Patch or retube??

[Yanros]

My Osprey Viper has areas on the tube tops where divers bums have worn away the orange. I've been told it may have to be retubed but I wonder if anyone knows a way to avoid that. I've seen a material called treadmaster which looks like to would glue over the top of the tubes. It's not used for diving anymore so no bums on tubes. Any advice would be really appreciated..

[beamishken]

That's not divers bum damage, its UV degradation of the material, you might get cover patches to stick in a fashion but it wont be a lasting solution. A retube is the answer once it's at this stage, it will be quite costly to fit treadmaster & imho the money would be better spent saved towards a retube.

[Yanros]

That's really interesting information, thank you

[paulbrown22]

Originally Posted by beamishken

That's not divers bum damage, its UV degradation of the material, you might get cover patches to stick in a fashion but it wont be a lasting solution. A retube is the answer once it's at this stage, it will be quite costly to fit treadmaster & imho the money would be better spent saved towards a retube.

To be fair my old 9m Ribtec had similar damage when I bought it but it held air 100% indefinitely, and given the enormous cost of a 9m large diameter retube I went with large areas of Treadmaster MTec over the worst areas. I had the boat for nearly 10 years after that and was all still perfect when I sold it.

It does have to be exceedingly carefully and properly stuck though, and the likes of Paul Tilley used to recommend some thinned glue to penetrate the damaged areas first. It also depends how long it's been exposed like that - the unprotected weave can get very dry/brittle if constantly left open to salt water and sun, and can be very easily damaged.

A retube is definitely the ultimate option if money is no object, but depending on budget and how long you want to make it last there might be cheaper alternatives.

[paulbrown22]

Actually I lie - having found my old threads I of course recovered the worst part (the bow) in the original colour Hypalon, and then after the success of that the following year I did M-Tec on the rear sections for further protection. All these coverings were still 100% when I sold the boat in 2022.


https://www.rib.net/forum/f8/wear-pa...tec-51117.html

https://www.rib.net/forum/f8/max-siz...tch-57401.html

[Yanros]

Thank you all so much for that advice. I've already spoken to Paul Tilley as he's close by. I'll see how much a rerube costs and whether Paul would be willing to patch it.

[fastasfox]

Money....if you have it, then a re-tube is the correct measure.
If you don't then temporary repairs will keep you on the water.....but from this point on you do have to understand a re-tube is imminent.
Re-tube cost roughly £1000 per meter ...5m boat 5k plus.
Hope this of use to you.

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Yanros

I've already spoken to Paul Tilley

You won't have spoken to Paul himself as he very sadly left us quite a few years ago now.
Luckily his family are equally good at what they do and have kept the business going.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by fastasfox

Money....if you have it, then a re-tube is the correct measure.
If you don't then temporary repairs will keep you on the water.....but from this point on you do have to understand a re-tube is imminent.
Re-tube cost roughly £1000 per meter ...5m boat 5k plus.
Hope this of use to you.

Sadly £1000/meter days are over now, more like £1200+/meter nowadays
That said I'd still rather put the money I'd spend on professionally fitted patches towards a retube in the future.