My pvc dinghy is dirty. Kind of sticky gunk that wont come up. I've tried Island Girl products. Acetone will cut it, but i know thats not good for my pvc. Dink is 1 yr old, uncovered. Your help is welcome.
Dirty Dinghy
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Sounds like a warranty claim. Sticky PVC is a problem many of the PVC makers have had, Like Zodiac, but it should not happen within a year...
Warrantee claim is a good course of action.
If that fails, most of the 'stickiness' (probably diOctylPthalate a compound used in PVC molding/forming) that 'shows-up' on this type of PVC is soluble in light weight mineral oil (apply and let soak), then you have to clean off the mineral oil.
If that fails, most of the 'stickiness' (probably diOctylPthalate a compound used in PVC molding/forming) that 'shows-up' on this type of PVC is soluble in light weight mineral oil (apply and let soak), then you have to clean off the mineral oil.
Warranty Claim ...............................
......................... is definitely the way to go after only one year.
As a bit of an aside, I had a Quicksilver inflatable which started to show stickiness on the heavy PVC handles after 5 years and this dink spent most of its time in the garage rafters and covered. :cussing:
Found that I could remove the stickiness with a quick wipe of acetone and then coated the surface with ArmourAll every year.
Got a few more sticky patches and treated them the same way. I think the catch here is a "quick wipe" with acetone. Anything more may lead to deeper penetration and subsequent damage. Dink still looks like new after about 12 years.
I've also been doing this to my 30A marine electric cable every two years and it still looks new and very flexible after 12 yeqars. If it every does start to damage the cable, it owes me nothing, into the garbage it goes, and I've had an "imitation new" cable for12 years.
......................... is definitely the way to go after only one year.
As a bit of an aside, I had a Quicksilver inflatable which started to show stickiness on the heavy PVC handles after 5 years and this dink spent most of its time in the garage rafters and covered. :cussing:
Found that I could remove the stickiness with a quick wipe of acetone and then coated the surface with ArmourAll every year.
Got a few more sticky patches and treated them the same way. I think the catch here is a "quick wipe" with acetone. Anything more may lead to deeper penetration and subsequent damage. Dink still looks like new after about 12 years.I've also been doing this to my 30A marine electric cable every two years and it still looks new and very flexible after 12 yeqars. If it every does start to damage the cable, it owes me nothing, into the garbage it goes, and I've had an "imitation new" cable for12 years.
Return it. Warranty issue and cannot be fixed.
It happens. Not sure what PVC fabric is being used on the West Marine boats. Not all PVC fabrics are of equal quality.
When you get the new boat, treat routinely with Protectant 303, UV Tech or the new MDR UV inhibitor for inflatables.
Stephan
Suggest you return boat for replacement. It is not repairable and there are methods to "remove" the sticky surface coating (Ethyl Acetate is what we use in the shop), but the stickiness will come back as it is the plasticizers in the PVC fabric leaching out.
It happens. Not sure what PVC fabric is being used on the West Marine boats. Not all PVC fabrics are of equal quality.
When you get the new boat, treat routinely with Protectant 303, UV Tech or the new MDR UV inhibitor for inflatables.
Stephan
I have a Walker Bay dingy that is 5 years old. There is a glued on insignia on the bow that has become sticky this past season. On mine the residue from this has been transfered to a few other places on the dinghy by peoples hands and clothing. Perhaps others have the same problem and think it is the PVC of the dinghy overall that is producing the sticky residue?
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