RIB Inflatables Can Be change or filled with Foam?

[omarpr420]

Trying to get good information from the Pro's,

I have my Inflatable boat the slowly deinflate, Where I am located there are non repair shop for them, I was thinking it they can be fill with foam? or is there anything I can do to fix it by my self, without the proper knowledge and tools?

Thanks in advanced and if it's a crazy idea I am more than open to any help , posible solution or discussion.

My Rib is a 2006 Nautica 18 feet. and I LOVE IT!

[Mikefule]

Do not fill it with foam. That won't repair the leak, and it will end up heavy with soggy foam, and rotting.

You can but inflatable boat repair kits to repair individual cuts or holes.

Basically, you clean the area around the hole, apply the right adhesive, and stick a patch on.

If there are many holes, or the material has worn badly and gone porous, then the boat may be beyond salvage.

[omarpr420]

Thanks for replying , I have check the top and below of the tubes without finding the leak. My concern is that the leak is inside where the tube is connected with the fiber glass.

Any suggestion in anything I can use to fix it? I can ride it the whole day without issue and in the night it de inflate

[pagick]

Injecting Foam is bad! I did quite a bit of research on it.
Checked valves?

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by omarpr420

I can ride it the whole day without issue and in the night it de inflate

If it's fine all day, and goes down a bit at night, that may be just the change of temperature. The difference between daytime sun and night time can make an enormous difference to the pressure. As air gets cold, it contracts and loses pressure.

[smallribber]

If it stays up all day just buy a good pump so you can inflate it when it goes down. There are various options in types of pump including:

Normal Foot Pump
Duel action tall pump
Electric Pump
Special Adapter that attaches to a care tyre pump (good for topping up using electric tyre pump)

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by smallribber

If it stays up all day just buy a good pump so you can inflate it when it goes down. There are various options in types of pump including:

Normal Foot Pump
Duel action tall pump
Electric Pump
Special Adapter that attaches to a care tyre pump (good for topping up using electric tyre pump)

Topping up is fine short term. But we don't know enough to say if it's ok long term.

1. Where is it stored?
2. Is it getting worse?
3. Any evidence of water getting inside tubes

Car tyre pumps as in the noisey £20 thing that plugs into the cigar lighter... Will really struggle not to overheat with a long pump up.

How have you tried to find the leak? Soapy water?

The bits that usually leak...

Holes
Seems
Deck joints
**Valves**
Baffles to other tubes.

[Navajoturquoise]

Finding a leak in RIB tubes is sometimes very hard. You need to persevere. Try using a spray bottle with a mixture of water and dish detergent, or a sponge. First get the tubes properly pressurised. Then start by checking the air valves. Then systematically go over each tube, centimeter by centimeter. I'd very surprised if the leak was located on the area between the tube and the fiberglass, particularly if the tube is glued to the boat. It may take time but you will find the leak. Youtube has good videos on the subject.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06nn3I079-8