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 PVC and Urethane only. We have a separate article written for your Hypalon inflatable.
With that said, it’s good to look at a field repair as a Temporary fix. Many of the boats that come to me with a repair done in field require a great deal more work because people try to affect a permanent repair while on the river. Without the suitable environment and tools, it’s hard to get a proper permanent fix. Obtaining a good permanent patch, once in the shop, can end up being more costly because of damage caused by the incorrect field repair itself.
For a field PVC and Urethane temporary repair the techniques and process used are the same.
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.
4. Apply MEK to a piece of cloth and rub the area to be patched briskly to remove the shine from the material. You should see the color of your boat coming off onto your cloth. The surface of the material should begin to get tacky. Be sure to do this to both the boat and patch surfaces to be glued.
At Goodwater Boat Works, we prefer to use Stabond orCliftonadhesives to get the best results with these techniques.
5. With a brush, apply a light coat of adhesive to the patch and boat on the area to be glued. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the adhesive to totally dry before attaching the patch to the boat.(One coat of adhesive should be all that’s needed). After the adhesive is fully dry to the touch, reactivate the surface by wiping it down with MEK.
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. It’s best to set up camp and let the patch cure overnight. But if you have to get going, cover the patch with duct tape to help it stay there until you get off the river.
If you feel like you need another coat of MEK use the same technique as above.
Happy boating,
Goodwater Boat Works