Re-skinning a rib???

[Courageous]

My Valiant 750 is rather pink compared to it's original orangey red and I was thinking of a radical cosmetic makeover. I'd rather like any opinions or advice on the viability of this?

So, since the obvious deterioration is on the upper surface I was wondering whether it would be possible to "glue" patches on every section of the tubes from the rubbing strake on the outside over the top down to the joint between tube and hull on the inside? My tubes all hold air so I feel a full re-tube is not necessary yet but I do think it would be worth spending on improving the cosmetic aspect. The problem I can perceive is that it may not be easy to ensure total adhesion of each panel and that some blistering may occur?

Has anyone done this at all?

I should say at this juncture that I would be putting the boat in for a professional tube repairer to do the work.

Appreciate opinions/experiences.

[kubcat]

In Queensland, a northern state of Australia many RIBs get tube covers attached with Velcro. I guess it is to prevent UV damage and from rubbing against wharves and other boats. Will google for a photo but from memory they just cover the top half of the tube. Quite often they are yellow, don't know why, but I guess you can make it whatever colour works for you.

[kubcat]

Googling is harder than I thought. Try this link to a boat for sale. These tube covers go around a lot further than I remember and not sure you will like canvas tube fabric, PVC may look better.

http://m.boatsonline.com.au/boats-fo...0-r-i-b/112155

[paul tilley]

we have done this with hypalon tubes But wouldn`t even attempt it with pvc tubes

[ribraff]

I've seen this done before with fabric and carpet tiles before the best bet is to find out what your tubes are made of, they are most likely PU or Hypalon.

[Courageous]

Thanx for the replies so far. Mine is definitely not Hypalon so I'm not sure which the other option Valiant offer but whatever it is it's that.

Paul - why not on PVC? Is there a huge difference? How did it turn out with the Hypalon?

[9D280]

Be very careful of how you do this - mine has the "industrial double skin" over a huge chunk of the toobs- I currently have a seam leak on the bow section - Right in the middle of the "second skin" which so far has eluded a decent repair due to the location.....

Other options - Can you get PVC paint in the same way as you can for Hypalon? Any of these "wonder cleaners" do colour restoration in a T-cut style?

[benc]

You can get pvc paint - a lot of zapcats are painted with it

[paul tilley]

the hypalon tubes we have covered worked out very well ,but i do not trust the gluing capabilities of pvc and polyureathane ,normally when these materials fade badly they also start to come apart ,if it is purely cosmetic get some tube paint from polymarine and see how that works

[Courageous]

Hmmm, been reluctant to even consider PVC paint as my memories of yore are that they never looked like original and eventually cracked/peeled. Are they any better nowadays? My hoped for solution was going to possibly have the effect of new (if done well and successfully.....) My tubes don't have that shine any more and there's a grainy pattern starting to appear along with the pink which I guess has come about as a result of UV and cleaning chemicals over the years. Paul, as a tube designer you should know whether this is possible so I am going to have take your advice and wait til I can afford/justify re-tube I guess!

[paul tilley]

personally i would not recover it but retube it when i could afford it and put up with it looking tatty until then

[chewy]

Have you tried cleaning them?

[Courageous]

Thanx Paul, yes Chewy, they have had a very good clean. The issue seems to be a common one with red boats from what I have seen, down here in the med anyhow.