Dinghy Transom Seam Repair
- Thread starter ken emigh
- Start date
Charlie,
On my inflatable where transom meets the rubber bottom especially in the aft corner areas. The seam corners have come unglued. These corners face forward so while under way it forces water in causing the boat to take on water. While at rest it seems to be a slow leak. What can I use to reseal those areas?
Thanks
On my inflatable where transom meets the rubber bottom especially in the aft corner areas. The seam corners have come unglued. These corners face forward so while under way it forces water in causing the boat to take on water. While at rest it seems to be a slow leak. What can I use to reseal those areas?
Thanks
call your local inflatable boat dealer, they will have a patch kit with the correct instructions on how to repair inflatables. the good news is almost all things on an inflatable can be fixed like new. they may not look new but if it holds air it is.
New problem. The Wood Transom, on each side has come unglued from the rubber boot, attached to the pylons. What adhesive can I use? Can exterior seam tape be purchased and from whom? Also contacted a local repair shop. They said they won't touch boat becuase it is to old. So this will be a DIY job.
FWIW, years ago a fellow boater gave me a Tropic by Bombard with the exact problem. Seems this boat was warranted by the manufacture during the warranty period. They replaced the boat with a new unit, the fellow boaters gave me their old one (was supposed to be destroyed). Tried everything but it always leaked. We still used it with its faults but had to accept what it was. Finally the transom came unglued from the side pieces and I gave up. Went and bought a SeaWorthy (I felt the tubes were too small on the Seaworthy but that's another story). I was too concerned the floor would come off from the bow while cruising and toss the riders under and into the prop. Wish I had better news but that is my experience with a PVC boat. Even the Hypalons have a limited life if left in the sun.
Good luck regardless.
Good luck regardless.
I believe I can repair providing I know what to use to bond the wood transom to the rubber boots it fits in. I have weldwood contact cement, or should I use 3m 5200 sealant adhesive. I should be able to seal the seams that are inside and out with shore adhesive? Any suggestions please?
Thanks
Thanks
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Ken, the to shelf stuff for Hypalon is Bostik 2402. I've only found one place to get it in the US (besides through GSA, but that's not an option here). E-mail or PM me and I'll point you in the right direction - I'm not going to post links or information here. This is the same adhesive Avon constructs their boats with. Good stuff, but the VOC's are ridiculous. This is no kidding need a respirator stuff.
With a better idea of what, exactly, the problems you're trying to fix are, I could probably offer some advice. Photos would be VERY helpful. If you're looking to just reglue the wooden transom back into the tabs that hold it - might not be so easy. Higher end inflatables use several layers of tabs going in different directions on different pieces - not a simple 'socket' arrangement. Again, photos would be good here. Also, if the bonding has completely failed anyways, might as well fabricate a new transom now. Hardest part of the job is reinstalling it, and on a boat that old, odds favor replacement being the good bet. Kind of like replacing the timing belt when you're having the water pump done, or replacing the water pump when you're having the timing belt done. You're there anyways, the comparatively minor cost versus repeating the bulk of the cost to access that point in the process again makes sense. With the ready availability and easy application of modern epoxy resins, high grade marine plywood is not as necessary as it used to be for such parts.
With a better idea of what, exactly, the problems you're trying to fix are, I could probably offer some advice. Photos would be VERY helpful. If you're looking to just reglue the wooden transom back into the tabs that hold it - might not be so easy. Higher end inflatables use several layers of tabs going in different directions on different pieces - not a simple 'socket' arrangement. Again, photos would be good here. Also, if the bonding has completely failed anyways, might as well fabricate a new transom now. Hardest part of the job is reinstalling it, and on a boat that old, odds favor replacement being the good bet. Kind of like replacing the timing belt when you're having the water pump done, or replacing the water pump when you're having the timing belt done. You're there anyways, the comparatively minor cost versus repeating the bulk of the cost to access that point in the process again makes sense. With the ready availability and easy application of modern epoxy resins, high grade marine plywood is not as necessary as it used to be for such parts.