I have a 7 year old Achilles hypalon dink with an inflatable keel. The keel has an opening (not a cut) about 2-3" along the factory installed seam. Can anyone tell me if this can be repaired? If so, how would I go about it? Thanks
Achilles Hypalon Keel Repair
- Thread starter sailingguy2005
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Repair
I would think you could call some pro repairer for a price or order the special glue they sell and try yourself repairing it,call a dealer for more info.
Nick
I would think you could call some pro repairer for a price or order the special glue they sell and try yourself repairing it,call a dealer for more info.
Nick
As Nick said, try a local inflatable repair shop. If none available contact Defender Industries, in Waterford, CT, and get some Shore Hypalon Adhesive (1/2 Pint can). They also have a Shore cleaning solvent in the same size can and can ship both to yu easily.
Glue
I did use the from defender to glue my added davit mounts and so far very good holding the dinghy davit mounts on the stern of my h-36,just read the instructions and give it a shot,that's what the pro do to repair them.
Follow the instructions as I did and it should work.
Nick
I did use the from defender to glue my added davit mounts and so far very good holding the dinghy davit mounts on the stern of my h-36,just read the instructions and give it a shot,that's what the pro do to repair them.
Follow the instructions as I did and it should work.
Nick
All right I give in ....I keep running into you posting ... So.... I may have a solution for your problem. Down here in Kemah,Texas just about everyone including myself use these folks for all inflatable dingy issuies. They are very nice to work with and do most excellant work. Contact them.
http://store.triadmarine.com/cart.html To get your dingy to them you will have to have it shipped down here of course, but they may know of someone near you that knows how to properly fix the problem you are having.
Tell them I sent you.
Good Luck
RR
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SailingGuy,
Air keels can be fixed, but they are a component in the boat that gets a lot of work and should be done professionally. Even then, many air keel repairs will fail again, due to the stresses on that component.
Depending on what model Achilles boat you have, you might consider just replacing the entire air keel, which is not very difficult and would likely cost about the same as a professional repair of a damaged keel.
Most Achilles air keels sell in the neighborhood of $100-$140. You heat the old mounting feet to remove the old one (heat gun or good hair drier works), clean, prep and use bostik adhesive to glue in the new one (which will last longer than the old, repaired keel.......but will cost about the same for the project).
Good luck
Stephan
Air keels can be fixed, but they are a component in the boat that gets a lot of work and should be done professionally. Even then, many air keel repairs will fail again, due to the stresses on that component.
Depending on what model Achilles boat you have, you might consider just replacing the entire air keel, which is not very difficult and would likely cost about the same as a professional repair of a damaged keel.
Most Achilles air keels sell in the neighborhood of $100-$140. You heat the old mounting feet to remove the old one (heat gun or good hair drier works), clean, prep and use bostik adhesive to glue in the new one (which will last longer than the old, repaired keel.......but will cost about the same for the project).
Good luck
Stephan
Thanks for the input everyone. But due to the location and type of repair needed I'm going to just replace the keel. Got estimates to repair it for $120-$140 and no guarantee that it will hold. New keel about $150 + adhesive. Sort of a "no brainer".
Thanks again....
Thanks again....
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