The choice to purchase an inflatable boat often comes with fears of inevitable inflatable boat repair. In addition, some people put off such a purchase, due to unfounded fears of repairs and restoration difficulties. While some materials, such as older types of PVC, have a justified reputation for these problems, you will find that modern PVC, Hypalon and Strongan/PVC boats are much more resilient and easily maintained. Here, you will find a few tips and tricks to help you deal with any inevitable punctures, as well as what to do should you find that your inflatable needs a bit of restoration work.

Small Punctures Are Easily Repaired

If you suddenly notice that your inflatable is a bit low on air, it can certainly mean that you have a pinhole or small leak somewhere. The very first step is to locate the leak. If you are not currently underway, this can be done quite easily with a bit of soap and water. Work in segments, so that you do not miss the hole. Simply wet the boat panel, then lather it with soap. The air escaping through the hole will cause the soap to bubble. Once found, dry the spot off and you can begin inflatable boat repair.

If you are underway and you find that you notice a leak, you can still take care of that repair job, without disembarking or deflating the boat any further. Once you have found the leak, you’ll just need the repair kit that came with your boat. All manufacturers include one of these kits at the time of purchase and you should ensure that the kit remains in your craft at all times. If you purchased your inflatable used and do not have such a kit, it is highly advised that you purchase one immediately.

You will find that inflatable boat repair kits are made for either PVC or Hypalon, but not both. These kits work the same way, but they cannot be used interchangeably. Therefore, make sure that you purchase one that matches your inflatable boat material. Make sure that you follow the repair kit instructions, including sanding the area prior to putting on the patch.

Of course, it is simpler to accomplish inflatable boat repair when you are stationary, so you should check your boat thoroughly before taking it out on the water, every time. If you do find a leak, having the right set of tools and products on hand will help you. What should you have? Your repair kit should include the following:

• Manufacturer’s patch kit
• Masking tape
• Glue eraser
• Metal-bound, short-bristled glue or paint brush
• Sandpaper (to prep the surface, including removing old glue from previous patches)
• Liquid soap (to help locate the leak)

Large Rips or Tears

If you have experienced a large rip or tear in the fabric (larger than 1 inch in length), or you have a puncture near any seams, it is important that you do not attempt to repair the boat on your own. You’ll need to take it to a professional repair person, who will repair the boat by gluing a patch both inside and out. This applies to hand-glued seams and thermobonded seams. Putting on a patch at the seam on your own will not make your vessel airtight once more.

Restoration Options

Inflatable boat repair and restoration is something that many people will find they need to engage in at some point during their ownership. Restoration is one of those processes that many owners do not feel qualified to undertake. However, it can be done simply, when you have the right products on hand.

For instance, you will find products such as Tuff-Coat Paint that can help to restore any PVC or Hypalon boat, returning the fabric to its like new condition. This is an important consideration and, when correctly completed, will help ensure that any inflatable boat repair is accomplished more easily.

Using Tuff-Coat Paint will help ensure that the fabric retains its resilience and does not fade or crack. It will also help ensure that small repairs are accomplished quite easily, as supple, new Hypalon or PVC is more easily repaired than fabric that has dried.

Inflatable boat repair and restoration is an essential consideration for any owner, not just for those who own older models. At some point, any boat will begin to show signs of wear and restorative products will help ensure that your boat looks its best and lasts a lifetime. However, if you choose not to utilize products that restore the appearance and suppleness to your boat, you might find that your enjoyment is compromised by damaged fabric. Inflatable boat repair should be of immense importance and you should take steps to minimize the likelihood of emergency repairs.

Inflatable boats are a very popular way for people to get out on the water for fishing, traveling, or just relaxing in the breeze. However, with these boats comes the most dreaded of concerns – the leak. For many who have boated with inflatable boats, this has been an all too common reality, being out on the water when an unexpected incident results in the inflatable boat springing a leak. Thankfully, there are some simple inflatable boat repair tips that can be utilized in case of a similar situation so you as a boater don’t end up all wet.

The biggest problem with an inflatable boat is the threat of a leak, usually due to a pressure point applied within the boat or a collision with a jagged piece of debris floating in the water. In these cases, the leak may be a smaller puncture and can be easily dealt with. To combat these, the main option available is a quick patch method. Keeping an inflatable boat repair kit with you while boating is a good practice. If the puncture is inside or on the exposed side of the boat, apply the patch with a securing compound, and then get to shore for further repair.

Another common problem with inflatable boats is tearing along the seams. Seams can rupture, preventing the boat from retaining air completely. Again, a simple method of inflatable boat repair using a patching compound and a patch is the best bet, as the patch can create a second seal along the seam and provide an interim repair for the boat. However, if the seam is torn too much, the boat may be beyond immediate repair. In that case, more extreme resealing of the seam may be necessary.

A third common problem with inflatable boats is the loss of buoyancy over time. As time passes, and the boat’s structure is worn down, the boat may not float as well or may begin to leak air slowly. In these cases, the best method of repairing the boat is to refresh the hull material. Various methods are prescribed in this case, but the typical method is to add a sealing compound similar to a tire patching compound to the inside of the boat.

As this is sprayed inside, it reinforces the inside of the craft, providing additional structural support, and sealing off slow leaks to prevent further loss of air. This sealant spreads around the inside of the boat, creating a second structural layer around the rubber or plastic of the vessel. This insures additional sealing combined with adding some buoyancy to the boat, making it an ideal inflatable boat repair for older boats.

The owner can attempt small inflatable boat repair if factory-gluing instructions are followed closely. Rips and holes larger than one inch in the air chambers, or those within two inches of a seam, should be repaired with internal and external patches by a professional repair technician at a certified repair facility. A quick patch repair by the user may solve the problem for a short period of time, but it is recommended to have it redone by a professional. It is also recommended that major inflatable boat repair, and the addition of large accessories such as oar locks, seating or towing rings, be done by a professional repair technician at a certified repair facility. If the boat is still under warranty, and the user is experiencing a seam failure, or the wooden transom is separating from the molded transom flanges or tube set, or the fabric is turning yellow and sticky, it is recommended that the dealer be contacted immediately. Defective seams or sticky fabric may result in complete warranty coverage, and the user may receive a new boat free, or at a small-prorated fee. Hypalon® is a brand name of DuPont. Its technical name is chlorosulfonated polyethylene, but the user may know it simply as synthetic rubber. It is one of the most popular types of materials used in inflatable boat manufacture. Hypalon® is more expensive than PVC, but lasts longer, being more resilient to UV damage, abrasions, gas and oil. It has an average life of 20-30 years. Hypalon® inflatable boats can be repaired and restored with adhesive. Hypalon® adhesive is a product that performs inflatable boat repairs and restores the boat to its original condition. The adhesive has two parts, the Basecoat and the Topcoat, which are easily applied by simply painting it on, after properly cleaning with a primer like Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK). The adhesive comes in a variety of colors to suit the color of the boat.

The wheel studs are corroded as are the lug nuts. We were able to remove the lug nuts with great difficulty in order to remove the tires to get them fixed. Now the lug nuts will not go on anymore. I heard about this thing called a "thread chaser" or a "tap and die". But how is anybody really supposed to fix something like this? It’s been in sea water before.

I have a ACHILLES dingy boat and it has an hole in the side of the hyplon rubber part that is about 1.5 in. how much will it cost to professionally repair the hole?

its a small rip, caused by dragging the boat. it was punctured by a nail.