Seams A Problem?

[Kings Gambit]

It was really hot last week here in Long Beach. Record heat on Thursday and Friday—100 deg F on Friday. I pulled the inflatable RIB from the water on Friday b/f 1100 and put on the cover. Returned around 1800 to find one chamber deflated. A seam had opened up; evidently blew out due to the heat raising the internal air pressure. Now I’m wondering how likely that another seam will open after I repair this one. I’ve had the boat four yr in May; the warranty on the seams was for three years. So, it looks like the manufacturer knows well the “half-life” of the glue, etc. Move on or repair? I wouldn’t want a second one to open while on a trip this summer.

 

[jssailem]

Reminds me of the term, Planned Obsolescence.

A real headache

 

[jeepbluetj]

Hypalon or PVC?

If PVC you know the answer.

Hypalon though is definitely worth fixing.

 

[All U Get]

You can get tubes for some RIB’s.

 

[Richard19068]

If you haven't already you might try asking at Avalon rafts.

 

[higgs]

If you are going to spend the trip worrying about the seam it might be worth moving on.

 

[Kings Gambit]

If you are going to spend the trip worrying about the seam it might be worth moving on.

Not on a trip right now. But I do have a "spare" air-floor model. I guess the fix or not fix question is whether or not it or the others can be trusted, PVC or Hypalon either. Suddenly losing a seam is not like getting a puncture. A game of Russian Roulette?

 

[Tom J]

I had a seam rupture on a Zodiak. It was used when I bought it, and was showing it's age. Sat out in the Florida sun too long one day and blew the seam. I repaired it, but never trusted it completely. Now I have a Walker Bay RiB, and make it a point to let some air out of the tubes on a hot day.

 

[higgs]

Not on a trip right now. But I do have a "spare" air-floor model. I guess the fix or not fix question is whether or not it or the others can be trusted, PVC or Hypalon either. Suddenly losing a seam is not like getting a puncture. A game of Russian Roulette?

If you see it as "Russian Roulette" why bother?

 

[Kings Gambit]

... and make it a point to let some air out of the tubes on a hot day.

That should have occurred to me; to let out some air that morning. This not being FL, however, and it being rare to be so hot it just did not come to mind as a matter of routine. The repair guys say it needs a special glue different from the stuff used to patch a puncture.

Ever tried to make it back to your boat, or to shore, in an inflatable dinghy rapidly losing air? It's true that with the other chambers still inflated the boat might not sink outright, but you cannot ride in it for long. Soon, you and your passengers end up in the water. I barely got back ashore once with crew aboard after scraping an oyster shell along some riprap. Tore a small hole. Boat was inclined significantly toward the deflating side.