger |
| Never fiddle around with these. Bond | | | | than tear in each direction and round |
| strength drops very rapidly with heat or | | | | the corners (a quarter makes a good |
| high humidity. Take your boat indoors. | | | | template for the edges). Little one inch |
| Don't even think about trying to glue on | | | | circles pasted over a pin hole won't |
| the dock or near the water or in direct | | | | last. Try to get the same fabric used by |
| sunlight. Professionals use a specially | | | | the manufacturer for your boat. The |
| built, climate controlled room, and | | | | inside and outside surface may be |
| still don't attempt to work on a rainy | | | | different. If you can't match color, |
| day. | | | | sometimes a cleverly shaped patch in |
| Note: You are using a two-part contact | | | | contrasting color can be made to look |
| cement. The solvents in the glue must | | | | like decoration instead of a Band-Aid. |
| evaporate before assembly. When ready to | | | | e.g. arrow, lightning bolt, even a new D |
| assemble parts, the glue must not be | | | | ring if in right spot. |
| tacky at all to the finger. It must not | | | | Professionals often put one on each side |
| have spots of whitish glaze. If so, you | | | | to look like they came with the boat. |
| may have spread the glue too thick, not | | | | Inflate boat to apply accessories. |
| waited long enough between coats, or a | | | | Deflate to patch air leaks, even if very |
| sudden drop in temperature or gust of | | | | small. Air pressure will bubble the |
| humid air may have occurred. Someone may | | | | patch before glue sets. |
| have opened the door, or you may have | | | | Use our inflatable boat restoration |
| leaned too close and breathed on it. | | | | paint if your boat is old looking, looks |
| Plan to stay in the room until finished. | | | | faded, is sticky or generally looks old |
| GENERAL TIPS | | | | and ugly. |
| Mark out your patch or accessory | | | | Do Not Smoke! Glues and solvents are |
| perimeter where it will be glued on. | | | | flammable. No open flames (e.g. furnace |
| Then use masking tape to tape off the | | | | or pilot light when working in a |
| area to ovoid getting MEK or glue on | | | | cellar.) Use in a well ventilated area. |
| other parts of your boat during the | | | | Fumes can be overwhelming. A carbon |
| repair process. | | | | filter respirator is recommended. MEK |
| This takes a little time but is well | | | | solvent smells, but is relatively safe. |
| worth it in the end as the glue is hard | | | | It is recommended that you not use |
| to get off the boat after it dries and | | | | Toluene - the factories do but it is |
| looks very messy when it dries and goes | | | | quite dangerous. |
| brown from the sun. | | | | Accelerator (small bottle) is toxic. If |
| If using small cans ( 1/4 L) mix the | | | | spilled on on your skin WASH IMMEDIATELY |
| entire can with the dose of accelerator. | | | | with soap and water. If in your eyes, |
| Inaccurate measurement will weaken the | | | | IMMEDIATELY FLUSH WITH WATER for at |
| glue. Once opened the accelerator cannot | | | | least 2 minutes and consult a physician. |
| be kept. Do not try to save it. The | | | | (Accelerator is an isocyanate based |
| quality of your final bond depends on | | | | product.) Always wear safety gear as |
| it. | | | | recommended by the manufacturer of glue, |
| Apply glue with a paint or glue brush | | | | solvent, accelerator, etc. |
| with the bristles cut short (1/2 to 3 | | | | |