Avon SR4

[seaphotos]

Hi all,
First post here, been driving RIBs for around 10 years but just starting to get more involved in the maintenance.
I've got an SR4 which I've had for at least 10 years (Doesn't belong to me but a charity I volunteer with).
The black pads on top of the tubes are breaking down in the UV light and leeching black marks over the tubes so it's a constant battle to keep clean.
Unfortunately I don't have any more info on the boat, it has an RNLI Offshore 2000 sticker on but that might just have been added and no relation to the history of the boat!
If anyone could shed some light on the tube material or how I could determine what it is, that would be much appreciated please.

[beerbelly]

if there the original tubes and they look like they are they will be hypalon you can have the wear patches replaced with new

[seaphotos]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

if there the original tubes and they look like they are they will be hypalon you can have the wear patches replaced with new

Thank you. Is it a relatively easy job to do please?

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by seaphotos

Thank you. Is it a relatively easy job to do please?

Probably the trickiest bit will be getting the old patches off without damaging the tubes, need to carefully heat with heat gun to soften the glue. Plenty of how to guides on henshaws website & polymarine it's more about patients and following the instructions than it is difficult. You could just prep & overclad the old patches with slightly larger ones if your not confident & there still well stuck down

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by seaphotos

Thank you. Is it a relatively easy job to do please?

The hardest part would be removing the old wear patches, and yes that will be a pain. Upsize the new patches by a centimeter or so all around.

A heat gun will be needed and those wear patches are going to take a lot of heat to remove, as they are fairly thick. Even then if they are flaking it might also require grinding a majority of what doesn't come off. Not sure going over the top is a good option unless you cut to the exact dimension as the original wear patches are pretty thick material. Then again they are old tubes.

Looks like the boat has a leak too as the tubes are pretty low on air. Before starting repairs I would get it on dry land, pump the tubes up, then use a garden sprayer to located any and all leaks. Make sure to check the valves carefully.