How to Repair an Inflatable Boat

The owner can attempt small inflatable boat repairfabric may result in complete warranty coverage,
if factory-gluing instructions are followed closely.and the user may receive a new boat free, or at
Rips and holes larger than one inch in the aira small-prorated fee.
chambers, or those within two inches of a seam,Hypalon is a brand name of DuPont. Its technical
should be repaired with internal and externalname is chlorosulfonated polyethylene, but the
patches by a professional repair technician at auser may know it simply as synthetic rubber. It is
certified repair facility. A quick patch repair by theone of the most popular types of materials used
user may solve the problem for a short period ofin inflatable boat manufacture. Hypalon is more
time, but it is recommended to have it redone byexpensive than PVC, but lasts longer, being more
a professional.resilient to UV damage, abrasions, gas and oil. It
It is also recommended that major inflatable boathas an average life of 20-30 years. Hypalon
repair, and the addition of large accessories suchinflatable boats can be repaired and restored with
as oar locks, seating or towing rings, be done byadhesive.
a professional repair technician at a certified repairHypalon adhesive is a product that performs
facility.inflatable boat repairs and restores the boat to its
If the boat is still under warranty, and the user isoriginal condition. The adhesive has two parts, the
experiencing a seam failure, or the woodenBasecoat and the Topcoat, which are easily
transom is separating from the molded transomapplied by simply painting it on, after properly
flanges or tube set, or the fabric is turning yellowcleaning with a primer like Methyl Ethyl Ketone
and sticky, it is recommended that the dealer be(MEK). The adhesive comes in a variety of colors
contacted immediately. Defective seams or stickyto suit the color of the boat.