Sticky Dingy

[Tsatzsue]

Yes sticky. From what I have been reading my new to me dingy may be stuck for good. It is in great shape except for the sticky surface. I just scrubbed it with MaryKate inflatable cleaner and it came out mint. It is however still very sticky. Does anyone have any real experience with this ailment? I have read cures from peanut butter, talcum powder to acetone. I don't want to ruin it and the fabric still seems really solid. Painting may be the last resort. Help!!

 

[finding41]

Stay away from painting it. Paint has to have a solid surface to stick to. Once you let the air out once you will have problems with paint flaking off. Or worse. Flipping over or sliding around and becoming sticky.
Good luck.

 

[Piotr]

Yes sticky. From what I have been reading my new to me dingy may be stuck for good. It is in great shape except for the sticky surface. I just scrubbed it with MaryKate inflatable cleaner and it came out mint. It is however still very sticky. Does anyone have any real experience with this ailment? I have read cures from peanut butter, talcum powder to acetone. I don't want to ruin it and the fabric still seems really solid. Painting may be the last resort. Help!!

I'm completely confused. Do you mean Dinghy? or do you mean cushions ("fabric")?
I used acetone on my son's dinghy and it's fine if you put acetone on a rag and rub it vigorously (i.e. do not soak the gel coat with acetone, just the rag).

 

[Chief RA]

Inflatable boat paint is available and will work especially well since it is sticky! West Marine sells it. Chief

 

[Tsatzsue]

Inflatable. Top of tubes are sticky.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

I had the same problem with my dinghy, the PVC has a tendency to break down and deteriorate over time leaving a very sticky surface that attracts dirt big time. It will also attract paint!
Enter "MDR Inflatable Boat Top Coating" from JamesTown Distributors. I have tried it and have a second coating on now, it works, sticks to and covers the sticky areas, comes in light gray. It is a flexible rubberized paint so don't worry about the little bit that flakes off when deflated, 95% of it remains on. This year I put another heavy coat on and it looks great, works great and I expect a little will flake off while deflated and stored for the winter but not enough to worry about. I still have about 1/3 of the quart left to add a touch up job in the spring. This is probably your best option for squeezing a few more years of life from your PVC inflatable dinghy, beats paying hundreds to replace it.

 

[Tsatzsue]

I actually got through to someone at Mercury that cared enough to talk to me.
Evidently the condition is caused when the surface is damaged by sunlight exposure. After time the surface is penetrated by bacteria that attacks the peanut oil used in the manufacture of the fabric. The end result is a sticky ooze that comes out of the fabric and PVC parts. He thought it was interesting that peanut butter was offered as a possible solution and there may be some truth to using it. He stated that a flexible topside paint is the suggested solution. It won't make the problem go away but will work as a fix to get more years out of the boat. Looks like a fall project.