Click here to zoom in Inflatable Boats Repairs: Minor Damage

Click here to zoom in Inflatable Boats Repairs: Minor Damage

Click here to zoom in Inflatable Boats Repairs: Minor Damage

Click here to zoom in Inflatable Boats Repairs: Minor Damage

Almost every inflatable boat sold by a reputable company will also come with a repair kit that can be used in emergencies. Minor damage such as abrasions, pinched fabric and punctures are all part and parcel of regular use for an inflata boat, and you might find yourself doing repairs on a launch ramp or a beach, or in conditions that are definitely less than appropriate for repairing an inflatable boat.

You will often find instructions in manuals that stress the temporary nature of repairs made using the emergency repair kit and that you should have the patch replaced with a proper one as soon as you can. The truth, however, is that man eople have found that repairs made with the emergency kit often last longer than the remaining life span of their boat, making it quite unnecessary to take any further action with regard to repairs. A good rule of thumb to follow is, unless the emergency patch is leaking air or the edges of the patch are beginning to curl inwards, you should leave it to its own devices.

The Emergency Repair Kit

No matter where you are going and what you are doing, as long as whatever you are doing involves you being in an inflatable boat, you must remember to bring an emergency repair kit along. The last thing you would want is to be stranded s where far upstream on a river or on the other side of a lake with a boat that has been punctured and is leaking air, with no way for you to repair it.

When you first purchase your inflatable boat, you should take some time to go through the emergency repair kit and familiarize yourself with its contents. A repair kit will usually include the following items:

* Various round patches between 1 inch and 4 inches in size, made using the same material and in the right color for your boat.

* One tube of one-part contact cement suitable for use with the material of your boat.

* Waterproof sandpaper or a rough stone meant for abrading the material surrounding the repair site.

* Instructions on how to perform different types of basic repairs.

While the repair equipment included with a basic repair kit is sufficient for a few minor repairs, more serious damage would require additional materials and you should add the following extras to your repair kit:

* Additional patches and extra repair fabric measuring 3 inches x 6 inches. If you are fussy about the appearance and colors of your boat, then you will need to obtain patches that match your boat’s color.

* A robust sewing needle.

* Six yards worth of strong three-ply or five-ply polyester cord.

* A spare tube of contact cement.

* Two razor blades, single-edged.

* Six acid brushes.

* A Sharpie marker or similar felt-tipped marker with a felt tip.

* An additional valve diaphragm (if necessary for your boat).

* Spares for any remaining small parts that you might lose or break while on a trip.

The above items together constitute the emergency repair kit that you should have with you at all times whenever you are out with your inflatable boat.

A Typical Small Repair

If you have the misfortune to spring a leak while out on your inflatable boat, whether due to a fishing mishap or snagging the boat on some unseen underwater obstacle, you will have to do a minor repair, lest your boat deflate and sink. first thing to do is make your way to dry land as quickly as possible. While leaks are usually small and relatively insignificant, you do not want to run the risk of the puncture or tear becoming larger and suddenly dumping you into the wa ter with nothing but a deflated raft to hang on to.

Once you reach the shore, leave the boat out in the sun to dry, as the surfaces around the affected area must be dry in order for the patch to be properly applied. At the same time, you should also deflate the affected part of the boat, that it will be easier to apply the patch and the patch will be more effective. Once the boat is dry, applying the patch itself is a fairly simple process.

Your emergency repair kit should include either sandpaper or a small coarse stone, which you should use to roughen the areas surrounding the leak and also the bottom of the patch that you are going to apply. This will allow the contact c nt a better grip and prevent the patch from simply coming off once you put your boat back in the water. Place the patch over the leak, ensuring that there is sufficient overlap around the leak itself to keep it secure, and then mark out the position of the patch by running a marker around the edges.

Apply the contact cement to both the underside of the patch and the area within the marked boundary on the boat, then press the patch firmly onto the area. Give the contact cement some time to dry, and the repair is complete. You are the eady to put your boat back into the repair and continue on the journey that you were on before it was interrupted by that slight mishap.

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