HYPALON INFLATABLE BOAT REPAIR
Ensure you know what type of material you are repairing, as there are different types of processes for repairing your inflatable depending on the TYPE OF MATERIAL it is. This article concerns rafts, catarafts and inflatable kayaks made of Hypalon only. We have a separate article written for your PVC and Urethane inflatable. (See Blog post dated August 12, 2012)
Remember to look at a field repair as a Temporary fix. Trying to affect a proper and permanent repair while on the river, without the suitable environment and tools, may end up costing much more time in the shop when correcting the damaged area caused by an incorrect repair.
The first three steps are for preparing and assessing the appropriate size patch to affix to your boat. These are the SAME steps used with any type of material, weather Hypalon, PVC or Urethane.
1. Clean and dry the damaged area inside and out.
2. Measure the size of the damaged area to determine what size patch will be needed. The size of the hole or tear determines the method of repair needed.
A) For small holes, repair tape or duct tape may work.
B) For larger holes 2-6 inches in size, an exterior patch alone should do the trick.
C) For tears and holes 6 or more inches, an interior patch may be needed. Duct tape works great as a field interior patch. This will add structure and extra holding power to the repair.
3. Cut out the appropriate size patch material. This should be 2 ½ to 3 in. larger than the damaged area in all directions. Now that you’ve got the right size patch, it’s time to prep and glue. It’s important to use the right adhesive appropriate for the material!
4. Before applying the glue, LIGHTLY go over the area to be patched with a raspier or sandpaper. Don’t be too aggressive or you can damage the material.
At Goodwater Boat Works, we use Shore adhesive and Tolulol to get the best results with Hyaplon repair.
5. Lightly dab the surface area with Tolulol. Then with a brush, apply a thin coat of shore adhesive. Allow to dry for 30 minutes. Then reactivate the glue with a dab of Tolulol again and then apply a second thin coat of shore adhesive and allow to dry for 15 minutes or until “tacky” to the touch.
6. Now affix patch to boat by starting at the middle and applying pressure, working your way towards the outside, to remove any air bubbles. This technique is best done with a pusher tool.
7. If possible, it’s best to set up camp and let the patch cure overnight. But if you have to get going, you can cover the patch with duct tape to keep it secure until you get off the river.