Rib Virgin Drives Home

Sarah G · 27 June 2007, 12:21

We left my parents at 6.00 am (which for me is not a time I relish) but we made good time down to Weymouth. Pat did the launch and couldn't have done it better and had great support from Gary who drives the Tractor at Blue Horizons.

Tied up against the pontoon - in the pouring rain and then delivered the trailer.

Unfortunately, due to Wessex trailers not knowing their products, turns out that they had sent all the wrong bolts, the incorrect 'U' bolts and a very short handbrake cable. So at 4.30 we had to make the decision to stay the night. Blue Horizon were great and let us keep Braveheart on the Pontoon and lent us a load of fenders to protect the tubes from the concrete under the pontoons..

Then we realised - no clean clothes so a quick trip to get clothes - always enjoy shopping. Had to find a hotel with a family room and off we went.

Good news - collected the trailer at 2.30, had a brilliant retrieval - really nervous as we knew there was very little fuel and didn't want to fluff it up.

The tractor driver was brilliant and talked us through the whole process.

And we hosed the trailer down and drove home. Took up 10 parking spaces in Little Chef on the way back but other than that completely uneventful.

Tonight, we are going to spend some time to sort stuff out. Some of the ropes from the fenders and rubbed marks into the tubes and almost look like peeling skin. It needs a good wash anyway to sort out the oxidation patches.

Do I need to worry about the peeling patches as I think if I wash her, more will come off?

I think I need to invest in some of the flat fenders (to protect the tubes from ropes).

But at least she is home now!

Sarah G · 27 June 2007, 19:09

Here is a picture of the peeling - it finally stopped raining long enough to take the picture.

Nick Hearne · 27 June 2007, 19:48

Not so good, you could put some whear patches on the top to cover them!

GuyP · 27 June 2007, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Not so good, you could put some whear patches on the top to cover them!

From the look of the marks around it, it looks like there could have a wear patch there?.

Sarah G · 27 June 2007, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Not so good, you could put some whear patches on the top to cover them!

Do you think that is the only option?

This is already on the reinforcement patches on the top of the tubes

GuyP · 27 June 2007, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah G

Do you think that is the only option?

This is already on the reinforcement patches on the top of the tubes

You could always remove the wear patches there - the material underneath would probably be in good condition, although it may be a deeper colour than the rest of the boat, as it won't have faded.

Sarah G · 27 June 2007, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyP

You could always remove the wear patches there - the material underneath would probably be in good condition, although it may be a deeper colour than the rest of the boat, as it won't have faded.

How would you do that - isn't it a nightmare job? I suppose if it came off, we could replace them with new patches.

Nick Hearne · 27 June 2007, 20:05

If it is on the wear patch I would not worry too much as it is just cosmetic as it is on the patch!

Hightower · 27 June 2007, 21:14

So did you take Braveheart out for a spin then?

Sarah G · 27 June 2007, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

So did you take Braveheart out for a spin then?

Unfortunately not.

We looked at the forecast and felt that it was going to pour with rain and we would only be in Weymouth for Monday for a couple of hours.

Had we known we would be there for Tuesday as well - which was sunny and lovely, I would have filled a fuel tank and we could have gone for a spin. Nevermind, weekend here we come - although the weather doesn't look promising we can leave our daughter with Grannie and go out for a spin - even in the rain.

I've just been cleaning the boat with Rib Revive - it did make the tubes bluer but it didn't help the light patches. My neighbour is getting some TFR for tomorrow so I'll give that a go and see if that makes the difference.

Biggles · 27 June 2007, 21:38

Don't use the TFR neat. It needs watering down. And rinse often and well.

Sarah G · 27 June 2007, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Don't use the TFR neat. It needs watering down. And rinse often and well.

No absolutely not. He thinks it is already 1:4. Some were quoting that 50% was OK but I might even water this down a little to start with and see how it reacts on the patches. I don't know if I'm being unrealistic in thinking that these patches will go blue:-

Biggles · 27 June 2007, 21:45

Best of luck tomorrow and I guess we are all waiting to see the results you get.

NR.

Sarah G · 27 June 2007, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Best of luck tomorrow and I guess we are all waiting to see the results you get.

NR.

Thank you - keep fingers crossed for the weather - but that is another thread.

Nick Hearne · 28 June 2007, 08:42

I would recommend this http://www.thepolishingcompany.com/foryourboat.html
Best thing I tried on my tubes & I tried lots!!

Sarah G · 28 June 2007, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

I would recommend this http://www.thepolishingcompany.com/foryourboat.html
Best thing I tried on my tubes & I tried lots!!

She looks great. Thanks for the tip. I'm concerned that the tubes have gone too far as it looks like you can see the fabric under the hypalon

But she stays inflated so that must mean something.

GuyP · 28 June 2007, 09:48

Sarah - I agree with Nick around the 303 products, the protector really is fantastic for bringing the colour back. Check out my thread here to see how it brought my tubes back:

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18134

I think the best bet for your white oxidation is toluene.

Sarah G · 28 June 2007, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyP

Sarah - I agree with Nick around the 303 products, the protector really is fantastic for bringing the colour back. Check out my thread here to see how it brought my tubes back:

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18134

I think the best bet for your white oxidation is toluene.

This is giving me hope. I got all down hearted last night as the patches didn't improve at all.

What is toluene? Did you use the 303 cleaner and polish? I thought TFR for the cleaning and then another product for the polish. Sorry for all the questions. Now that I've started looking at the tubes, I notice more of the patches.

GuyP · 28 June 2007, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah G

This is giving me hope. I got all down hearted last night as the patches didn't improve at all.

What is toluene? Did you use the 303 cleaner and polish? I thought TFR for the cleaning and then another product for the polish. Sorry for all the questions. Now that I've started looking at the tubes, I notice more of the patches.

Sarah, toluene is a form of thinners used by the tube industry to clean hypalon and may be available from your local chandlery. However, you may not need it.

Try the TFR first - I used diluted TFR and diluted it even further, although some use it neat. Wet the tubes and then work it in circular motion with a green kitchen dish scrubber (not too hard though). You'll see lots of blue gunk literally streaming off the tubes. Then hose this off with fresh water (it'll streak otherwise).

Then get hold of some 303 protector (I didn't use the cleaner - there are mixed reviews of this on Rib.net) and spray it on the tubes and gently wipe it to ensure it covers the material - do not wipe it dry at this stage. After a few minutes wipe dry. You'll see the difference straight away. You may need to go over some of the areas again to ensure that they get adequately covered in the protector.

Sarah G · 28 June 2007, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyP

Sarah, toluene is a form of thinners used by the tube industry to clean hypalon and may be available from your local chandlery. However, you may not need it.

Try the TFR first - I used diluted TFR and diluted it even further, although some use it neat. Wet the tubes and then work it in circular motion with a green kitchen dish scrubber (not too hard though). You'll see lots of blue gunk literally streaming off the tubes. Then hose this off with fresh water (it'll streak otherwise).

Then get hold of some 303 protector (I didn't use the cleaner - there are mixed reviews of this on Rib.net) and spray it on the tubes and gently wipe it to ensure it covers the material - do not wipe it dry at this stage. After a few minutes wipe dry. You'll see the difference straight away. You may need to go over some of the areas again to ensure that they get adequately covered in the protector.

Cool - I'll order some now. Could you see the mesh on your tubes or was it just white?