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