Emergency repair kit

Delta 15 · 26 February 2011, 13:49

It's hard to believe this hasn't been asked and answered but I couldn't find anything with the search tool.

What's the consensus on the best Hypalon emergency repair kit to carry on a 2-3 day self-sufficient boating trip?

Will one-part adhesive and a couple of hypalon patches suffice for on-the-fly repairs or is there a better solution for a quick fix (it's probably not realistic to be doing full-blown glue work)?

Cheers,

Jon

PeterM · 26 February 2011, 14:28

Jon , I put a 2 inch rip in my tubes in January ( much everyones amusment as it was a RIBNET gathering...) . I then did 25 miles with flappy tubes at 35knots , but only because I had not remembered to bring this with me;

http://www.force4.co.uk/526/Barton--...flatables.html

So I borrowed one and did the trip back and the next few days with it in.

Worth taking a couple if you are really worried , but no glue/patches or anything else and leaves damage clean for a 'proper' fix when you can.

Damage as per the pic...

Hopefully you may get them there- if not RIBSHOP on here may be able to sort out sending ?

Pete

Delta 15 · 26 February 2011, 21:30

Ah, that's an ingenious solution -- thanks!

If they can't post it directly to California, I can have them send to my dad who lives in Wiltshire (where I grew up) and he can send it along.

Cheers,

Jon

hobbit555 · 26 February 2011, 21:40

For smaller holes a set of rubber tapered liferaft bungs for a temporary to get you home

willk · 26 February 2011, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta 15

Ah, that's an ingenious solution

It is, and I have one in my Box O Tricks.

However, a note of Caution: The clamshell will only work in situations where the rip is over 2" and less than 3" long. Soooo, if you have a 1" tear, it's out with the knife, ouch! If it's a 4" tear, you're screwed!

Having thought about it, a DIY, FOC solution is at hand for all of us. Make up a range of various sized 1/4" plywood twinned pieces, backed with rubber (inner tube) or hypalon and mated with a woodscrew or slotted bolt with a fixed nut (for the faint hearted). Insert the back piece in the rip, cover with the outer and screw or tighten together. A screwdriver or diver's knife will be required. You may feel happier with a retaining cord from the backing plate through the outer plate :-)

Simples!

MarkM · 26 February 2011, 21:47

@PeterM: thanks, that's very useful information. And they ship to the Europe Mainland.

Delta 15 · 26 February 2011, 21:53

BTW, I found a US supplier for the Clam Shell: http://www.landfallnavigation.com/clamseal.html

PeterM · 26 February 2011, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Soooo, if you have a 1" tear, it's out with the knife, ouch! Simples!

Yep- thats what I did when we got to the Folly in Cowes - very unnerving to do but the repair for a 1 inch cut is much the same as 3inches ! Cant say how good a job RIBSHOP did - you are hard pressed to see it ....

achille2124 · 28 February 2011, 21:17

Have a look at this website, they sell directly great repair kit: http://www.whitewaterdesigns.com/

Delta 15 · 02 March 2011, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Having thought about it, a DIY, FOC solution is at hand for all of us. Make up a range of various sized 1/4" plywood twinned pieces, backed with rubber (inner tube) or hypalon and mated with a woodscrew or slotted bolt with a fixed nut (for the faint hearted). Insert the back piece in the rip, cover with the outer and screw or tighten together. A screwdriver or diver's knife will be required. You may feel happier with a retaining cord from the backing plate through the outer plate :-)

Simples!

Thanks for the inspiration Will. I knocked together some DIY clamshells today. Here's some picks of the largest one:

I used tee nuts (threaded inserts) for the inner half of the clamshell.

I hope I never have to find out how well these work.

jyasaki · 02 March 2011, 16:41

Delta: Make sure your hardware is stainless, and inspect the rubber for deterioration fairly often. Might want to varnish the wood to keep it all in one piece, and store in an airtight plastic bag, as well. Things have a way of falling apart when stored on a boat...

Nice job on the build.

jky

Delta 15 · 02 March 2011, 17:00

Thanks JKY -- good suggestions.

willk · 02 March 2011, 17:14

Nice handywork. Have you designed something into those fixing to stop air passing through?

Delta 15 · 02 March 2011, 17:50

I didn't seal the inserts but the inner tube rubber is pretty tight on the bolts and I'm going to get some neoprene washers to seal the bolt heads from the outside. Hopefully that will slow down any air loss to an acceptable rate for emergency purposes.

I thought about applying a drop of silicone rubber into the inserts but wouldn't want to run the chance of getting rubber on the hypalon and compromising future repairs.

I sacrificed a rubber ball to see how well these work. It seemed to work fine for a bit but the ball was too flimsy and started to tear so it wasn't conclusive.

willk · 02 March 2011, 18:12

Yeah, that's pretty much what I figured too. Best of luck with them - I hope you never need to deploy one in anger!

It's curious, seeing an idea that I had come to fruition across the Pond.

You owe me a beer!

Poly · 02 March 2011, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Yeah, that's pretty much what I figured too. Best of luck with them - I hope you never need to deploy one in anger!

It's curious, seeing an idea that I had come to fruition across the Pond.

You owe me a beer!

No - you've got it the wrong way round. Mr Delta will be invoicing you for developing your concept into a physical prototype and testing services.... ....you own him at least a couple of grand!

willk · 02 March 2011, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

No - you've got it the wrong way round. Mr Delta will be invoicing you for developing your concept into a physical prototype and testing services.... ....you own him at least a couple of grand!

Flippin' spoiler, ye just don't like to see someone else gettin' a free wan

Delta 15 · 02 March 2011, 18:39

LOL -- the beer's on me if you're ever in LA (and I can show you where to find a half-decent pint) or if you're in Edinburgh or Skye when I'll be there in August.

Cheers,

Jon

Delta 15 · 02 March 2011, 18:55

Incidentally, when I was looking through the garage for glue to stick the inner tube to the plywood, I came across some Permatex automotive weatherstripping cement that worked perfectly.

It's one-part viscous contact cement with a fast cure time and it's extremely strong. Any reason this shouldn't be used for emergency hypalon patches?

Here's the breakdown on the components from the MSDS:

ACETONE 15-25 %
METHYL ETHYL KETONE 15-25 %
TOLUENE 10-20 %
N-HEXANE 10-20 %
NEOPRENE <10 %
PHENOLIC-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN <10 %

thornbackflound · 05 March 2011, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

Jon , I put a 2 inch rip in my tubes in January ( much everyones amusment as it was a RIBNET gathering...) . I then did 25 miles with flappy tubes at 35knots , but only because I had not remembered to bring this with me;

http://www.force4.co.uk/526/Barton--...flatables.html

So I borrowed one and did the trip back and the next few days with it in.

Worth taking a couple if you are really worried , but no glue/patches or anything else and leaves damage clean for a 'proper' fix when you can.

Damage as per the pic...

Hopefully you may get them there- if not RIBSHOP on here may be able to sort out sending ?

Pete

I carry 2 with my boat,good to hear first hand experience of there use,got them off Ebay