Scratches on my quicksilver

[Glaerox]

Hello all!

I also posted this question in my topic: buying a inflatable, but want to make a new topic for it(couldnt get the other message removed)

After sailing a couple of times with my new Quicksilver 310adv, I noticed that there are a few scratches on the tubes. Im really carefull to dont scratch it when getting it ready and in the water. The scratches are not really deep, but you can see that a bit material on the upper layer of the PVC is gone. Do anyone knows if those scratches could do any harm?

On the box of the boat they call the pvc used: Duratex 1100. does this mean 1.1mm thick?

Hope to hear from you all soon!

With kind regards Bastiaan (holland)

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Glaerox

(couldnt get the other message removed)

Just ask!

I haven't noticed any scratches on my Quicksilver - it seems to be quite tough so far.

John

[jyasaki]

Those scratches probably won't hurt a thing. The fabric weave is what gives the material its strength; outer layer is for abrasion and UV resistance, inner for airtightness.

The 1100 number is weight per square yard, I believe. Grams, I assume? Not sure of the units.

jky

[Glaerox]

Maybe i notice them soon because the collor of my quicksilver is green. You can see erverything on it.

Thank you so far!

[codprawn]

Yes thats prob why I haven't seen them on my boat!!!

[Glaerox]

When looking at the thickness of the material I dont think myself they ca do any harm. The scratches are only at the upper surface.

Can remember a movie where they hit a inflatable boat with (the sharp side of) a hamer, without making any holes. so the material has to be very stroing.

I believe that the material used by quicksilver is one of the strongest material available for a inflatable that size (310).

Greating.

Tomorrow i go on a trip again. I try to make some pictures's of the scratches.

Greatings

[Glaerox]

Got the picture's! (had a lovely trip on the boat today!)

first 2(green) pictures are some scratches on my quicksilver

last picture is from a other quicksilver I saw today. This quicsilver got a much bigger scratch.

What do you think of my scratches? could it do any harm?

Greatings

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by Glaerox

Got the picture's! (had a lovely trip on the boat today!)

first 2(green) pictures are some scratches on my quicksilver

last picture is from a other quicksilver I saw today. This quicsilver got a much bigger scratch.

What do you think of my scratches? could it do any harm?

Greatings

As long as the tube doesn't lose air, it's ok. For your peace of mind, for the little abrassion, pic 1, you could apply a tiny drop of cracy glue type, try first a drop on any of the boat's emergency repair spare patches to test if ok. Or PVC 2 part glue drop. If the abrassion has a concave shape the better to fill and stick.

Decitex, Duotex are names for the same interior fabric layer that's coated with PVC on both sides, could be any of these 2 most employed on small/medium up to 420 sibs : (0.9mm) - 1100 dctex -1050gr/m2 Or 1.0mm) - 1100 dctex - 1300gr/m2. PVC 1.2 has thicker decitex & PVC coating and weights more per gr/m2.

Happy Boating

[Glaerox]

Thanks locozodiac!

What kind of glue do you mean was cracy glue?

[jyasaki]

Krazy Glue (or most other cyanoacrylate) cures to a brittle material. Not ideal, IMO.

You'd be better off using a urethane adhesive (Sikaflex, Aquaseal, 3M's4200/5200, etc.) That will stay (at least more) flexible when cured.

As with most tube repairs, surface prep to clean of oils and such.

jky

[TubrOnCrakberry]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Krazy Glue (or most other cyanoacrylate) cures to a brittle material. Not ideal, IMO.

You'd be better off using a urethane adhesive (Sikaflex, Aquaseal, 3M's4200/5200, etc.) That will stay (at least more) flexible when cured.

As with most tube repairs, surface prep to clean of oils and such.

jky

Do not use Sikaflex on PVC tubes, since it conatins silicone, which will damage the tube material.

If you use the boat, you will get scuffs and scratches on the surface of the fabric - no big deal functionally purely an aesthetic thing. If you find that down the road, that the fabric is starting to get ragged, you then might wish to refurbish the tubes with Tuff Coat.

The much greater threat to your PVC tubes (than scuffs and scratches) is sunlight. Keep your boat out od the sun when not in use!

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Krazy Glue (or most other cyanoacrylate) cures to a brittle material. Not ideal, IMO.

You'd be better off using a urethane adhesive (Sikaflex, Aquaseal, 3M's4200/5200, etc.) That will stay (at least more) flexible when cured.

As with most tube repairs, surface prep to clean of oils and such.

jky

Just a comment: Put 2 drops of cyanoacrylate on a PVC Zodiac 310 sib to repair/fill a small missing portion of the outter tube fabric, still there after 5 years of constant use with no surrounding tube fabric problems. Have worked fine for me. Aquaseal Ok if available.

Happy Boating

[Glaerox]

When making the picture's i put a drip og glue on the spot. I used the glue that came with the boat. on the glue they talk about polyurethane M.E.K.

Hope this will do to.

Thanks for al the great hints! I dont worry to much anymore!