PVC inflatable repair glue

[Hayden Watson]

My PVC Zodiac has a couple of water leaks that are coming through the transom / bottom reinforcement patches. I have patch material but the glue that I have is hard. What type of glue do I need, and can it be found at hardware stores or where can it be ordered from.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I have always used 2-part glue that is available from many boating supplies stores. I have read where the additive part only provides better protection against gasoline and is not needed for the glue to work properly. So maybe the 1-part glues are adequate.
Search this SBO board and I think you will find specific recommendations for your dinghy. The one warning that I think is common to all of the glues is that they be used under low humidity conditions. And the area to be patched is clean and roughed up. If the dinghy had been cleaned or "protected' with a silicone based product, just wipe with the approved solvent in one direction and don't use sandpaper to rough up the surface. This is because the sandpaper can actually cause the silicon to become embedded in the surface and ruin an otherwise perfect adhesion.

If you do an internet search on "best glue for pvc inflatable dinghy repairs" you will find lots of information.

 

[MikeHoncho]

I think ive tried them all and the two part expensive stuff works the best.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I have always used 2-part glue that is available from many boating supplies stores. I have read where the additive part only provides better protection against gasoline and is not needed for the glue to work properly. So maybe the 1-part glues are adequate.
Search this SBO board and I think you will find specific recommendations for your dinghy. The one warning that I think is common to all of the glues is that they be used under low humidity conditions. And the area to be patched is clean and roughed up. If the dinghy had been cleaned or "protected' with a silicone based product, just wipe with the approved solvent in one direction and don't use sandpaper to rough up the surface. This is because the sandpaper can actually cause the silicon to become embedded in the surface and ruin an otherwise perfect adhesion.

If you do an internet search on "best glue for pvc inflatable dinghy repairs" you will find lots of information.

Thanks, that worked. I had done a search but if you do not use the correct words, you do not get good results.

I ended up getting Gear Aid Aquaseal FD.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I think ive tried them all and the two part expensive stuff works the best.

If I was doing a structural repair, I would probably spring for a 2-part. This repair is just to stop a small water leak through the floor/transom joint. The tubes hold air but after a day or two I have just enough water inside to get my shoes wet when I move to the back of the boat.

 

[MikeHoncho]

If I was doing a structural repair, I would probably spring for a 2-part. This repair is just to stop a small water leak through the floor/transom joint. The tubes hold air but after a day or two I have just enough water inside to get my shoes wet when I move to the back of the boat.

I've tried HH66 which is the common one part pvc glue for reattaching patches and general stuff and it always has failed over time. Polymarine 2 part was the only stuff that actually held up with aged materials. I ended up decommissioning the dinghy after the rest of the floor separated and the repair held. The additive to the two part in curing agent but you can get primers for the single part glues that are suppose to assist with adhesion on aged materials, I've never tried it. I've used Aquaseal for leaks in waders and leaking water ballast bags and it holds up. Its a sealant and not so much a adhesive which sounds like what you are looking for. 3m5200 is excellent also but doesn't flex as much.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I've tried HH66 which is the common one part pvc glue for reattaching patches and general stuff and it always has failed over time. Polymarine 2 part was the only stuff that actually held up with aged materials. I ended up decommissioning the dinghy after the rest of the floor separated and the repair held. The additive to the two part in curing agent but you can get primers for the single part glues that are suppose to assist with adhesion on aged materials, I've never tried it. I've used Aquaseal for leaks in waders and leaking water ballast bags and it holds up. Its a sealant and not so much a adhesive which sounds like what you are looking for. 3m5200 is excellent also but doesn't flex as much.

With the Aquaseal, I figure that I can probably just apply it all around the reinf tabs on the outside where I found the water leaking and because it will be on the pressure side of the leak that should seal it without needing to add a patch which will just make it stiffer. When I am not cruising, I roll it up and store in the garage which is why I think it leaks at those two spots.
I also have a hole in the inseam one of my sea boots and it might temporarily fix it as well.

 

[RoyS]

You can buy syringe assortments on Amazon and use one to inject your sealant under the existing reinforcement patch. Might work.

 

[MikeHoncho]

Aqua seal worked well for what you are using it for. You can get it with a primer as well. I have a kit of it in my “save -a-dive “ kit for my drysuit.

 

[Hello Below]

@Hayden Watson, my go to adhesive of late is West System 650 g/flex. It seems to adhere to almost anything; although, I have not tried it on Starboard or Kingboard yet. I have used it on my Walker Bay hypalon inflatable and it has held up on both the keel rub strips (rubber and hypalon) and also the transom and tube junction (wood and hypalon).

Available Up the Street at West Marine

 

[Kings Gambit]

Stabond UK 148 two-part adhesive. Also, check with inflatable boat shops’ parts/sales department(s) for products & information. Trade Winds inflatables in Santa Ana; Inflatable Boat Specialists in Ventura; The Harbour Chandler in Nanaimo.

 

[Hayden Watson]

@Hayden Watson, my go to adhesive of late is West System 650 g/flex. It seems to adhere to almost anything; although, I have not tried it on Starboard or Kingboard yet. I have used it on my Walker Bay hypalon inflatable and it has held up on both the keel rub strips (rubber and hypalon) and also the transom and tube junction (wood and hypalon).

Available Up the Street at West Marine

I have used a lot of the G-flex but never thought about it being flexible enough for an inflatable.

 

[Ken13559]

I've been patching my Zodiac RU3 for last 15 years+ with HH-66. Did annual check and re-patch on joints (fortunately no puncture repair) even for this rarely used PVC dinghy. So its annual re-patch on "old wounds". Yah, HH-66 is not a one-stop repair.