Secrets of choosing glue for PVC boats. How to seal damage on a rubber boat without the help of specialists

A pleasant Sunday walk on the river or fishing can suddenly end if a hole is discovered in the boat. In order not to immediately throw away the watercraft, you need to know how to properly seal the boat with PVC. Even with a patch, it will last for more than one season.

Boat preparation

Before repairing, you need to find the hole; it is worth remembering that there may be several damages. Punctures are not always noticeable. Therefore, the inflated boat must be inspected in the water. When holes are found, you need to circle them with a marker or something else so as not to repeat the search procedure.

Then the boat descends. No glue will hold the patch when air whistles out from under it. You need to place a flat object under the damaged area: a board, container, stone, etc., whatever is at hand. The base should not sag when pressed.

Before sealing a PVC boat, you need to clean it from dirt and degrease it. To do this, you can use gasoline, toluene, thinner, alcohol or vodka. Acetone can damage PVC, so its use is not recommended. You cannot use sandpaper or anything like that, because... It's easy to damage the boat and make the holes bigger. The degreaser must completely evaporate from the surface. Only in this case can you start gluing.

Patch

When the boat is ready, you need to prepare the patch. It is cut from similar material. It's best if you have a repair kit with you. As a rule, it contains the same fabric as on the watercraft.

The size and shape of the patch are determined by the size of the hole. The glued piece of fabric should extend 3-5 cm beyond the edges of the hole. The most commonly used patches are round, oval, rectangular and square. It is worth remembering that corners tend to cling and peel off.

The patch needs to be prepared in the same way as the boat: degrease and dry.

The last stage is fitting. The patch is applied to the puncture and traced along the contour of how it will lie.

What glue to seal a PVC boat with: choosing a product

The most important thing is what will connect the boat and the patch. It is the quality of the glue that determines the reliability of the repair. Of course, if you have a repair kit, then there won’t be any particular difficulties. However, it is not always at hand. What do you need to remember to choose the right product?

• Instant glue (such as “Second”, etc.) is not capable of providing high-quality repairs to PVC products. The patch will fall off as quickly as it sticks. In addition, cyanoacrylate compounds can “burn through” the material.
• To repair a boat, it is better to use polyurethane glue. This is exactly what is found in repair kits.
• Good glue will not stick to your hands when it dries.
• It is better to opt for a special product.
• After drying good glue, even its excess cannot be removed from the surface.
• Heat resistance is not the last factor you need to pay attention to when choosing an adhesive. The higher this indicator, the better, because In the sun, the boat can get quite hot.

Instructions: how to seal a PVC boat

So, the boat and the patch are ready, degreased, and dried. The glue has been selected. You can collect everything into a single whole.

In case of a serious puncture

Sometimes quite serious holes appear in the side or at the bottom. Cuts or holes about 5 cm in size will not cause any difficulties. But if the snag has torn out a significant piece of fabric, then it is better to contact a specialist. Therefore, it is advisable to know where to seal your PVC boat in case of serious damage. Perhaps there are special workshops in the city. By the way, some tire shops also provide boat repair services.

Unfortunately, in some especially complex cases the boat may not be repairable. Then you'll have to buy a new one.

That's all for how to seal a PVC boat. Given that quality repairs it will last for a long time.

Sometimes it happens very unpleasant situation when the PVC boat hull is damaged. This is due to the fact that protruding snags, fittings and rods can often be found in the water. broken glass. Everyone knows that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is very elastic and durable material. When such material is damaged, in order for the boat to be used in the future, the hole will have to be sealed. The video presented in the article will clearly demonstrate how to properly seal a PVC boat.

First you need to determine the basic properties of the adhesive composition in order to make the right choice:

• more cheap glue assumes it low quality. It is not advisable to purchase it, because it will not bring any results;
• under no circumstances for repairs Do not use cyanoacrylate-based glue, that is, superglue. Although it sticks quite firmly, it doesn’t last long;
• the dried film should not stick to your fingers, otherwise it means that the glue is not good enough. High strength is achieved when the glue does not adhere to a variety of materials, including human skin;
• multifunctional universal glue is several times worse than special glue;
• high-quality glue must be heat-resistant;
• Moisture has a negative effect on polyurethane adhesive.

So what glue should you use to seal a PVC boat? Holes in such boats are repaired using polyurethane glue , sold in specialized stores. Experts advise purchasing special repair kits produced directly by PVC manufacturers boats. This includes glue for this kind of work.

Damage detection

Buying glue is not the most important thing. It is important to know how to properly glue a hole. Sealing a PVC boat yourself is quite simple. At first you need to find all the damage, taking into account even the smallest holes, because gradually under air pressure they can become larger.

Finding such holes is quite easy. The inflated boat should be placed under water. Air bubbles will come out of each damage. They are fixed using ordinary matches. You should also pay attention to abrasions, peeling and other defects on the PVC surface. The extent of damage that may have occurred due to strong blow caused by a sharp object, ripping open the bottom with a sunken snag, etc. Puncture small size it will be quite easy to fix. But if the slot is quite long, then you will need to make some efforts to eliminate it.

Once all defects have been detected and the degree of damage to the PVC surface has been determined, the repair process can begin. Many people are concerned about the question of how to properly glue a boat, because here, after all, need certain skills in construction and repair business. The amount of glue used depends on the degree of wear of the PVC boat.

Holes should be covered with special patches, which are small pieces of rectangular or round shape. It is best if they are made of the same material as the boat itself. The patches should be large enough to completely cover the damage, but not too much.

Before starting repair work, the boat must be deflated, only in this case the repair will be effective. It is not recommended to work in direct sunlight or in damp weather.

Surface degreasing

In order for the glue to work as best as possible, glued surfaces must be treated degreaser. It is best to use acetone. But since it can have a detrimental effect on human health, it is used less effective means, such as:

• ethyl acetate;
• alcohol;
• soapy water.

Applying glue

Glue follows apply evenly thin layer on both surfaces to be glued, after which you need to wait about 20 minutes. For greater effectiveness, the procedure should be repeated twice.

Warming up

You need to touch the glue. It should already be slightly dry, but stick a little. Heat the patch and the damaged area. Heat treatment It is recommended to expose only one side, since in case of an error they can be easily torn apart from each other. Used for warming up construction hair dryer. You can also use:

• lighter;
• burner;
• primus;
• and even a bottle of hot water.

Connecting surfaces

Before connecting the surfaces to be glued, you will need to make sure that there is not a single air bubble between them. After this, you need to apply a patch to the surfaces to be glued. If the material cools quickly, it can be heated again directly during the joining process. At the end glued surfaces should be rolled using any hard object. This will make the grip stronger and better.

Exploitation

If a PVC boat is not subjected to heavy loads, then it can be used immediately after the heated seams have cooled. The glue dries completely within a day.

If the air humidity is more than 60%, then such It is best to postpone repair work indefinitely. The thing is that such humidity will not allow you to get good result gluing.

If the damage to the boat is more than 1.5 cm in diameter or the boat material has a gap of more than 5 cm, then bring it to repair yourself working condition It's unlikely to work. It is best to contact specialists.

Thus, you can seal minor damage to a PVC boat yourself. The main thing is to comply with everything necessary recommendations. If there is significant damage to the boat from PVC is better trust the experts. In any case, after repair work it can be used in the future.

None of the avid hunters and fishermen needs to be explained that an inflatable rubber boat is a wonderful and convenient thing. However, despite all her undeniable advantages, “elastic band” is a rather impractical thing. Any snag sticking out of the water, severe overheating in the sun - and your beloved “rubber friend” turns from a helper and breadwinner into something shapeless and useless. That is why the topic of today’s article is rubber rubber repair. Unfortunately, not every novice angler knows how to do it correctly and without special costs.

Boat inspection

Do-it-yourself rubber repair inflatable boat begins with a thorough inspection for damage. First you need to thoroughly inflate all the compartments with air and carefully inspect the watercraft, listening to the possible hiss of air coming out of the hole.

If it was not possible to detect damage by sound, you need to cover the boat (entirely) step by step with thick soap suds: Where there are holes, the soap will “bubble.” If damage is found, circle it with a marker or ballpoint pen.

Repairing rubber boats is not a difficult task, but very painstaking. Even if it seems to you that you have already found all the damage, do not rush. Inspect the entire surface of the boat - there may be scuffs, abrasions, detachments of seam tapes and other damage that could soon destroy an improperly repaired watercraft. So if you decide to repair a rubber boat yourself, the stitching seams and bottom should also not be left without your attention. Once you are sure that you have found all possible damage, you can “bleed” the air and begin repairs.

What you need for work

To make repairs easy and the boat to serve for a long time, you will need:

• a piece of patch material similar to that from which the craft itself is made;
• fine-grained sandpaper for cleaning surfaces;
• glue for repairing rubber boats - 4508, 4NBuv, 88NT, SV-1-5M, 4010 and others;
• a clean brush for applying glue;
• solvent for degreasing the surface (alcohol, acetone, Galosha gasoline); Attention: motor gasoline cannot be used - it contains oil;
• scissors;
• ruler;
• nylon threads;
• thick needle;
• pencil, marker or chalk;
• or household;
• rolling roller or any other round object - spoon, knife handle, bottle, etc.

Seal the punctures

As already mentioned, the repair of rubber boats begins with a thorough inspection and detection of damage. If a small flaw in the form of a puncture is found, then you need to proceed as follows:

• Using a ruler, measure the diameter of the damage and cut out a patch of the appropriate size; Please note - the size of the patch should be at least 2.5-3 cm more space damaged and have rounded corners;
• Apply the patch to the damaged area and trace it with a marker;
• Using fine sandpaper, carefully but thoroughly clean the marked area and the lining itself;
• carefully remove all accumulated debris and dust and degrease the surface well;
• glue both parts together.

There are two methods of gluing - hot and cold, let's look at each of them.

Hot:

• using a brush, carefully apply glue to the patch and puncture site; It is best to place a sheet of paper or cardboard under the patch, then its edges will not curl into a roll;
• wait 15-20 minutes until the glue dries a little, and apply a second layer;
• we stand again allotted time, usually 10-20 minutes, and heat both surfaces to 50-60 ˚С;
• Now we connect the heated surfaces to each other and press them firmly against each other;
• Using a roller or any round object, we roll the entire surface of the patch in order to eliminate excess air;
• we clamp the repair site into a clamp or press it with any even and heavy object and leave for final drying for at least 24 hours.

Cold

This method is almost no different from the hot method, except that the surfaces do not heat up, but stick to each other when they are cold. This method is used only in cases where heating is not possible.

Stitching up the cuts

As you can see, repairing rubber boats is really not a difficult task. However, if your rubber assistant is seriously torn, then you will have to put in a little more effort to “treat” it.

In the case where the tear or cut on the boat is quite large, then after sanding it must be carefully sewn up. In this case, you need to ensure that the edges of the cut are not pulled together too much.

If the tear has torn edges and it is not possible to sew it up, then gluing must be carried out both on the outside and on the outside. inside. We have already figured out how to apply the external patch, but we will have to tinker with the internal one. To make your work more convenient, you need to do this:

• We do not cover the patch with glue completely, but only halfway - this is done to make it more convenient to insert it into the hole;
• carefully place the patch inside the gap, after which it must be pressed and the gluing area rolled with a roller;
• after some time, use a brush to coat the second half of the patch; to ensure that the edges do not interfere, they need to be carefully lifted and held with a ruler or knife;
• repeat the gluing procedure;
• Now we glue the top patch in the usual way.

Re-gluing the oarlocks

No repair of rubber boats can be done without a thorough inspection of the rowlocks. The fact is that this unit is subjected to the greatest load during operation and over time begins to gradually peel off.

The gluing process itself is exactly the same as with patches, but there are some subtleties:

• in order to easily tear off the rowlock, it needs to be heated with a hairdryer;
• It is necessary to glue a new spare part when the cylinder is deflated, otherwise the connection will be loose and will not last long.

Replacing the tape

In order to repair a rubber boat along the seam, you will need a special tape. Re-applying protective tapes on the cylinder is also easy. This is done in a hot way better connection surfaces. There are also little tricks here:

• the tape for repairing a rubber boat should be cut at an angle of 45˚ and made of;
• It is best to replace the tape when the cylinder is full - this will avoid deformation after drying, and the seams on the boat will not “lead.”

Repairing the bottom

Sometimes it happens that your “rubber friend” requires serious, thorough “treatment”. Repairing the bottom of a rubber boat can be classified as just such work. Let's break this rather labor-intensive process into several stages:

1. First of all, you need to fully inflate the cylinders and mark with a marker the place where the tape will be glued and carefully remove it from the outside and inside.
2. Using the same marker, we mark the location of the bottom and carefully remove it. For the process to be as efficient as possible, you need to start from the bow, and to separate the parts more easily, you can use a hairdryer.
3. Now you need to carefully clean and degrease the surfaces marked with a marker, thereby preparing them for gluing.
4. We turn the filled cylinders “bottom side” up and begin gluing a new inner tape. Please note that you only need to apply glue to half the area, between the marker marks. Since the boat is upside down, you need to start from the bottom mark and apply glue in a strip to the middle. According to the already familiar technology, the glue is applied twice with a break of 15-20 minutes. You need to start gluing the tape from the bow of the boat, and do this only half of its width.
5. Now we begin to attach the bottom. Since you need to glue quite large surfaces together, you can divide the work into several stages. First, we connect the surfaces at the bow and stern of the boat, and then we move on to the sides. The glue, as you remember, is applied twice, with a short break. There is one more small nuance here - when gluing the bottom, you need to carefully ensure that part inner tape, left free, also stuck to the bottom.
6. The last step is to apply protective tape to the outside. Here it is necessary to ensure that the boundaries of the adhesive layer correspond to the width of the tape.

Small subtleties of the process

As you can see, repairing a rubber boat with your own hands is not such an overwhelming task, however, there are some nuances that are worth remembering:

• work should be carried out with good ventilation, but you should not do it outside - there dust and dirt will always get into the gluing area, the quality of the repair in this case will not be very good;
• You should not start repairs when the air humidity exceeds 60% and the temperature is 25˚C; if the temperature drops below 15 °C, you need to additionally heat the room;
• if repairs have to be carried out in field conditions, move the boat into the shade, or better yet, build something like an “operating room” out of a tent - this will help protect the damaged area from dirt and dust.

Today they produce models with increased strength and operational reliability. Nevertheless, fabric damage remains one of the most common reasons for calling repair services. Specialists charge a lot of money for their services to restore the integrity of the watercraft, but in most cases you can perform repair operations yourself. It is enough to use glue for gluing a rubber boat, bought in a store or prepared by yourself. The main thing in this matter is to choose the right composition so that it not only provides a direct adhesive effect, but also can withstand further loads during the use of the boat. To decide on the best option this tool, you should familiarize yourself with the overview of the most effective market offers.

Rubber-based compounds

Most adhesives recommended for boat repair are rubber-based. Such products have many common advantages, which can be attributed to both ease of use and the direct function of the adhesive mass. Inflatable boats are mostly made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). There are special models of adhesive preparations for such synthetic fabrics, but boat manufacturers also diversify PVC characteristics, which complicates the selection task. So, the main advantage that glue for a rubber boat has of this type, this is versatility. Regardless of the density and texture of the coating, you can use such products to seal holes and repair seams.

The glue is also convenient to work with large areas. If, for example, you need to repair several holes or plan to work with oblong cuts, then the composition will be comfortable to use due to its long-lasting stickiness. Despite its synthetic origin, glue for rubber boats of this type is environmentally friendly. It is non-toxic and harmless to humans. As for maintaining viscosity and strength, then high performance The use of such glue as a binding component is confirmed by successful experience in working with wood and plastic materials.

Glue for crumb rubber

This is a specific type of adhesive composition designed for laying rubberized coatings and paths. In particular, they are used in arranging children's and sports grounds, which in itself speaks about high level reliability. It is advisable to use such glue for rubber boats due to its ability to absorb shock. That is, if dynamic loads, as a rule, have a destructive effect on the hardened mass conventional formulations, then the shock-absorbing structure allows them to resist. In addition, funds for crumb rubber have an anti-slip effect.

However, among the disadvantages of this glue, the requirements for application conditions should be noted. First of all, it is important to comply temperature regime. Repair work It is advisable to produce in warm weather. By the way, when determining which glue is best for gluing a rubber boat, you should also pay attention to the humidity level. This applies not only to compositions of this type, but also to all adhesive mixtures. Typically a humidity level of no more than 70% is recommended.

One- or two-component adhesive?

Two-component formulations appeared not so long ago. They differ in the possibility of obtaining a higher quality result, and therefore their cost is higher. The final effect is due to the characteristics of the compositions. In the case of one-component products, the glue already contains the necessary ingredients, including dispersion bases with hardeners and water. Two-part rubber boat adhesive may include polyester hardeners and compounds, but should only be mixed before use. The setting period can reach 40 minutes, but complete hardening is possible within a day.

Based on the above, we can conclude that one-component formulations are more practical to use and cheaper, although their performance qualities are inferior to their two-component analogues. Accordingly, if you plan to treat minor damage, then it makes sense to use a simple rubber boat adhesive with one functional ingredient. By the way, products based on two components are more often used by professionals.

Will Moment glue be effective?

One of the most popular representatives of polyurethane compounds is “Moment” adhesive in a special version. By the way, it's not easy universal remedy for gluing polyvinyl chloride fabrics, namely a composition for inflatable boats. A special feature of this product is the combination of working with hard and soft layers of PVC. However, if the question is about which glue is better for rubber boats, with the presence of polypropylene or polyethylene, then “Moment” will have to be excluded. In other cases, the use of this composition allows for high adhesive strength.

Compared to other polyurethane-based products, this option has increased protection from external influences, in particular from alkalis and acids. At the same time, this glue for rubber boats is non-toxic and frost-resistant, which is suitable for fishermen who use boats in cold weather.

What would be the best option?

Among the large number of options, there are undoubtedly those that will better cope with the immediate task of clutching. However, high strength, as a rule, determines the corresponding cost, and cheap products often lose in terms of wear resistance. If we talk about optimal solution, then you should answer the question regarding which glue is used for rubber boats more often than others. This will be a one-component rubber-based compound designed to work with polyvinyl chloride.

Perhaps the most common representative of this group is “4508” glue. With its help, boat owners quickly and inexpensively eliminate defects on the surface of the hull. The composition of this product includes rubber and resins, which during the hardening process acquire elasticity and adapt to the structure of the boat fabric.

Making your own glue

Even the purchase of a high-quality composition in some cases does not relieve the owner of a water transport from additional hassle. The fact is that preparing the composition often requires the use of auxiliary components already at the place of work. So, among experienced fishermen the question of whether to use gasoline for a rubber boat is quite popular. Actually, gasoline in in this case will act only as a component that complements the rubber base made of rubber. To begin with, the rubber is cut into small strips, after which it is poured fuel mixture. Next, you should expect the rubber to swell. Thus, the rubber will dissolve as new portions of gasoline are added until a homogeneous mass is formed. In its finished form, such glue can be used not only for PVC, but also for other rubber and synthetic materials.

Preparing the boat for repair

Proper execution of the gluing technique is no less important than the choice of adhesive. But this operation is foreshadowed by preparation. Having decided which glue is best for repairing a rubber boat in specific case, you can begin to analyze the work ahead. At this stage, an inspection is carried out, and the parameters of cuts, holes, holes and other damage are identified. If necessary, you can use detergent, which will allow you to detect subtle defects. Further problem areas processed with fine-grained sandpaper. This procedure will increase the adhesion of polyvinyl chloride to the adhesive. After this, you should begin to degrease the damaged area and begin treating with glue.

Seam gluing

Experienced users of inflatable boats know that the seams are the most weak point. In this case, you have to deal with a tape that runs along the entire length of the seam. All places where it peels off must be treated with abrasive and degreased. Then you can apply rubber boat glue, distributing it evenly along the entire length of the seam. The two mating surfaces should be brought tightly together, ensuring fixation with a press or fingers. Such areas are difficult precisely because of the problems of alignment, since the fit will have to be maintained for several hours or even days.

Features of gluing in the transom

There are also some nuances in transom repair. This is the place where the motor is fixed, so the load on it is considerable. Consequently, the most reliable glue for a rubber boat should be selected - in this case, the compositions are just right. This choice will be optimal both due to its high adhesive function and due to its ability to glue foreign non-rubber elements. The procedure itself is performed according to the usual scheme. The area is degreased, after which the composition is applied and, if necessary, auxiliary pressing is organized.

Conclusion

There are many ways and recipes to deal with damage to the hull of an inflatable boat. However, the most reliable solution remains glue for rubber boats. You can perform such repairs with your own hands in a matter of minutes. Another thing is that special means for PVC they require long period drying. If a suitable high-quality glue has been chosen and all conditions for organizing repairs have been met, then the service life of the boat can be extended by several years. As experienced fishermen note, often the places with patches glued in this way turn out to be the most reliable on the entire surface of the boat.

An irreplaceable part of the equipment of any fisherman or hunter. But in life there are various situations and breakdowns of the watercraft are no exception. Here the question arises: how to glue and what kind of glue is best for gluing a PVC boat; this is especially important in hiking conditions. Although polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a material that does not require special care, elastic and at the same time resilient, it requires a special kind of adhesive composition.

Requirements for PVC glue

The quality of repair of punctures or cuts must meet the highest requirements. Otherwise, you risk getting into extremely dangerous situation on a pond while the boat is in operation. Such a risk is often associated with a person’s life, because due to incorrectly selected glue, when repairing damage, the patch may come off and the boat will suddenly and quickly begin to deflate or take on water. In this regard, the adhesive composition must meet the following requirements:

Types of glue

To eliminate punctures or cuts in PVC boats, you should purchase special glue for PVC. They are divided into two main types:

1. One-component. The leader, according to reviews from consumers and specialist service providers, is polychloroprene glue. It is specially manufactured for the repair of products made of polyvinyl chloride, rubberized fabric and various materials, wetsuits. This composition has high elasticity, resilience, strength, can withstand temperature changes, and the adhesive seam is highly durable. As a substitute for this composition, you can use special polyurethane boat glue. It has almost the same characteristics and properties, moreover, it is transparent and does not turn yellow.
2. Two-component. Among the compositions of this variety, Bostik Vinycol 1520 glue showed high performance. It is made on the basis of polyurethane, which contains wax and an organic solvent. Bostick Vinicol has high adhesive properties: strength, flexibility, and is not susceptible to temperature.

Adhesives that are similar in composition to Moment glue are not recommended for use when repairing PVC boats. They do not have sufficient tightness, operational durability, reliability and strength. In a situation where you have to repeatedly repair the same place, dried “Moment” type glue will be extremely difficult to remove. In some cases, it will be necessary to apply another glue over the old one, and the quality of such repairs is very low.

Attention! Many owners of inflatable boats choose Uranus glue. Its main disadvantage is that when it gets to the repair site, direct sun rays or high temperature If it is of a different origin, it is prone to softening and the patch may come off.

Glue characteristics

To repair boats made of polyvinyl chloride, you need to use an adhesive composition that is intended for PVC products. In addition, it must have the following characteristics:

• Moisture resistant. Since the product is used in water or repairs can be carried out when high humidity, the glue must withstand exposure to water.
• Elasticity. When inflating boat pontoons, the material experiences high surface tension. Therefore, the adhesive composition must have high elasticity to avoid destruction of the seam.
• Heat resistance. During operation, the boat may be exposed to heat from the sun or other source; therefore, the glue should not soften under the influence of high temperatures.
• Strength. Must have high tensile strength.
• Durability. The adhesive joint should not lose its strength characteristics after a long period of use.
• Drying time. The short hardening time is an advantage of the adhesive composition. This feature is especially important when repairing in field conditions.

When gluing a patch on a rubber boat, choose special adhesive compositions that are designed for products made of polyvinyl chloride. But when working with such substances, you must remember that they are flammable and emit harmful substances for human health. In this regard, all work must be performed in a well-ventilated area or outdoors.

Repair of a PVC inflatable boat - video